I can't speak for RW, but Scuderi's personal delusion is not equal in significance to the the collective delusion that grips the NHL, thinking that provides agitators, goons and hacks with opportunities to play in the NHL, that sponsors the incompetent and sometimes malicious application of the NHL rulebook, that values frontier justice, scapegoating and criminal behavior. Tanner Glass has become an object of criticism because he plays hockey poorly and even fails to provide the deterrence which defenders of his type of play play use to justify his place on an NHL roster. If Glass can't deter a knuckledragger like Rinaldo, what hockey value does he provide?
- szielinski

Are these guys there as 'deterrents' as everyone is saying? I think that the game has evolved & they are no longer deterrents as you say, but they are there as insurance if you like. We don't want anyone in our top 6 dropping the gloves so having someone on the 4th line or #6 D man that won't be missed is good if punches need to be thrown.

Look at the Flames Nucks playoffs - I'll bet Everyman & his dog would be glad to have Engo on board when that poop went down?? He is not a deterrent but when he had to he put them up & punched on against guys wanting to do damage.

Can you please give me the black and white wording that will eliminate every dangerous hit that would cause an injury?
- jmatchett383

Now putting words in my mouth - c'mon man, it's like the Voracek argument all over again.

I said if it's black & white which it can be then sanctions can be administered. If that was the case it wouldn't be long before hits like Doans & Rinaldos would be gone. Players & coaches wouldn't risk suspension to things they didn't have to.

Now will dangerous hits still exist? Yes, as you have pointed out earlier that legal hits can still injure! But they are legal as I said & it's then up to the stakeholders to change things causing injury that are legal if they see fit!

Got it now? You disagree that's fine, I have no problem. But as I have said earlier, don't complain about injuries if you justify the the hits.

Are these guys there as 'deterrents' as everyone is saying? I think that the game has evolved & they are no longer deterrents as you say, but they are there as insurance if you like. We don't want anyone in our top 6 dropping the gloves so having someone on the 4th line or #6 D man that won't be missed is good if punches need to be thrown.

Look at the Flames Nucks playoffs - I'll bet Everyman & his dog would be glad to have Engo on board when that poop went down?? He is not a deterrent but when he had to he put them up & punched on against guys wanting to do damage.
- Aussiepenguin

Engo still is making near triple his worth... and I liked him here like most of the grit/energy type players.

I would like to know the exact point of the article. Was it specifically to degrade Glass or to degrade all players who play physical?

I believe it was strictly to degrade Glass, because apparently what Rinaldo did was OK as Mr. Wilson did not print one word to the contrary.

IMHO, there will always be a place in the game for the Tanner Glass' of the world but no place for the Zac Rinaldo's. It appears that I am wrong though as their appears to be more and more Zac Rinaldo's and less and less Tanner Glass'.
- Thunderbolt

The point is Wilson played d1 club hockey and is better than tanner glass.

The point is Wilson played d1 club hockey and is better than tanner glass.
- Grinder47

I'd like to throw out that my grandmother is better than Glass, and she only has one leg... just sayin'.

These types of "impacts", as you say, can't be stopped by refs, rule changes, or goons. Hockey IS the fastest sport, and it impossible to stop momentum on certain occassions. With split seconds decisions being made all the time, "dirty" hits will occur, and MOST of the time the offending player's only intention was to make a good play, and only at the last millisecond does a good play turn bad. The players of today are stronger and faster, and injuries are being addressed much better now a days. These hits have always happened. We are just seeing more of it on TV/internet, and the concussions are now being reported.
- rrentz

The 2 examples I've mentioned are Doan & Rinaldo. You can see Rinaldos - he's a goose that was going to hit no matter what. If you're telling me he couldn't stop that hit then I don't believe you. Doans video us there thanks to Vic. He actually changes direction after the puck has gone to follow Letang to hit him. Again he didn't have to complete that hit.

