I'm not really sure what you're asking? Does anyone speak Blackhawk?
- IanEsplen

The point is it isn't a coincidence that the players consistently targeted by the Canucks with questionable hits that you and your fan base try to pawn off as "hockey plays" are key players on the team. Players like Bolig/Brookbank/Frolik etc aren't. And there's a reason for that, and we all know why.

Hack/goon former player now head coach who perpetuates that type of play & allows it to happen - that's why. It's even more pathetic that Canuck fans aren't up in arms that this head coach still sits behind the bench of such a talented team and actually make excuses for how piss poor of a head coach he's actually been.

Sorry - after reading your column maybe I should come up with "Canuck talk". Ie: excuses and a lack of actually looking at things rationally.

When we had two set lines in the top six, they were playing better;

Daniel Henrik Burrows
Raymond Schroeder Hansen

Kesler coming back threw a wrench into all that, now it'll take awhile before they all find their place again. IMO we are still without a top six winger that we so desperately need!!!

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Does anyone speak Blackhawk?
- IanEsplen

Tell you what, you bring your biased reporting somewhere else. IMHO a one year suspension is not enough for a cowardly hit like that. Bring your biased typical Vancouver crying somewhere else....all you ever do up there is cry. BTW, please don't tell me anymore about how Luongo will bring a package of 3-4 good players as he is clearly overpaid and past his prime and everyone knows he needs to be traded so if I were you I would expect one decent player and a prospect at best.
- bdashaw

so Keith should have been suspended two years then??

Ian Esplen: Getting a point
Getting a point
- IanEsplen

You Vancouver fans, media, players and whole organization are unbelievable.
Since when to you reach for a puck with a forearm/elbow to the back of another players head. It was clear that Hossa had position to recover the puck over Hansen and that's why he gave him a forearm shiver because he knew he was losing the play for the puck.

Tell you what, you bring your biased reporting somewhere else. IMHO a one year suspension is not enough for a cowardly hit like that. Bring your biased typical Vancouver crying somewhere else....all you ever do up there is cry. BTW, please don't tell me anymore about how Luongo will bring a package of 3-4 good players as he is clearly overpaid and past his prime and everyone knows he needs to be traded so if I were you I would expect one decent player and a prospect at best.
- bdashaw

I absolutely LOVE that your blog considers Hossa taking a dive. Seriously, Vancouver accusing anyone else of diving? Obviously Hossa missed the rest of a close game just to sell it more. He'd rather be in the locker room getting a massage. Kesler showed what kind of players Vancouver are great at, DIVING!!! How could you possibly post that about Hossa. Joke, joke joke!

I absolutely LOVE that your blog considers Hossa taking a dive. Seriously, Vancouver accusing anyone else of diving? Obviously Hossa missed the rest of a close game just to sell it more. He'd rather be in the locker room getting a massage. Kesler showed what kind of players Vancouver are great at, DIVING!!! How could you possibly post that about Hossa. Joke, joke joke!
- rockinpepper1

I think we should consult with Mark Recchi. He's an expert in these matters.

I disagree, they both hand their hands up reaching for the puck, Hansen's elbow hit Hossa before the puck arrived. That's the way I see it, I'm sure he didn't let up though. Not intentional by any means.
- LeftCoaster

Either you haven't seen the play since it happened or just bias. The puck was halfway to the ice when Hansen made contact. NHL.com slow mo shows it

Canucks have a tough sked - 5 games in 5 different cities in 8 nights. Inc the travel from VAN to CHI, they'll travel 9057 km.

Wow, gonna be a long week for the guys!!!

on a side note guys, I am working on landing us another Mod.
- IanEsplen

I hope you put my name in...

You Vancouver fans, media, players and whole organization are unbelievable.
Since when to you reach for a puck with a forearm/elbow to the back of another players head. It was clear that Hossa had position to recover the puck over Hansen and that's why he gave him a forearm shiver because he knew he was losing the play for the puck.
- Blackhawks4life

Hansen was protecting himself... he went up for the puck to catch it, realized Hossa was there and kept his forearm out. It was obviously incidental, not sure how you guys think it was malicious.

I hope you put my name in...
- Scooby_Doo

I second this.

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Does anyone speak Blackhawk?
- IanEsplen

I believe he is asking why high talent players like Toews and Hossa seem to be the recipients of these "hockey play" questionable hits, yet no one seems to show the brass tacks to go after a player that might drop the gloves like a Bollig. If Carcillo, Bollig, Mayers targeted players like the Sedins with elbows to the head and avoided Kassian, and other goonish style players then there would be the same question posed by vancouver players. (and please for the love of GOD do not bring up the Keith hit on D. Sedin since we conceded that Keith made a bad retalitory hit and deserved his suspension for it)

I believe that he is addressing the irony that the Hawks skill players catch a lot of "hockey play" cheap shots, yet no one seems to acknowledge that. case in point, a certain Center for the Hawks made that point last year about a couple of skill players on the Canucks.

