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Loading ...Another weekend in the NHL, and another couple hits to the head.
Let’s go to the videotape.
People’s Exhibit A: Feeling invulnerable after getting what amounts to no suspension for his elbow on Tomas Kaberle, Cam Janssen decides to launch an elbow at Chad LaRose’s head in retaliation for little Rosie hanging two goals on whiny bitch Marty Brodeur and helping chase Brodeur from the net in yesterday’s 7-1 Romp in the Swamp.
People’s Exhibit B: Jordin Tootoo lays out Mike Modano fair and square (and gets slashed for it–with, of course, no call–by Modano), then does the foolish thing and turns to sucker-punch Stephane Robidas and lay him flat out on the ice at the Litter Box. I understand defending oneself, I really do–but there’s a very fine line between self defense and a sucker-punch, and Toots crossed that line.
Be that as it may:
This shit has got to stop. I don’t give a tinker’s damn what some knuckledragger thinks about crap like this. Nobody–and I mean nobody–deserves that. This isn’t part of “The Code”. This isn’t part of “hard-hitting hockey”. This is complete and utter bulldada, it’s a danger to the health of the players, it’s a complete and utter lack of respect, it’s been allowed to go on for far too long, and Clownshoe Colin Campbell needs to do one of two things:
1) Step up to the plate and start levying some meaningful suspensions and fines on a consistent basis any time a hit gets delivered to a player’s head–whether that player is a first-liner or an ECHL callup.
2) Step aside and let somebody come in who has the bollocks to step up and do 1).
That’s the way it’s gotta be.
Oh…Tootoo is supposed to just stand still and let a fast moving stars player help Modano double team him. Looks more like he just wanted to keep it 1 on 1.
Tootoo deserves 10 games and Modano 5. Robidas might have been out to knock Tootoo’s head off, but he didn’t get the chance. He’s already paying for anything he may have been out to do.
Tootoo is supposed to just stand still and let a fast moving stars player help Modano double team him.
Not at all, not at all–I wasn’t clear, my bad. The wiser course of action would have been to turn to face Robidas and give him the opportunity to drop the gloves or to draw a clear charging penalty and give the Preds the power play.
I understand why Toots went for the sucker-punch, but it wasn’t a smart move.
Agreed….Also, Modano didn’t smash him with his stick so they could skate back to the bench holding hands. I mean it was go time and toots new homey was coming fast. He either gives it or gets it yeah? This does not compare to some recent unnamed events. Except for the goonery part. Ciao.
But…when Ovie ran Briere earlier this year, you thought that was OK. Or, if not OK, just a little teenie step over the line.
Think a lot of the crap that’s happened the last few weeks could’ve been prevented if Ovie - Mr. Superstar himself - got three games for shouldering Briere late, from behind, into the boards? Think that would’ve sent a message, that the NHL was going to police its players (even if a showdown with Sidney Crosby was coming up on Vs.)?
I don’t mean to throw gas on the smouldering fire between “Caniacs” (well, amybe a little) and Sabre fans, but when Briere got laid out, the consensus outside the 716 area code seemed to be: a.) it looked worse than it really was; b.) Ovie’s just an aggressive player, and Briere should have somehow seen it coming; c.) Briere was “diving;” or d.) hockey was a man’s sport, and by complaining, we were acting like sissies. Well, look what’s happened since then — there’s no accountability, and we are getting dangerously close to seeing a player killed on the ice.
So while I agree with your post, I wish you — and a lot of other fans — would’ve started banging the drum a whole lot sooner.
something I haven’t seen emphasized much is the acts preceeding the violence. I’ve seen the modano slash mentioned, but there have been more incidents where the violent act was preceded by a penalty that wasn’t called. Even the Chris Simon stick was preceded by a pretty clear boarding penalty that wasn’t called. You could see him get up looking to see if a cal was made, before he went after revenge himself. Maybe if the ref’s started calling the rough stuff when it happens, there wouldn’t be as much retaliation. I’m not saying they’re right, but the way the players seem to perceive it now, they have to defend themselves, because the ref’s aren’t doing a very good job.
But…when Ovie ran Briere earlier this year, you thought that was OK. Or, if not OK, just a little teenie step over the line.
Hello, apples and oranges?
Did Ovechkin level an elbow or stick or a gloved fist at Briere’s head? No. Did Briere suffer a hit to the head? No.
I fail to see what the relevance is.