Once the concussion stuff gets sorted out, no more fights, no more head shots... One hopes
Too many dinosaurs at Nhl headquarters yet - Hawkjet
I'm a dinosaur too, but I'd be fine with that. Even though I think it's a dream. And your dinosaur comment is accurate. I think ridding the game of stickwork will go a long way to greatly reduce fighting. Stickhandling is for the puck, not the other player.
And ffs, do something about the ballistic plastic in the equipment.
I'm a dinosaur too, but I'd be fine with that. Even though I think it's a dream. And your dinosaur comment is accurate. I think ridding the game of stickwork will go a long way to greatly reduce fighting. Stickhandling is for the puck, not the other player.
And ffs, do something about the ballistic plastic in the equipment. - 6628
Hey I'm old enough to qualify for dinosaur status myself, trying to evolve though
I could live without fighting.
I think the headshots have to go, like now. A couple game suspension isn't anything really and the fact Matt Cooke and Raffi Torres were allowed to roam the ice for years says it all about Nhl management. And coaches.
Once Q and his ilk retire finally there might be some changes. I'm worried about Schmaltz already and when is The Cat going to get lit up? The Captain already looks a little used up.
Hey I'm old enough to qualify for dinosaur status myself, trying to evolve though
I could live without fighting.
I think the headshots have to go, like now. A couple game suspension isn't anything really and the fact Matt Cooke and Raffi Torres were allowed to roam the ice for years says it all about Nhl management. And coaches.
Once Q and his ilk retire finally there might be some changes. I'm worried about Schmaltz already and when is The Cat going to get lit up? The Captain already looks a little used up. - Hawkjet
Pretty ridiculous the league didn't even bat an eye at Schmaltz getting drilled in the head without the puck.
And - what if - Hayden busted his hand up with that punch - fair trade, Foligno for Hayden?
I know - he didn’t get his hand busted up - so it’s OK, I guess.
I may be wrong - but my guess is (quoting my words of wisdom at the end of the last blog) - hard, but legal and appropriate, hits have more of a deterrent effect than fights between fighters who will not back off from a fight. - StLBravesFan
I will just say this, I watched Ice Guardians on Netflix last night and that movie absolutely proves why there needs to be fights in hockey (and with good reason)! Don't believe me? Watch it. Without Dave Semenko, Gretzky would've gotten destroyed 1st season out. Without Tony Twist, same for Brett Hull...who said so in the film. Hell even Chelios said he felt better when Probert and Grimson were around. Deterrents DO matter folks!!!
I will just say this, I watched Ice Guardians on Netflix last night and that movie absolutely proves why there needs to be fights in hockey (and with good reason)! Don't believe me? Watch it. Without Dave Semenko, Gretzky would've gotten destroyed 1st season out. Without Tony Twist, same for Brett Hull...who said so in the film. Hell even Chelios said he felt better when Probert and Grimson were around. Deterrents DO matter folks!!! - Murph76
NO WAY MAN! I literally watched that Netflix Documentary last night too! Awesome insight into all angles of the debate. Could not agree more with the premise of the film.
NO WAY MAN! I literally watched that Netflix Documentary last night too! Awesome insight into all angles of the debate. Could not agree more with the premise of the film. - EnzoD
Enzo! You and me are rarely if ever not on the same page bud...cheers
I will just say this, I watched Ice Guardians on Netflix last night and that movie absolutely proves why there needs to be fights in hockey (and with good reason)! Don't believe me? Watch it. Without Dave Semenko, Gretzky would've gotten destroyed 1st season out. Without Tony Twist, same for Brett Hull...who said so in the film. Hell even Chelios said he felt better when Probert and Grimson were around. Deterrents DO matter folks!!! - Murph76
They needed those guys back then when those guys were also doing the head hunting. The game is different now. You have to be able to play hockey if you're gonna also enforce.
They needed those guys back then when those guys were also doing the head hunting. The game is different now. You have to be able to play hockey if you're gonna also enforce. - JRoenick97
JR, some of those guys COULD play hockey! Probert put up points, Manson put up points, they weren't all head hunters. But yes I agree, if you can't skate...you shouldn't play.
They needed those guys back then when those guys were also doing the head hunting. The game is different now. You have to be able to play hockey if you're gonna also enforce. - JRoenick97
There is a big difference between the stupid, staged fighting by designated goons that evolved over the years in North American pro hockey and what will never go away - intimidation, which is part of the competitive fabric of the game and always will be.