Things change, & you saying they have always happened isn't an excuse for not developing or evolving the game. When the law suits come in more frequently then maybe money will change things. poop, it already has here in Australia due to the nfl law suits with concussion.

Now just to be clear, I'm not saying Doan wanted to put Letang out for the season, but he did want to hit him. Here we have a few different types of wording when someone is charged with an offence in footy - reckless or careless contact, intentional contact & accidental contact. Regardless of the wording if someone makes contact with the head of an opposing player he is charged. It has nothing to do with injury here, it's all to do with where & how contact was made. It's the same if a player puts another player in a dangerous position - see above wording. The charges are made no matter if there is injury or not. The league is eradicating dangerous play whether the old school like it or not, the league is trying to make the game safer. Are there still huge hits - yes. Is the game fast & hard? It's as fast as it's ever been & the athletes are stronger, faster & fitter.

Engo still is making near triple his worth... and I liked him here like most of the grit/energy type players.
- Guile

That must have been why he fought 2 players as once - his salary level!

You know a thing or 2 about hitting. Really, comparing a straight line game with hockey in a hitting sense is misguided. I wouldn't even compare hitting in the AFL to hockey and it's a sport that moves in 360 degrees.

I've said for a while this game needs the players to understand there will be consequences if they go for a big hit and it "goes wrong".

I love the big hits but the good ones require speed from both moving parts so getting rid of the interference away from the puck will help increase the speed.
- walshy66

A straight line game? You've never played rugby league have you?

I admit I've never played hockey but I've been hit in the front back & both sides many many times & a lot of that was from multiple players hitting me. I've hit players front on high, middle & low. From the side the same (& once or twice 'accidentally from behind). Running as fast as you can into 4 guys running at you does create impact - maybe not as much as being thrown into the boards at speed or colliding at full speed on ice but contact is contact & league has next to no (I never wore any), protection unlike hockey.

When you've played at any level above mod league Walshy get back to me & say league is a straight line game!

But that's what it must look like on TV??

You know a thing or 2 about hitting. Really, comparing a straight line game with hockey in a hitting sense is misguided. I wouldn't even compare hitting in the AFL to hockey and it's a sport that moves in 360 degrees.

I've said for a while this game needs the players to understand there will be consequences if they go for a big hit and it "goes wrong".

I love the big hits but the good ones require speed from both moving parts so getting rid of the interference away from the puck will help increase the speed.
- walshy66

This guys doing it wrong if it's a straight line game!

I suppose this is straight line though.

Yes I suppose league hits are not nearly as bad as what Rinaldo can dish out?

Glass is useless. Next blog.

A straight line game? You've never played rugby league have you?

I admit I've never played hockey but I've been hit in the front back & both sides many many times & a lot of that was from multiple players hitting me. I've hit players front on high, middle & low. From the side the same (& once or twice 'accidentally from behind). Running as fast as you can into 4 guys running at you does create impact - maybe not as much as being thrown into the boards at speed or colliding at full speed on ice but contact is contact & league has next to no (I never wore any), protection unlike hockey.

When you've played at any level above mod league Walshy get back to me & say league is a straight line game!

But that's what it must look like on TV??
- Aussiepenguin

Rugby is a rough sport... only played it casually with friends in college... we used to call it "football with out pads"

Are we there yet? Dave Tirrol never knew we were leaving - action from earlier his year.

They called him offside in this one!

Just 1 more for laughs #3 is about 100kg & can run very fast - not Olympic speed but bag snatcher pace.

