I think the bigger problem is that they never should have had to enforce the game. The nhl really needs to step up their game. With all the cameras on the ice we can see a hit from twelve different angles. But they really can't fine players for taking cheap shots behind the refs? I'm sure as he'll a player wouldn't slash a guy behind the pay is it cost him ten grand.
- FlyersSteve118

Pretty much. He's a player who's only effective when he's walking the line. He's never had any significant offensive production at any stage of his career. He is what he is, and sometimes, he's gonna burn you.
- jmatchett383

I'm about ready for the Tyrell Goulbourne era to begin

Pretty much. He's a player who's only effective when he's walking the line. He's never had any significant offensive production at any stage of his career. He is what he is, and sometimes, he's gonna burn you.
- jmatchett383

I feel like Berube really likes him and sees him as more than he is. I know Rinaldo wants to be a better defensive player and play on the PK, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe he can do it.

Has Holmstrom even played an Nhl game this season?
- Marc D

No. I think he has a few under his belt for his career.

I'm about ready for the Tyrell Goulbourne era to begin
- Tomahawk

He does play on the PK for Kelowna

He does play on the PK for Kelowna
- PhillySportsGuy

That's 'cause he skates hard.

- jmatchett383

And he should have been suspended for 50 games and been charged with assault with a weapon. The nhl failed.

I feel like Berube really likes him and sees him as more than he is. I know Rinaldo wants to be a better defensive player and play on the PK, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe he can do it.
- PhillySportsGuy

He just doesn't have the hockey sense to play on the PK effectively. His positioning is marginal at best, and he doesn't have the best reaction times or the most active stick.

Reformed Cooke is still a good defensive player and primary PK'er and able to finish off some plays.

Take Rinaldo off the tightrope and he's almost completely useless. If he's not launching his body at high-velocity, or pissing people off, he's not really impacting the game.
- Tomahawk

Flyers seem to think differently about Zac.
He can skate and get in in the forecheck.
They used him a little on the PK this year.
Not sure how successful, but they've kept him around.

Last night was very upsetting. I thought he was making progress cleaning up his hits this season, but that was unforgivable, and a big setback for him.

He is likely done for the regular season and I'm not sure if even allowed back for the playoffs why they would take the risk to play him.

Flyers seem to think differently about Zac.
He can skate and get in in the forecheck.
They used him a little on the PK this year.
Not sure how successful, but they've kept him around.

Last night was very upsetting. I thought he was making progress cleaning up his hits this season, but that was unforgivable, and a big setback for him.

He is likely done for the regular season and I'm not sure if even allowed back for the playoffs why they would take the risk to play him.
- Marc D

They play him because, sadly, he is/was the best option. That's the bottom line.

He just doesn't have the hockey sense to play on the PK effectively. His positioning is marginal at best, and he doesn't have the best reaction times or the most active stick.
- jmatchett383

He'd need to change his whole game. He's more of a hunter. Ive seen plenty of times where he takes the body when the puck is right in front of him. He's more concerned with laying the hit than making the correct "hockey play". He's fine for the 4th line, but he's not anything more than that.

I just wish the 4th line had a veteran vocal leader. Someone who could reign him in like Betts and Lappy did for Carcillo.

He just doesn't have the hockey sense to play on the PK effectively. His positioning is marginal at best, and he doesn't have the best reaction times or the most active stick.
- jmatchett383

He seemed to open the ice up significantly for the third line. Which I think downie was doing as well. I think raffl makes the third line too soft, but fits in well with two hard checkers like schenn and Simmonds.

And he should have been suspended for 50 games and been charged with assault with a weapon. The nhl failed.
- FlyersSteve118

No, assault with a weapon is what Boulerice/McSorely/Simon did. You're getting far too close to Montreal Fan territory with stuff like that.

No, assault with a weapon is what Boulerice/McSorely/Simon did. You're getting far too close to Montreal Fan territory with stuff like that.
- jmatchett383

Maybe he can go Melnyk and launch a forensic investigation to solidify his claims.

