Strictly in the interest of impartiality, can I suggest you watch Andrew Shaw closely game to game. He's hardly an angel out there.
- RickJ

I don't think I suggested that he is an angel. If I did, please cite it for me. Shaw is a high energy player who gets under the skin of the other team. I like a lot about Downie's game, but that was over the top. Are you suggesting Shaw has a history of dirty hits similar to the two that have been discussed here? And that I'm looking the other way on Shaw's very similar hits? If so, do share.

Cheers...Downie will get his someday...always happens.

Rozy and Brookbank scratched tonight per Myers. Hope Rozy's not ailing.
- philco28

Q said in his Q&A that in the first several games he wants to get everyone in to play.

Cheers...Downie will get his someday...always happens.

Rozy and Brookbank scratched tonight per Myers. Hope Rozy's not ailing.
- philco28

Q has said in the past few days that he wants to get everyone into a game as early as possible. Maybe that's what he's doing here with Rozy.

What goes around comes around. Torres found that out.
- rtang415

Hard to run from the laws of nature.

Hard to run from the laws of nature.
- philco28

Yep.

Said it a few days ago...the Avs are once again a PROBLEM. Young, talented as phuck and now have a head coach with the resume that spells PURE WINNER...despite the fact he's a sack o poop.
- philco28

But what kind of winner? Great observation on Roy's look after that hit. Total hypocrite after his reaction to Lovejoy the other night. I'm becoming convinced Roy is going to turn these kids into the new Canucks.

Shanahan looks totally inconsistent again. With Downie's history he should have been suspended.

They still need D to become a real contender. Probably goaltending as well.

According to the Predator's blog Shanny has said no further action in regards to Downie will be taken.
- rtang415

Gotta be tough for a player to know what's okay and what isn't.

Q has said in the past few days that he wants to get everyone into a game as early as possible. Maybe that's what he's doing here with Rozy.
- mohel

Rozy needs to sit at least every 3rd game. A lot of wear on those tires. Hope Kostka is the answer as we know Brookstank probably is not.

I don't think I suggested that he is an angel. If I did, please cite it for me. Shaw is a high energy player who gets under the skin of the other team. I like a lot about Downie's game, but that was over the top. Are you suggesting Shaw has a history of dirty hits similar to the two that have been discussed here? And that I'm looking the other way on Shaw's very similar hits? If so, do share.
- mohel

I wasn't taking issue with anything you said. Just pointing out that Shaw brings his own brand of nastiness to the game. It doesn't get as bad as Downie because I think Shaw knows there is a line established by the coaching staff that he can't cross. But I do expect a confrontation between him and Downie when the 2 teams play.

But what kind of winner? Great observation on Roy's look after that hit. Total hypocrite after his reaction to Lovejoy the other night. I'm becoming convinced Roy is going to turn these kids into the new Canucks.

Shanahan looks totally inconsistent again. With Downie's history he should have been suspended.

They still need D to become a real contender. Probably goaltending as well.
- tredbrta

Shanahan looks totally inconsistent again. With Downie's history he should have been suspended.

Downie's past history should have preceded him here and warranted a suspension.

But what kind of winner? Great observation on Roy's look after that hit. Total hypocrite after his reaction to Lovejoy the other night. I'm becoming convinced Roy is going to turn these kids into the new Canucks.

Shanahan looks totally inconsistent again. With Downie's history he should have been suspended.

They still need D to become a real contender. Probably goaltending as well.
- tredbrta

It's a great question ? Roy has a SMASH MOUTH personality that has yielded Hall of Fame results. Avs D is their Achilles no doubt, but i really like Varlamov and he now has the ideal mentor from a positional standpoint.

I don't think I suggested that he is an angel. If I did, please cite it for me. Shaw is a high energy player who gets under the skin of the other team. I like a lot about Downie's game, but that was over the top. Are you suggesting Shaw has a history of dirty hits similar to the two that have been discussed here? And that I'm looking the other way on Shaw's very similar hits? If so, do share.
- mohel

Well said. Downie has a history of suspensions and all out assaults at every level he has played - including a 20 game suspension for slashing an official in the AHL. Shaw is an edgy player with a single, very questionable suspension.

No comparison whatsoever.

I wasn't taking issue with anything you said. Just pointing out that Shaw brings his own brand of nastiness to the game. It doesn't get as bad as Downie because I think Shaw knows there is a line established by the coaching staff that he can't cross. But I do expect a confrontation between him and Downie when the 2 teams play.
- RickJ

Totally agree. I've got Shaw in the Marchand/Bolland grouping. But I have Downie in the Torres/Cooke class (or lack thereof). I think the line is somewhere in between them. I'd like to see that confrontation be with Bollig.

According to the Predator's blog Shanny has said no further action in regards to Downie will be taken.
- rtang415

And another piece of evidence that the league cares nothing about player safety, hybrid icing be damned.

If high sticking penalties recognize the players have to be in control of their sticks and not let them hit opponents' heads, why can't it be that players have to be on control of their hands, arms and shoulders, and not let THOSE appendages hit opponents' heads?

