Good point & players handle themselves & not leave it to refs & the league.
- Nighthawk

Yeah lets have Weber cross check Matthews in the back and have Matthews taking clappers at Webers head.

Great for the game, everyone wins.

It used to be known as "Hudson Bay Rules" come playoff time. Us Red Wings fans used to whine about it all the time in the 90s. Until the team finally figured out that instead of complaining about it, do something about it. Hence the Shanny trade. More North-South. Less East-West. More minutes for the Grind Line. More minutes for McCarty and Lapointe. More will. Less skill. Get a proper balance. 👍
- gergeswillems

Too many ballerinas in todays game that has changed the landscape. Sure we all want scoring & entertainment but this isn’t flag football.

Playing in the NHL is no less safe than working on a construction site.

They should just be happy to make millions playing a game, and not have to get up everyday and stand around for a safety meeting and hope someone doesn't drop a hammer on their heads.

Theres always risk. Hockey is relatively safe, the players know what they signed up for.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Health and wellness over money man.

Just because these guys make a lot of money does not mean we can think of their health and wellness any less than a guy making 14$ an hour.

Health is the priority.

Gallagher must have received a thousand crosschecks in front of that net.

Don't remember anyone complaining about it. Especially not him.
- Scabeh

that comparison doesn't fly... for one simple reason - usually, not always, but certainly the majority of the time Gallagher initiates contact with the goalie and is bending over.. so quite frankly its harder to cross check the midget.

has he absorbed punishment, sure he has. Has he initiated contact 60-70% of the time - surely he has.

and he gets mostly face washes and punches in the head after the play.

Hey, another dumb take. Agents perform a series of services for their clients including talking to the press when required. And leeches? Is this the 1950s where players are just happy to sign whatever owners put in front of them?
- Canada Cup

Yup

So their job is to represent players....but they aren't allowed to speak on behalf of their client? Who is making these rules?

Good point & players handle themselves & not leave it to refs & the league.
- Nighthawk

Or (frank) his wife or maybe key his car. Oh I know, get pizzas sent to his house.

We sure don’t want to leave it to the refs to call penalties when rules are broken. Manly men don’t do that.

Yeah not quite sure I totally agree on this... yes agents can be leeches 100% but if you’re Matthews agent would you want to see his career shortened by an avoidable injury? When it comes to a players health their agent has a personal stake in it as well which to me justifies them in voicing their opinions.
- Dozzer

Agents should be agents. Idgaf tbh about their opinions. They don’t decide on how the game is played or officiated. Their is the NHLPA & the league & it’s refs. That is enough.

Health and wellness over money man.

Just because these guys make a lot of money does not mean we can think of their health and wellness any less than a guy making 14$ an hour.

Health is the priority.
- Santo_44

They already done lots to make it safer. At some point regulating everything will fundamentally change the sport. Its far safer now than in the 90's.

As a regular person, id much rather be a hockey player making the money they do, than working a regular joe job, with a regular wage.

Too many ballerinas in todays game that has changed the landscape. Sure we all want scoring & entertainment but this isn’t flag football.
- Nighthawk

priority of health and wellness has been constantly and slowly growing in every facet of life...Sorry that it has also crept into the sport you watch. You poor thing.

Oh biased absolutely

But they do have a personal stake in the matter all the same

Just wish they were more honest about it and would stop with this on behalf of the player BS
- Dozzer

They go to the bank with their meal tickets.
Idc if they starve.

that comparison doesn't fly... for one simple reason - usually, not always, but certainly the majority of the time Gallagher initiates contact with the goalie and is bending over.. so quite frankly its harder to cross check the midget.

has he absorbed punishment, sure he has. Has he initiated contact 60-70% of the time - surely he has.

and he gets mostly face washes and punches in the head after the play.



- BorjeFan4Ever

Completely disagree with almost everything in your post. But we're still cool.

Kinda thinking with his shot accuracy, Auston should just ease in over the blue line and release a couple of those wristers, at eye level at both Weber and Chariot. Bet they get the message really quick
- Leafsmart

exactly.


don't need to actually hit them in the head... but certainly sends a clear message.

Salming used to fire pucks off the glass immediately adjacent to the officials... when he was outraged by their calls. As a kids used to attend many games the MLG... there was often conversations between the whistles where the officials came to speak to him. Hilarious to watch the body language.

