HockeyMark Bell knows what Rypien's up against

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Mark Bell remembers his meeting with Gary Bettman.

"You know you're getting something," he said, referring to the suspension the commissioner handed down in September 2007. "The NHLPA, my agent, the lawyers...everyone I spoke to told me to expect between three and five games.

"I got 15, and it felt like 50."

In 2006, Bell was charged with two felonies -- including driving under the influence -- after rear-ending another driver in California. He eventually served six weeks in jail. San Jose traded him to Toronto, and, after the legal process took its course, the commissioner ordered an in-person hearing.

(That may be the future for Edmonton's Nikolai Khabibulin, who is appealing his own conviction.)

Understand, he is not looking for sympathy. And, in no way am I trying to equate Bell's incident with Rick Rypien's. But the 445-game NHL veteran is one of the very few who understands what the Canucks forward is heading into.

"Absolutely, I knew I'd made a mistake. I knew I'd messed up," Bell said. "But it had been a year since the incident happened. I was trying to make the right changes as a person and a good impression on a new team. I ended up making the worst [impression]."

Good preparation

Despite the shock, the 1998 first-round pick said he'd actually been prepared pretty well.

"There were 10-15 people inside. [The NHLPA and my agent] told me what the room would look like, that I'd sit next to the commissioner and that he'd ask me questions. They told me to answer them as honestly as I can. Emphasize what I'd done to turn my life around."

And Bettman asked some tough ones.

"I remember he asked, 'What kind of suspension do you think I should give you?' and 'If you were in my shoes, what would you do?' I told him I knew there's going to be a suspension. But you could make it three to five games -- make a statement that I've turned my life around and accentuate the positive."

Clearly, the commissioner disagreed. And it's impossible to argue with a harsh penalty for impaired driving.

The good news is that Bell appears to be doing much better, landing on his feet in Switzerland. He returned to Kloten for a second season ("I love it here," he said) with his wife of three months.

And, most importantly, "I'm not going to lie and say I don't drink at all, but I no longer drink to get drunk."

Empathizes with Rypien

The reason he agreed to an interview from overseas is that he empathizes with Rypien. In September 2007, Bell was no longer a first-round stud. It was his last chance to stick.

"Absolutely, this could affect Rypien's career. When you are a borderline guy, you can't escape the stigma [of a long suspension]."

Bettman's certainly got the hammer here. He must send a message: you can't have players attacking fans. He's also got to show fans that if you don't touch a player, you're going to be safe.

Undoubtedly, he's spent the last two days tracking down everyone from Rypien's former coaches to his junior kindergarten classmates. Being an "energy player," Rypien doesn't have the cachet of a big star.

If Bettman doesn't find anything serious, Bell would like to see some mercy.  This is a business, and Rypien's a type of player is more easily replaceable.

"[The commissioner] has a lot of power. I don't know if he realizes how much power he has over people's lives."

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