Can you please give me the black and white wording that will eliminate every dangerous hit that would cause an injury?
- jmatchett383

Here's one from today. Now I think that's legal but I'm far from a hockey expert. Was it necessary? Probably not but it was legal as I see him off his feet after contact is made unless he made contact with the head. It was close to the boards also but no contact was made with the boards, so you be the judge. If there was a rule that said no checking 1m from the boards would that hit have been made? There is also the question of interference as the puck was in front of the players?? Did it slow the game down?

https://gfycat.com/FamiliarUnsungAnole

Here's one from today. Now I think that's legal but I'm far from a hockey expert. Was it necessary? Probably not but it was legal as I see him off his feet after contact is made unless he made contact with the head. It was close to the boards also but no contact was made with the boards, so you be the judge. If there was a rule that said no checking 1m from the boards would that hit have been made? There is also the question of interference as the puck was in front of the players?? Did it slow the game down?

https://gfycat.com/FamiliarUnsungAnole
- Aussiepenguin

Nothing wrong with that one, my man. I am not into headhunting, and that was clean as a whistle. That is an example of what makes hockey beautiful. Sucks that the player was hurt, but the onus is on each of them to be aware of their surroundings. In fact, it appears the momentum from the injured player is what caused the other to be off one foot.

Nothing wrong with that one, my man. I am not into headhunting, and that was clean as a whistle. That is an example of what makes hockey beautiful. Sucks that the player was hurt, but the onus is on each of them to be aware of their surroundings. In fact, it appears the momentum from the injured player is what caused the other to be off one foot.
- Brayn

Agreed that's why I said it looked legal to moi. Was it interference since the puck had gone past the defender?

Agreed that's why I said it looked legal to moi. Was it interference since the puck had gone past the defender?
- Aussiepenguin

As i understand the rule, that was not interference because he separated the player from the puck. The puck carrier gave it a nudge forward an instant before being checked and would have been considered "in possession". That collision was completely within the rules of the game and completely unavoidable. Now, had the puck carrier chipped the puck ahead a few seconds earlier and then changed direction to avoid the hit, yet still got hit, it would be a borderline interference. But, I will be the first to admit, that I am no expert on this subject.

I think you missed the point. The point of the article is that having tough guys on the roster doesn't deter cheap shot artists like Rinaldo from doing what they do and injuring guys so if the tough guys aren't deterring, and they can't contribute to the actual hockey being played, then what's the point?
- Victoro311

Bingo! We have a winner.
Good post.

Was there any mention of the word 'denial'? As in 'in denial'?

I threw this out last blog to get the season started;

Tanger, Maatta
Cole, Dumo
Lovejob, Clendening

Unless Pouliot plays a lot better he carries the drinks. With Scuds I suppose as it doesn't look like anyone has told him he may not be playing starting 6.
- Aussiepenguin

Lovejoy and Clendening are both right handed shots the other 2 are both left. You would have to break them up. Put Suckjoy with Dumo and Cole with Clendening. Whichever pair earns it get to be second pairing. Apparently Dumoulin, who was already one of the best skaters on the team, has gotten even faster. I hope he has learned to use his size and speed. If he has he will be very good.

Lovejoy and Clendening are both right handed shots the other 2 are both left. You would have to break them up. Put Suckjoy with Dumo and Cole with Clendening. Whichever pair earns it get to be second pairing. Apparently Dumoulin, who was already one of the best skaters on the team, has gotten even faster. I hope he has learned to use his size and speed. If he has he will be very good.
- Dcoms

Isn't Clendening on his way down to Scranton - I think it was Vic or Guile that saw that?

I have a feeling the Pens will be looking for a D long before the TDL. I think we're a 3 or 4 dman away from having a nice group.
- madmike71

I still would like to get Hamhuis if he's not designed to a new contract. He would be perfect on the middle pairing with Cole or Pouliot or Dumoulin whoever he works best with. We would likely lose a player we don't want to. Would you give up Scuds and say Tristan Jarry or someone like that for Hamhuis? Would likely have to throw a pick or 2 in there as well. But if Vacouver takes he will have to do rall day.

Isn't Clendening on his way down to Scranton - I think it was Vic or Guile that saw that?
- Aussiepenguin

The only one that has been sent down so far is Ruopp. I don't see anything about Clendening