Agents should be agents. Idgaf tbh about their opinions. They don’t decide on how the game is played or officiated. Their is the NHLPA & the league & it’s refs. That is enough.
- Nighthawk

If you don’t want to absorb what an agent has to say then don’t listen. Problem solved.

Don’t want too many rules right?

Nighthawk is here to troll. Don’t waste your time.
- shack67

Stay in school 👍

Stay in school 👍
- Nighthawk

If you disagree with him he'll call you a troll.

Completely disagree with almost everything in your post. But we're still cool.

- Scabeh

with other fans/fanbases this would be a "storm the capitol" argument....

probably too soon.. but it always fascinates me how similar US political affiliation is to the Yankees/RedSox, or other sporting rivalries are in the US.

Leafs/Habs fans don't like each other... but I don't think it gets to the hatred level like it does down in the US

They already done lost to make it safer. At some point regulating everything will fundamentally change the sport. Its far safer now than in the 90's.

As a regular person, id much rather be a hockey player making the money they do, and working a regular joe job, with a regular wage.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Good for you.

Tell that to the countless players who have a much less quality of life than you do because they played the sport.

A friend of mine was drafted in the top 60 of the draft almost a decade ago, I will not say his name out of respect for him...He can't play hockey anymore, he has multiple concussion problems to this day that has lowered his quality of life significantly. There are a lot of silent sufferers that go along with the big names you hear...we have learned a lot from science and trail and error and it is very unfair of you to say wloud rather be in their shoes...because many are suffering because of these poor rules that were in place.

Too many ballerinas in todays game that has changed the landscape. Sure we all want scoring & entertainment but this isn’t flag football.
- Nighthawk

It’s good to hear from the anti-ballerina squad. It’s too bad these professional athletes don’t measure up for you. I assume that you set the same very standards in masculinity for yourself as well.

Just a suggestion: why not just keep to the Leaf trolling

Hey, another dumb take. Agents perform a series of services for their clients including talking to the press when required. And leeches? Is this the 1950s where players are just happy to sign whatever owners put in front of them?
- Canada Cup

I didn’t say they are not necessary. If I did then Ballard would be my hero instead of the greatest ass ever known to Leaf fans or any fan. I don’t like agents pushing for policy in the media. Lawyers are not on Christmas card list nor ever will be.

with other fans/fanbases this would be a "storm the capitol" argument....

probably too soon.. but it always fascinates me how similar US political affiliation is to the Yankees/RedSox, or other sporting rivalries are in the US.

Leafs/Habs fans don't like each other... but I don't think it gets to the hatred level like it does down in the US
- BorjeFan4Ever

Agreed.

If anything, despite wishing nothing but misery to them, I still respect the Leafs and what they represent.

Good for you.

Tell that to the countless players who have a much less quality of life than you do because they played the sport.

A friend of mine was drafted in the top 60 of the draft almost a decade ago, I will not say his name out of respect for him...He can't play hockey anymore, he has multiple concussion problems to this day that has lowered his quality of life significantly. There are a lot of silent sufferers that go along with the big names you hear...we have learned a lot from science and trail and error and it is very unfair of you to say wloud rather be in their shoes...because many are suffering because of these poor rules that were in place.
- Santo_44

Oil workers i knew are now dead.

People who work for a living, always face danger. Thats life.

If you don’t want to absorb what an agent has to say then don’t listen. Problem solved.

Don’t want too many rules right?
- Dozzer

so let me get this straight... the referee is saying there's too many rules

Hey Dozzer!

Playing in the NHL is no less safe than working on a construction site.

They should just be happy to make millions playing a game, and not have to get up everyday and stand around for a safety meeting and hope someone doesn't drop a hammer on their heads.

Theres always risk. Hockey is relatively safe, the players know what they signed up for.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Oh it sucks to get paid gobs of millions lol

Lets stand up for their right to do so. Btw I never said I condoned cross checks but I’ll also not lose my poop over every lil thing a star has to contend with.

I didn’t say they are not necessary. If I did then Ballard would be my hero instead of the greatest ass ever known to Leaf fans or any fan. I don’t like agents pushing for policy in the media. Lawyers are not on Christmas card list nor ever will be.
- Nighthawk

Players pay them to act on their behalf. If that means talking to the press, picking up laundry or negotiating contracts, that’s between them. Sorry if it upsets you.

Oil workers i knew are now dead.

People who work for a living, always face danger. Thats life.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

hockey players aren't oil workers.

They play a game. There are absolutely zero comparisons there.