Intimidation takes many forms and there is no penalty for it, if carried out correctly. But as you say, even the intimidators have to be able to play the game at least a little bit now.
I will just say this, I watched Ice Guardians on Netflix last night and that movie absolutely proves why there needs to be fights in hockey (and with good reason)! Don't believe me? Watch it. Without Dave Semenko, Gretzky would've gotten destroyed 1st season out. Without Tony Twist, same for Brett Hull...who said so in the film. Hell even Chelios said he felt better when Probert and Grimson were around. Deterrents DO matter folks!!! - Murph76
Murph, i hear ya but I DO think the instigator rule has somewhat mitigated the protection/deterrence factor of fighting—but not completely.
Burish saiod something really important. Big hits definitely and fights somewhat change the psychology of a game. Speed and physicality can really change a hockey game on the ice.
Hey I'm old enough to qualify for dinosaur status myself, trying to evolve though
I could live without fighting.
I think the headshots have to go, like now. A couple game suspension isn't anything really and the fact Matt Cooke and Raffi Torres were allowed to roam the ice for years says it all about Nhl management. And coaches.
Once Q and his ilk retire finally there might be some changes. I'm worried about Schmaltz already and when is The Cat going to get lit up? The Captain already looks a little used up. - Hawkjet
OK, call me a meatball (would be the second time today, Gatekeeper got me earlier LOL), but IMO when a Raffi Torres runs a guy like he did Hossa, someone takes the instigator and preferably someone like Hayden or gorilla salad or Brouwer who can send the message. Even Seabrook who can take care of things if pushed.
Problem is guys like Torres and especially Kronwall would always turtle when challenged. Bickell gave Kronwall some payback in 2013 though.
OK, call eme a meatball (would be the second time today, Gatekeeper got me earlier LOL), but IMO when a Raffi Torres runs a guy like he did Hossa, someone takes the instigator and preferably someone like Hayden or gorilla salad or Brouwer who can send the message. Even Seabrook who can take care of things if pushed.
Problem is guys like Torres and especially Kronwall would always turtle when challenged. Bickell gave Kronwall some payback in 2013 though. - John Jaeckel
Murph, i hear ya but I DO think the instigator rule has somewhat mitigated the protection/deterrence factor of fighting—but not completely.
Burish saiod something really important. Big hits definitely and fights somewhat change the psychology of a game. Speed and physicality can really change a hockey game on the ice. - John Jaeckel
Hawks have 3 in the top 25 hit leaders this year, including Hayden at number 1, not sure when that has happened in the past 10 years
For some reason, I can't get the URL thing to work... But as epic as that Bickell hit is, the one from that series I always remember is Shawzie rearranging the construction of Carlo Colaiacovo's spinal column...
For some reason, I can't get the URL thing to work... But as epic as that Bickell hit is, the one from that series I always remember is Shawzie rearranging the construction of Carlo Colaiacovo's spinal column...
Epic because it was a guy like Kronwall who had a reputation of being one of the best hitters in the game even though many of his hits were borderline dirty (or at least illegal) as he often left his feet to deliver the check. Example: his hit on Havlat. Kronwall doesn't do a total Torres torpedo job, but he does leave his feet.
StLBravesFan Season Ticket Holder Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL Joined: 07.03.2011
Oct 13 @ 6:32 PM ET
OK, call me a meatball (would be the second time today, Gatekeeper got me earlier LOL), but IMO when a Raffi Torres runs a guy like he did Hossa, someone takes the instigator and preferably someone like Hayden or gorilla salad or Brouwer who can send the message. Even Seabrook who can take care of things if pushed.
Problem is guys like Torres and especially Kronwall would always turtle when challenged. Bickell gave Kronwall some payback in 2013 though. - John Jaeckel
Bickell’s hit was (as McGuire said) a good clean hit, no? Probably sent much more of a message than if he had dropped the gloves.
If the refs would consistently call the “headhunter” hits, the crosschecks from behind at the net or into the boards, the high hits with no puck in sight (like Johnson on Schmaltz), like they’re calling the slashes now (but for how long) - and if the league would hand out meaningful suspensions (without roster replacement, just IMO on that one) - Torres got 1/2 season I think - perhaps the necessity of sending messages by dropping the gloves would be reduced.
I love hits like Bickell’s on Kronwall -very much a legitimate part of the game.