No, assault with a weapon is what Boulerice/McSorely/Simon did. You're getting far too close to Montreal Fan territory with stuff like that.
- jmatchett383

Only because it was a guy like avery who was known for committing those kind of "plays". That had be ten to twenty times he's been involved I stuff like that.

He seemed to open the ice up significantly for the third line. Which I think downie was doing as well. I think raffl makes the third line too soft, but fits in well with two hard checkers like schenn and Simmonds.
- FlyersSteve118

Agree with you, good observations

Maybe he can go Melnyk and launch a forensic investigation to solidify his claims.
- BulliesPhan87

Oh man. That guy...
If that was anyone other than Cooke, it's nothing but an unlucky play. Because it was Matt Cooke, we're talking lifetime suspension for severing a guy's tendon.

Only because it was a guy like avery who was known for committing those kind of "plays". That had be ten to twenty times he's been involved I stuff like that.
- FlyersSteve118

In that case, Bobby Clarke should be behind bars today. And Eric Lindros and Ron Hextall should be next to him. Because they are 3 of the dirtiest stickmen of all time.

Better than saying it was an accident.

We don't know exactly what he meant, but I took it as him realizing he needs to settle down. "This always happens- I work and work and get rewarded, then I do something stupid". Not exactly woe is me. Getting suspended here after playing well and being rewarded might be exactly what he needs.
- Giroux_Is_God

That's certainly a fair, but charitable interpretation. It felt like he was abdicating full responsibility for a ruthlessly inane headshot. I don't like the predeterministic nature of his explanation, as if angry gods descended from the heavens' conflagrant, turgid maw and smote him with an unquelled bloodthirst for concussive, violent ambuscades.

Sadly, I think its going to take a player being paralyzed or killed before the league realizes that something significant needs to be done about cheap shots, vicious stick work and dirty hits.
- BiggE

Steve Moore had his neck broken... but not because of a cheap shot. It was a direct result of 'players policing themselves'.

That's certainly a fair, but charitable interpretation. It felt like he was abdicating full responsibility for a ruthlessly inane headshot. I don't like the predeterministic nature of his explanation, as if angry gods descended from the heavens' conflagrant, turgid maw and smote him with an unquelled bloodthirst for concussive, violent ambuscades.
- countreeman28

Not sure how you got that from, "I do something stupid."

Steve Moore had his neck broken... but not because of a cheap shot. It was a result of an act of 'players policing themselves'.
- Tomahawk

And that player was subsequently suspended for a year. And he went far beyond "players policing themselves" and into "deliberately injure this player severely" territory. Bertuzzi should never have been allowed back into the game.

Schenn and Simmonds have plenty of offensive talent. Raffl isn't a guy without skill. He averages a point every 38 minutes of ice time. Read averages a point every 35 minutes of ice time.
- PhillySportsGuy

Matt Read is an a role where he is playing against top lines every night. Put Matt Read in a situation where he is relieved of that responsibility, and plays on a scoring line, with better offensive players around him. What would happen with read's scoring rate?

That's certainly a fair, but charitable interpretation. It felt like he was abdicating full responsibility for a ruthlessly inane headshot. I don't like the predeterministic nature of his explanation, as if angry gods descended from the heavens' conflagrant, turgid maw and smote him with an unquelled bloodthirst for concussive, violent ambuscades.
- countreeman28

I think he was more upset with himself than anything else. He had been playing well up until this game.

But that was my point. When Carkner was out of the lineup, he did take liberties. When Carkner was in the lineup (even after having been ejected), he was able to prevent it from happening. Please tell me why you think Boyle didn't continue to do it after Game 1.
- jmatchett383

How often is it that one player takes cheap shots game after game? Not often. Most times it's an isolated incident in that game that sets a player off. There's lots of tough guys such as Carkner and Engelland that player a regular position. And there are also enforcers still in the League. How come cheap shots have not been eliminated from the game?