Hockey Night In DSP

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:35 pm

CrazyPsycho wrote:Lindy Ruff has basically confirmed Drury has a concussion, saying he has "symptoms". That makes eight regulars out of the lineup.

Sigh. I want a war.

About the only positive for the Sabres is that it was Drury who took the headshot, and not Tim Connolly in his first game back cause it would have been his last NHL game.

If the only the NHL had the sense to copy rugby and rugby league and make hits above the shoulder illegal. It would make the game less physical, but only a little bit less, and I think it's a price worth paying. I can't imagine what a dangerous sport rugby would be if players were allowed to swing for the head all game long, but that's exactly what's happening in hockey.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:42 pm

f***in' NHL needs a decent hockey TV contract!

F versus.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:25 pm

Feanor wrote:If the only the NHL had the sense to copy rugby and rugby league and make hits above the shoulder illegal. It would make the game less physical, but only a little bit less, and I think it's a price worth paying.

Totally agree. The Oilers just lost their second player in as many nights to a shoulder-to-head hit as Joffrey Lupul was knocked into next week by Kronwall of Detroit.

That's the fourth Oiler to be KO'd in the last month by head hits. Stoll, Pisani, Gilbert and now Lupul. Stoll still isn't back; Pisani just came back tonight.

Too many guys are getting their brains scrambled by shoulder hits to the head. Back in the 70s and 80s, you just didn't see it that much. It was part of the unwritten code of ethics of the game.

But in the last 15 years or so, that code has evaporated. Now everyone is head-hunting, a practice exacerbated by the ridiculously oversized plastic shoulder caps on shoulder pads these days. Some guys' shoulder pads could be used on linebackers in the NFL.

Head-hunting must stop in the NHL. Now. But as someone has said in here, the dinosaurs running the NHL and its teams won't change the rules until either Crosby or Ovechkin are knocked out for a month by a shoulder hit to the head.

Take care,
PK

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:02 pm

PK,

I think that's the perfect reason to get rid of the instigator rule. If they aren't going to ban headshots, or at least penalize them, let the players take care of it just like Buffalo did, the way it used to be. The way it should be. We are losing far too many good(maybe even great) players because guys are just reckless out there, since there are absolutely no repercussions.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:19 pm

By the way Eric Brewer is off the market as he resigns with the Blues today as does Manny Legace. Good move for the Blues as Brewer has really been our best defensmen. No word on the pricetag for Brewer but it probably wasn't cheap. It could be as much as 4 years and $20mil.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 4:38 pm

Lindy Ruff fined $10K for telling his players to "go out and run em". Probably worth every dime, to him.

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197452&hubname=

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 4:52 pm

Brewer resigned at 4 years $17mil and a NTC to boot! The Blues have around $25mil tied up in Brewer and McKee for the next 3 years. That doesn't bode well for Backman, Jackman, or Salvador. One of them is leaving and leaving soon...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:30 pm

CrazyPsycho wrote:PK,

I think that's the perfect reason to get rid of the instigator rule. If they aren't going to ban headshots, or at least penalize them, let the players take care of it just like Buffalo did, the way it used to be. The way it should be. We are losing far too many good(maybe even great) players because guys are just reckless out there, since there are absolutely no repercussions.

Completely agree, Psycho. If the NHL isn't going to ban hits to the head, then frontier justice should return to the NHL. It worked from 1900-95; it will work now.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:31 pm

Airdog wrote:Lindy Ruff fined $10K for telling his players to "go out and run em". Probably worth every dime, to him.

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197452&hubname=

F*ck, the NHL should PAY Ruff a $10K bonus for saying that. As Tim said, the league has received more publicity in the U.S. from that brawl than it has from anything else all season.

Less than three hours before Round 2 starts. I'm stoked!

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:38 am

Tkachuk is mulling over packing his bags for Atlanta this morning. The Blues and Thrashers have agreed on a deal for Tkachuk but he still has to decide if he'll waive his NTC. Looks like a 1st round pick and player from Atlanta on the return.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:53 am

I saw highlights of the Buffalo vs. Ottawa game from last night, and I'm confused why no Sabre went for the head of Heatly or Spezza and gave them a concussion to match the one Drury has. Isn't that the obvious and justified response?

Fighting Neil does nothing, but knocking one of Ottawa's best players out would have sent a message. It can't be that hard to elbow someone in the head (with the puck somewhere nearby) if you have a whole game to do it. Just maybe NHL players would be less likely to go head hunting, if they knew their best player was going to end up laying in a pool of blood on the ice.

