Brad Marsh: Changing the Game: Careful What You Wish For

Hell yeah! Could NOT agree more!

Brad Marsh: Changing the Game: Careful What You Wish For
- Brad Marsh

Good read. I think part of the problem is the league office wants to have it's cake and eat it, too.

That's why a guy like Patrick Kaleta can continue to play in the NHL despite his long history of dirty play. A player can't protect himself and the league's after the fact punishment has not been a good enough deterrent.

Good read. I think part of the problem is the league office wants to have it's cake and eat it, too.

That's why a guy like Patrick Kaleta can continue to play in the NHL despite his long history of dirty play. A player can't protect himself and the league's after the fact punishment has not been a good enough deterrent.
- Jsaquella

When Brad Marsh and Paul Stewart, who combined for well over 2,000 NHL games played/officiated, each independently raises the bolded point about players not being able (and some not even knowing how anymore) to protect themselves, I think it's something that deserves for people to take notice.

When Brad Marsh and Paul Stewart, who combined for well over 2,000 NHL games played/officiated, each independently raises the bolded point about players not being able (and some not even knowing how anymore) to protect themselves, I think it's something that deserves for people to take notice.
- bmeltzer

After reading Brad's blog, I remembered watching Messier play, and I doubt he made many passes in his NHL career where he didn't automatically get his stick up afterward to protect himself.

Do you think if players could protect themselves the amount of "dirty hits " would go down ?

Do you think if players could protect themselves the amount of "dirty hits " would go down ?
- jaumiller

If a guy knows he's apt to get a mouthful of stick, he might think twice about hitting a guy who just passed the puck

100% agree that players should be able to protect themselves - i dont really think throwing the red line back in will do anything for the game but I'm all for the rest.

Do you think if players could protect themselves the amount of "dirty hits " would go down ?
- jaumiller

I agree with Brad and Paul. I remember when it was automatic for players leaguewise to use their sticks as a "barrier" from someone taking a run at them -- and it was considered legal by the referees. As Stewart said, it was a page from the Ted Lindsay/Mark Messier school of self-defense and it worked. It absolutely served as a deterrent from some of the more gratuitous hits like the one Hanzal got suspended for the other day.

Even 20 years ago in the NHL, Petry would have been allowed to use his stick to fend off Hanzal, and Hanzal would have had the choice to avoid the contact or run himself right into Petry's stick (and been dropped in his own tracks).

That technique got legislated out of the game, yet the players, coaches and referees from as late as the mid-1990s used to consider it a legit play so long the stick was a "barrier" and not swung like a bat.

I don't necessarily agree with everything...but I see the merit of his arguments.

An interesting read...

100% agree that players should be able to protect themselves - i dont really think throwing the red line back in will do anything for the game but I'm all for the rest.
- Joel_Eh

I'm on the fence about the redline...one thing with the longer passes, it takes more time for the puck to get there giving time for the defensive players to move into position for a big hit...

All excellent points, Chuck, especially with regard to allowing players to police the game and protect themselves. I grew up in the game when, as did you, only the customers wore hats and the players didn't, and it seemed that this and the ability (and expectation) that the participants were allowed to largely police the game and themselves resulted to both fewer injuries and greater respect among the players. I miss that clarity in today's game.


When players "didn't wear hats" and (mostly) policed themselves. (Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Red Wings - 1953)

Thanks for the read! Spot on with a handful of league issues that no one talks about. Enjoyed the "chuckle of the day," hope that continues!

There's a problem in the NHLPA, too, when the rats are defended, having their suspensions appealed and the victims are the skilled players that keep getting hurt. So... we have an NHL that will root out its skill via attrition and a justice system that lacks bite to deter the rats. Meanwhile this same league fosters "dancing bear" side-shows of goon on goon fighting that has nothing to do with momentum in the game.

The game needs players that can play hockey. Not meatheads in hockey player's gear. That's what Halloween is for. The 80's featured fights, sure, but they were between two guys who also had hockey skill.

Mr. Marsh, I enjoyed watching you play in the orange and black. Your opinion on the game we love carries weight. I hope it carries over to the suits that are guiding the NHL's future.

Totally! Could not agree more.

Mark Messier was one of the best at making you pay a price to land a hit on him.

Then why not make the ice surface larger, as in olympic hockey, to give players more time and space? I would also like to see off setting penalties play 4 aside, 4-3 and so forth too. No touch icing while were at it.

Then why not make the ice surface larger, as in olympic hockey, to give players more time and space? I would also like to see off setting penalties play 4 aside, 4-3 and so forth too. No touch icing while were at it.
- Up2nuthun

That would mean modifying every single arena. Way too much money to change the ice.

Forgot to mention the dumbest rule in hockey the trapezoid. That thing serves no purpose at all. Almost never get a chance to see a goalie score im shocked smith did last week. Not allowing goalies to get the puck in the corner also has increased Dmen getting smashed on the forecheck. They talk about safety but then have this thing in which increases dangerous hits.

Forgot to mention the dumbest rule in hockey the trapezoid. That thing serves no purpose at all. Almost never get a chance to see a goalie score im shocked smith did last week. Not allowing goalies to get the puck in the corner also has increased Dmen getting smashed on the forecheck. They talk about safety but then have this thing in which increases dangerous hits.
- NickA

and the over the glass delay of game calls, and the new hybrid icing is misguided. just put automatic icing in and call it a day.

1) leave the red line out. If we go back to dead puck, trap hockey I'm done as a fan.
2) ditch hybrid icing and just make it automatic icing already
3) keep the penalty for shooting it over the glass
4) don't fool with net sizes. Ever.

and the over the glass delay of game calls, and the new hybrid icing is misguided. just put automatic icing in and call it a day.
- hammarby31

If the over the glass penalty is removed and I'm a defense men in trouble, I throw it over the glass. Scuderi showed that by throwing the puck into the bench while in trouble during a Kings game last season. Most of the time that's not an option (I'm surprised it doesn't happen more). If you are in a tied game seven in the playoffs and you throw it over the ice then you screwed up and your team has to pay the price and kill the penalty.

Do you think if players could protect themselves the amount of "dirty hits " would go down ?
- jaumiller

Yes the hits would go way, simply because a number players would begin to think twice before "running" over a player

Mark Messier was one of the best at making you pay a price to land a hit on him.
- Pixote Andolini

Yes, I agree Mark was one of the best at it! In fact Mark would have been suspended many times over in today's game.
But I would like to clarify -- when I state that players need to protect themselves, I do not mean that in doing so they can make the player pay - the old saying -- 2 wrongs don't make it right.

Then why not make the ice surface larger, as in olympic hockey, to give players more time and space? I would also like to see off setting penalties play 4 aside, 4-3 and so forth too. No touch icing while were at it.
- Up2nuthun

A bigger ice surface such as they have in Europe does not necessarily make for a better game - they are almost too big. But the NHL could have made several of the newer rinks a few feet wider and longer - this in itself would have made a nice difference.