Damien Cox is one of the most respected writers in all of hockey. I grew up reading Damien and have always found him to be fair and balanced. In his blog today titled:
Pointless and Dangerous, Cox makes some great points.
"Let's be clear. This oaf on skates doesn't score goals, or set up plays, or generate a forecheck or even protect his teammates. Ever since he's been in the league, he has been known as a player who does one of three things every time he's on the ice:
1) Takes about 25 strides and charges an opponent.
2) Leaves his feet to hit an opponent.
3) Hits opponents from behind."
Cox then gives advice to the Leafs that I think suggests a level of responsibility that needs to be heard...
"The smartest thing the Leafs could do now with Hollweg is waive him without sending him to the Marlies where he'd then endanger the hockey careers of unsuspecting AHLers."
And then a clear message to the NHL:
The NHL, meanwhile, should tack on 40 games to the three games Hollweg is supposed to get. He clearly doesn't get the message, and he has consistently demonstrated utter disdain for the health of other hockey players...He just doesn't care."
and finally...
"Actually, what would be most useful would be if the Leafs were to suspend Hollweg themselves after his idiotic and pointless hit on St. Louis defenceman Alex Pietrangelo on Monday that, to a significant degree, cost the Leafs the hockey game in a 5-4 defeat."
and then he calls out Fletcher...
"But that said, Hollweg doesn't deserve to wear this team's jersey. That Fletcher would call the hit "marginal" is just a GM trying to defend a bad trade, and having Wilson say the hit was "debatable" goes contrary to everything he's said so far about making his players accountable, about a no-nonsense approach and tough love to make these players learn to play the right way...Dump him. Now."
There are plenty of debatable points but the one that isn't debatable is accountability. It doesn't exist on so many levels in sports right now.
But do you blame Hollweg, and question how a player could come off one suspension and then get another immediately?
Or is Hollweg a victim of circumstance. Can you blame Hollweg for "playing his style" when so much emphasis has been made that is it his responsibility to play "the only way he knows how to" and to fill the "Tucker role."
In Hollweg's case I don't buy this. I agree with almost everything that Cox says with one exception...I do think Hollweg CAN play. Ryan actually is a solid penalty killer and has an upside that stretches past this goonery.
There are those who will say that last night's hit didn't warrant a suspension. That indeed the hit wasn't as bad as many other hits from behind. That Hollweg's reputation along with the player reaction were the reasons it was called.
And yes, I actually agree. Last night I watched Flyers rookie Luca Sbisa get trashed on a hit from behind by Kovalev. Luca, amazingly bounced back up and took the puck and skated up ice. If Sbisa had been prone on the ice I guarantee we'd be talking about that hit today as well. And I am sure you could all tell me about similar hits every night...
But reputations are what they are...
Is that fair? What do you all think?
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I have been working on a rumour this morning that is pretty big. I hope to have some stuff "on the record" by 4pm.
stay tuned.
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