This is what should have happened last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CThbqIXS8xM

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:01 am

Looks like Tkachuk to Atlanta is official

Blues get
2007 - 1st
2007 - 3rd
2008 - 2nd
and Glen Metropolit...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:12 am

Feanor:

There were two good scraps in the game, though. McGrattan vs. Peters was a heavyweight bout, and Peters landed two bombs. Mair and Neil went in a less-titanic brawl.

Forget the revenge and fighting, though: The last two games between the Sens and Sabres were two of the best, most exciting hockey games I've seen this season.

Last night's game was a borderline classic. Buffalo was down, 4-1, rallied to tie it, 5-5, and lost 6-5 on a flukey Spezza goal off a bad bounce off the boards with four minutes left.

GREAT game.

F*cking San Jose didn't take care of Calgary for me last night. GRRRR.

Take care,
PK

CrazyPsycho · Post by **CrazyPsycho** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:54 am

Feanor wrote:I saw highlights of the Buffalo vs. Ottawa game from last night, and I'm confused why no Sabre went for the head of Heatly or Spezza and gave them a concussion to match the one Drury has. Isn't that the obvious and justified response?

Fighting Neil does nothing, but knocking one of Ottawa's best players out would have sent a message. It can't be that hard to elbow someone in the head (with the puck somewhere nearby) if you have a whole game to do it. Just maybe NHL players would be less likely to go head hunting, if they knew their best player was going to end up laying in a pool of blood on the ice.

This is what should have happened last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CThbqIXS8xM

The whole world was watching. Colin Campbell warned both teams that doing anything at all would be a suspension. I believe Bettman was in attendance as well. I really hope Buffalo gets Ottawa in the playoffs. Ottawa would stand no chance.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:58 pm

CrazyPsycho wrote:Ottawa would stand no chance.

Indeed, for two reasons:

1. Ottawa is soft.
2. Ray Emery is a head case.

Take care,
PK

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:14 pm

I like what the owner of the Sabres did:

Sabres owner Tom Golisano urged the NHL to review its policy on violent hits to the head after the league chose not to punish Ottawa's Chris Neil for blindsiding and knocking out Buffalo co-captain Chris Drury.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2778499

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:34 pm

Atlanta is getting pretty serious about making a run this year. The Thrashers landed Zhitnik and then Tkachuk within 24 hours.

Too bad the ATL won't get by Buffalo or New Jersey. At least that's one city south of the Mason-Dixon Line we can thankfully scratch from winning the Cup this season.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:13 pm

pk500 wrote:
Airdog wrote:Lindy Ruff fined $10K for telling his players to "go out and run em". Probably worth every dime, to him.
Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197452&hubname=
F*ck, the NHL should PAY Ruff a $10K bonus for saying that. As Tim said, the league has received more publicity in the U.S. from that brawl than it has from anything else all season.

Take care,
PK

As I said he should, not surprising at all. He got it cheap IMO. Anyhow, it's sad that the only way the US audience gets some NHL attention is when the media paints it as another "Slap Shot" movie starting the Hanson brothers.

So many things other positive things they could cover, but yet they focused on the unfortunate incident on Thursday.

On the other hand you can't even brush a player with a stick without being called for hooking these days, you can't grab, because you'll be called for holding, yet there's no penalty called when someone is bleeding on the ice because of late head shot. Go figure, the NHL and Bettman should have addressed issues like shots to the head during their recent meeting in Naples, FLO.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:32 am

Center Ice may be available on the PC with a broadband Internet connection before the end of the season:

http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articl ... ?id=108422

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:51 am

pk500 wrote:Center Ice may be available on the PC with a broadband Internet connection before the end of the season:

http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articl ... ?id=108422

Take care,
PK

nice.

i'd sign up for that.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:14 pm

espn says ROBERTS to the penguins.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:45 pm

Sudz wrote:espn says ROBERTS to the penguins.

Quite possible, since the supposed move of G. Laraque to PITTS never took place.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:50 pm

Sudz wrote:espn says ROBERTS to the penguins.

Roberts must waive his no-trade clause first, and apparently he was quite specific about his preferred destination being his home area of southern Ontario, either Toronto or Ottawa.

Then again, you get a chance to play with all of those great kids and a vet like Recchi. We'll see.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:13 pm

With R. Kesler injured, Canucks are very thin at the center position. D. Nonis has been looking at B. Smolinski from CHI and according to some sources it's a done deal for a second rounder.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:25 pm

10spro wrote:With R. Kesler injured, Canucks are very thin at the center position. D. Nonis has been looking at B. Smolinski from CHI and according to some sources it's a done deal for a second rounder.

That's a steal for Vancouver. Smolinski is a much better, more complete player than Kesler, especially for the short term. Smolinski only makes $1.5 million, too.

Take care,
PK