Hansen was protecting himself... he went up for the puck to catch it, realized Hossa was there and kept his forearm out. It was obviously incidental, not sure how you guys think it was malicious.
- Scooby_Doo

Protecting himself from what?!?! He was in front of Hossa with Hossa's back TURNED to him.

LOL! This is pathetic.

Either you haven't seen the play since it happened or just bias. The puck was halfway to the ice when Hansen made contact. NHL.com slow mo shows it
- NHLHockey7

I saw it in real time and whatever sportsnet pacific showed last night, haven't searched the net this morning nor do I care to. He'll get fined IMO but that's it. I'm sure he meant to make contact with Hossa to try and get the puck, but I don't think there was any viscous intent there.

I believe he is asking why high talent players like Toews and Hossa seem to be the recipients of these "hockey play" questionable hits, yet no one seems to show the brass tacks to go after a player that might drop the gloves like a Bollig. If Carcillo, Bollig, Mayers targeted players like the Sedins with elbows to the head and avoided Kassian, and other goonish style players then there would be the same question posed by vancouver players. (and please for the love of GOD do not bring up the Keith hit on D. Sedin since we conceded that Keith made a bad retalitory hit and deserved his suspension for it)

I believe that he is addressing the irony that the Hawks skill players catch a lot of "hockey play" cheap shots, yet no one seems to acknowledge that. case in point, a certain Center for the Hawks made that point last year about a couple of skill players on the Canucks.
- ikeane

Are you saying the Willie Mitchell hit on Toews was dirty?

I believe he is asking why high talent players like Toews and Hossa seem to be the recipients of these "hockey play" questionable hits, yet no one seems to show the brass tacks to go after a player that might drop the gloves like a Bollig. If Carcillo, Bollig, Mayers targeted players like the Sedins with elbows to the head and avoided Kassian, and other goonish style players then there would be the same question posed by vancouver players. (and please for the love of GOD do not bring up the Keith hit on D. Sedin since we conceded that Keith made a bad retalitory hit and deserved his suspension for it)

I believe that he is addressing the irony that the Hawks skill players catch a lot of "hockey play" cheap shots, yet no one seems to acknowledge that. case in point, a certain Center for the Hawks made that point last year about a couple of skill players on the Canucks.
- ikeane

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

Then again.. that's just "Hawk talk" and an actual blogger here called Hossa a diver and said it wasn't a cheap hit. Pathetic.

Are you saying the Willie Mitchell hit on Toews was dirty?
- nucks_94

Dirty or not dirty.. Mitchell 100% knew exactly what he was doing and intentionally hit him to enact damage. Note: It wasn't against Ben Eager, Bolig, Brookbank, Frolik.. it was against one of their top skilled players as is par for the course with this Vancouver team. Completely missing the point.

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Does anyone speak Common Sense?
- IanEsplen

Fixed.

I believe he is asking why high talent players like Toews and Hossa seem to be the recipients of these "hockey play" questionable hits, yet no one seems to show the brass tacks to go after a player that might drop the gloves like a Bollig. If Carcillo, Bollig, Mayers targeted players like the Sedins with elbows to the head and avoided Kassian, and other goonish style players then there would be the same question posed by vancouver players. (and please for the love of GOD do not bring up the Keith hit on D. Sedin since we conceded that Keith made a bad retalitory hit and deserved his suspension for it)

I believe that he is addressing the irony that the Hawks skill players catch a lot of "hockey play" cheap shots, yet no one seems to acknowledge that. case in point, a certain Center for the Hawks made that point last year about a couple of skill players on the Canucks.
- ikeane

It happens to all players at some point in their careers, but we only focus on the skilled guys because they make the news.

Dirty or not dirty.. Mitchell 100% knew exactly what he was doing and intentionally hit him to enact damage. Note: It wasn't against Ben Eager, Bolig, Brookbank, Frolik.. it was against one of their top skilled players as is par for the course with this Vancouver team. Completely missing the point.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Please. The hit was clean. I guess the Canucks are only allowed to hit your plugs.

It happens to all players at some point in their careers, but we only focus on the skilled guys because they make the news.
- LeftCoaster

Can you name another Hawks player in the last 3 years or so of this rivarly who was the recipient of one of these questionable hits that Canuck fans love to call "hockey plays" that caused actual physical/long term injury to said player?

I'll be waiting....

Please. The hit was clean. I guess the Canucks are only allowed to hit your plugs.
- nucks_94

Again--completely missing the point. My point has nothing to do with the hit being dirty or not.

So how long is it gonna take for AV to set some up a second line??? 20 games, 30 games, before it's too late??? We really need a skilled winger on that second line.