[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Taz's Master

The NHL just needs to hire Roger Goodell.

He is intelligent and practical. He would never fit into the old boys club that runs the NHL.

Originally Posted by 89911

Stanley Cup and Gold medal winner, leads the NHL is about every category this year (Where's the Ovechkin fans lately?) Solid citizen and the hardest working player in hockey. Never amuses me more then to hear the idiotic complaints about him (Whining, whining?? really, you can't come up something better then that over the last 5 years?) Sure you hate him, unless he played on your team. Your up in Boston, look how they treat Brady now. Maybe he is the source of preferential treatment in sports today.

Word. He sits and answers questions patiently and politely until every reporter has had a chance to talk to him. Compare him to some Toronto players that can't face the media, can't take criticism, and blame others. even the coach in Toronto can't answer questions, he thinks he is too good and too smart. Sid sells the game, it's his job, he shares in the revenue.

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

And what fan are you, the Devils???? They damn near ruined hockey with their trap.

And the Hockey Gods are punishing them this year. All is well.

Originally Posted by wcc

I read somewhere else that Stuart got his jaw broken in two places from this hit. As a father of a very young (7yo) hockey player I really hope by the time he gets there he is wearing a full face helmet. College Hockey all wear full face cages FWIW.

As someone who played competitive hockey with a full cage I can tell you they generally worsen the hit. The cage is rammed into your jaw and hits that would never hurt (without a cage) cause pain for days after. Yea, they protect your 'facial features', personally I chose to get my face cut. It hurts less.

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I propose that the league needs to rule that when a head shot is deemed illegal and deliberate that the offending player should be suspended without pay until the injured player is able to return.

Issue #2 - When would Matt Cooke play again? When Savard played in the playoffs last year? Would he then sit out the beginning of the season because Savard's condition returned? And if Savard gets a second concussion, is Cooke partially responsible for that, after all successive concussions get worse and worse? See Lindros, Eric.

Nice idea, not practical.

Here is a typical 'big guy hits with shoulder on little guy':

YouTube - Zack Kassian Hit on Petr Senkerik (HD) - Canada vs Czech Rep. (WJC 2011)

Not a penalty when it happened, then a major, and a game, then two more games. Part of the 'new reality'.

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Not really. First and foremost, blind-side hits like Cooke on Savard or Kostopolous on Stuart. These were easily recognizable as intentional and malicious. Plus, we have high speed high def cameras. They can see what's where the player is looking, how they are moving...

Back in the day, players had respect for the Gretskys. Sure they did stuff but, not like this. Back then, each team had a goon/enforcer to ensure that the best players were protected. The game was slower too so less momentum meant less damage. Also, if you keep your stick down you have less chance of hitting up high.

I have no problem with Crosby. He's a great player and a true gentleman sportsman. He will fight when he needs to. He gets down low in the front and takes the punishment to get the shot. He's not a wimp and I'd be glad to have him on the Bruins. My point was that he's only speaking up now when he is on the receiving end of a concussion (and not a deliberate one IMO) but that's the way it goes. Its also only natural that the media takes more notice.

The blind-side hit rule has been adopted. Note the difference between blind-side and inattention. Look at the Kaberle hit by the Devils goof Janssen. Kaberle makes a pass and then decides to watch the puck go up the ice while he leaves himself totally vulnerable. It's called situational awareness, who is on the ice, and what can that guy do to you, be ready for the expected outcome. Kaberle was not ready. The outcome speaks for itself. Does a player stop or let up because his opponent isn't ready to play?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZnp3MZXDrs

Players respected Gretzky because he played with Semenko, McSorely et al. Touch their breadwinner and pay the price. people decry the absence of the instigator rule, yet they also compain that clean hits lead to fights. If the instigator rule is so effective, why does this happen?

I wish you luck suspending players based on 'intent'. When Police ticket people for 'intent' to drive dangerously we get up in arms over $500 fine. When the league penalizes a player $100,000 (or more) we are good with it.

Is this a suspendable hit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-EVYYgp4GY

Foligno took the puck off Dwyer, Dwyer was so low he took an unraised elbow, or upper arm, to the head. Whose fault is that? What should Foligno have done? Let him go? Change his angle so that he missed the opportunity to take the puck?

This is a high speed dangerous game played by large men who got to the top by playing hard and taking every opportunity that came their way. Now over the space of one summer we want to change the game and we can't understand why they 'don't get it'.

Speaking up for the other players is not 'the code'. 'The code' is to protect your team and it ends there. It is the unions job to protect its members. The union is in disarray and the players are paying the price.

Some of you are passionate about civil rights (and the right to bear arms). We are passionate about the worlds greatest game. Feel free to argue with me, provided you are willing to accept that you are wrong.