I was sadly under the weather yesterday and just couldn’t motivate enough to post, but I didn’t want to let this idea slip out of my head, so here it is.
On Wednesday evening’s long commute home, I was listening to
XM Home Ice as I usually do and a topic that Boomer Gordon was discussing struck me: Should Hockey be more like Baseball? Not in the slow and boring sense of game speed, but in how the players actually work.
As hockey fans, don’t we always snicker at a pitcher who has to rest for a few days before hitting the mound again? Or roll our eyes at a player who will take themselves out of the line-up for a blister? There is a reason the saying goes, “A hockey player will play the game as long as he is breathing.” They play through injuries they probably shouldn’t, just because that’s the way they’re wired. But should they? Do they have to? Can the injuries be avoided?
AHA! Now, that is the question. Some of the most common injuries are caused by fatigue and over use. Suppose a hockey player’s goal WASN’T to play in all four preseason and 82 regular season games? Suppose they were given a little time to rest and ultimately escape injury?
But would that be throwing out the concept of 'winning is everything'? Should key, role players be given certain nights off in an effort to keep them healthy if it would mean sacrificing a win? Which is better? Boomer was mentioning that the worst part of the season for a player is the back-to-back away games. The travel and the grind take a toll -- especially mid season. He pondered “wouldn’t it be interesting if a coach just said, stay home.” What would happen if those players weren’t even on the trip? The player would benefit from the rest and the team ultimately would because they would be healthier.
However, the NHL marketing machine would cringe. Could the Pittsburgh Penguins roll into any NHL city without Sidney Crosby? Would the fans be in an uproar if they couldn’t watch Alexander Ovechkin on their home ice? Okay, maybe not so much Ovie, but what about the younger players making a name for themselves?
I thought it was a very interesting discussion and concept. I would prefer to see a player out of the line up for a night or two to avoid being out for weeks. But could a coach pull that sort of thing off? Or would he even want to? Discuss.
Also up for discussion is Garth Snow’s camp invitational. It seems that the concept has drawn a lot of attention and I’ve even been asked to guest on
Team 1040 Vancouver at 12:30 EST to discuss it. I was surprised when I received the email invite (from Iain McLetchie from TEAM1040 not from Garth) but I guess they are still surprised that I called the Isles taking Nino Niedereitter before the draft.
And as if THAT wouldn’t be enough of me for one day, at 6 pm EST I will be joining my good friend Su Ring on her
CCPT Hockey Show on BlogTalk Radio along with Courtney Beckham from
"Chicks Who Give a Puck," Aussie puck princess Sasky Stewart from
Heartbreak Hockey. I’m not exactly sure how all of us passionate hockey fans with distinctively different accents will work out, especially since some of us speak at the speed of light. But it
IS August and this will make for some interesting hockey chatter.
Enjoy your Saturday!
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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