Sticks on the ice, skates remain on the ice, finish checks THROUGH a player, not UP INTO a player.

It's a great question ? Roy has a SMASH MOUTH personality that has yielded Hall of Fame results. Avs D is a their Achilles no doubt, but i really like Varlamov and he now has the ideal mentor from a positional standpoint.
- philco28

Roy may help Varlamov a lot. Not sure. Russian's can be really flaky. Of course, Roy defined flaky himself.

With McGinn, McCleod, Bordelaux, Downie et al they have got a whole lot of nasty on that team. This is the kind of team Winchester needs to be brought up for....

Totally agree. I've got Shaw in the Marchand/Bolland grouping. But I have Downie in the Torres/Cooke class (or lack thereof). I think the line is somewhere in between them. I'd like to see that confrontation be with Bollig.
- mohel

I just circled Dec 27 as a game I'm definitely going to.

And another piece of evidence that the league cares nothing about player safety, hybrid icing be damned.

If high sticking penalties recognize the players have to be in control of their sticks and not let them hit opponents' heads, why can't it be that players have to be on control of their hands, arms and shoulders, and not let THOSE appendages hit opponents' heads?

Sticks on the ice, skates remain on the ice, finish checks THROUGH a player, not UP INTO a player.
- StLBravesFan

Great point about the absolute liability for the stick, no matter the intent. Also clear that the stance on players safety is simply PR (not just because of this ruling).

Roy may help Varlamov a lot. Not sure. Russian's can be really flaky. Of course, Roy defined flaky himself.

With McGinn, McCleod, Bordelaux, Downie et al they have got a whole lot of nasty on that team. This is the kind of team Winchester needs to be brought up for....
- tredbrta

I think for some guys the presence of such an all-time great goalie would be a real benefit. But I also think Roy's presence could scare the brown stuff out of some weak-minded goalies. Not sure which category Varlamov falls, but the Avs are gonna be interesting to watch, I think.

And another piece of evidence that the league cares nothing about player safety, hybrid icing be damned.

If high sticking penalties recognize the players have to be in control of their sticks and not let them hit opponents' heads, why can't it be that players have to be on control of their hands, arms and shoulders, and not let THOSE appendages hit opponents' heads?

Sticks on the ice, skates remain on the ice, finish checks THROUGH a player, not UP INTO a player.
- StLBravesFan

Shanahan looks utterly ridiculous again. If suspension history is a key factor then this is a perfect example of an offender who should be suspended even if the hit was borderline.

Was Shanny taking it easy because Roy got a $10k fine earlier this week?

Downie is back 3 games and pulls this. Before his AHL and injury hiatus he was easily in the Torres/Cooke class of douchebags. Total fail on the NHL here.

I think for some guys the presence of such an all-time great goalie would be a real benefit. But I also think Roy's presence could scare the brown stuff out of some weak-minded goalies. Not sure which category Varlamov falls, but the Avs are gonna be interesting to watch, I think.
- mohel

Varlamov had some weird rumors about his antics in the Caps system. Walked out on the team or something. He seems to have it together now but I never bet on Russian goalies.

Gotta be tough for a player to know what's okay and what isn't.
- mohel

No, it isn't.

Don't hit the head under any circumstance.

Skates and stick on the ice.

Check through a player,not up and into his head.

If a playet's head is down, don't use that as an excuse to smash his head.

Do you think the players couldn't follow these guidelines if they wanted to?

Bull shiit.

No, it isn't.

Don't hit the head under any circumstance.

Skates and stick on the ice.

Check through a player,not up and into his head.

If a playet's head is down, don't use that as an excuse to smash his head.

Do you think the players couldn't follow these guidelines if they wanted to?

Bull shiit.
- StLBravesFan

I think the guideline should be there but I do not believe it is possible to eliminate head hits without banning contact. There is a lot of emotion and adrenaline on the ice. The game is fast. The head contact will happen.

When it is clearly deliberate and the offender has a history you make examples of them.

It's a great question ? Roy has a SMASH MOUTH personality that has yielded Hall of Fame results. Avs D is a their Achilles no doubt, but i really like Varlamov and he now has the ideal mentor from a positional standpoint.
- philco28

Meanwhile, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy thought otherwise, telling Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, "That was a great hit I thought. I don't know, I need to re-look at it, but I thought it was a fair check."

And, if the check had been Weber on MacKinnon, Roy would have had a tantrum on the bench.

Meanwhile, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy thought otherwise, telling Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, "That was a great hit I thought. I don't know, I need to re-look at it, but I thought it was a fair check."

And, if the check had been Weber on MacKinnon, Roy would have had a tantrum on the bench.
- tredbrta

Might have tried to knock over the partition between the benches.

Meanwhile, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy thought otherwise, telling Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, "That was a great hit I thought. I don't know, I need to re-look at it, but I thought it was a fair check."

And, if the check had been Weber on MacKinnon, Roy would have had a tantrum on the bench.
- tredbrta

Typical duplicity from a Quebecer - and his NHL coaching career has just begun.