I was in a driver safety class once. Some one asked the instructor who had the right-of-way in a certain circumstance... The instructor said, right-of-way discussions are best left to the lawyers - just avoid the accident. Rinaldo did not have the right-of-way, but Ruhwedel did nothing to avoid the accident.
- leon neon

Agreed, it's partially Ruhwedel's fault for taking a slapshot. He should have known that it was going to result in a flying elbow to the head.

Also, your driving instructor should be fired for that response, as 1) that's a horrible answer and 2) the discussions are left to adjusters, not lawyers. But still, that's a horrible comparison.

It is false in my opinion to place any blame whatsoever on Ruhwedel. And I gave my opinion on the Lindros hit.

I'll explain as simply as I can, what the clear difference that is being missed here is, and then I'm going to move on.

If a player is stickhandling through open ice, with his head down, he is playing carelessly, and is playing the wrong way, leaving himself vulnerable. If a player turns his back purposely, along the boards, to an oncoming checker, he is playing carelessly, and is leaving himself vulnerable. If a player makes a pass and turns to admire his pass, he is playing carelessly, and is playing wrong, leaving himself vulnerable. All of these situations, players are taught in peewee, not to do. Taught to skate with your head up, not to admire your pass, and how to protect yourself from hits along the wall, and in the corners.

Now a player, who has the puck at the point, and has a wide open shot to the net, and takes that shot. And the resultant follow through causes his head to lower. That is not playing careless, nor is it playing the game the wrong way. Nor is a player taught to not take a shot if he might be hit, as a fundamental of Hockey. That play is clearly a different circumstance, and one in which the player taking the shot, cannot be blamed in any way for doing so. It was the correct play, and the player has the right to not get hit in the head because the physical follow through will cause his head to lower. It is a clearly different situation then the Lindros hit, And any other situation where the player getting hit shares some blame due to a careless action on his part.
- MJL

You actually never said (clearly) whether you believe Lindros was to share in the blame. From you said, I can extract that you believe - "Yes Lindros did share blame in his injury". Because as a peewee, he was taught to keep his head up.

We can agree to disagree. I believe a player needs to watch out for themselves, regardless of the circumstance. You do a nice job of summing up your beliefs on "leaving yourself vulnerable". I can buy into that. But, leaving yourself vulnerable not detailed in the official rules - that shooting is or is not omitted, and that's how they teach peewee's... the rule leaves it up to the ref's opinion. I don't like that, it leaves to too much gray area and inconsistency.

Im sold on the fact Rinaldo didn't care.No excuses to me its just like you don't hit a player with his back turned you don't hit a player in vulnerable position either.I don't care what the rules say its about respect and comin sence.
- buffalo 1

That it's not so common?

Agreed, it's partially Ruhwedel's fault for taking a slapshot. He should have known that it was going to result in a flying elbow to the head.

Also, your driving instructor should be fired for that response, as 1) that's a horrible answer and 2) the discussions are left to adjusters, not lawyers. But still, that's a horrible comparison.
- jmatchett383

Fired, are you kidding me. That's a great answer. So, you'd rather be in the right and dead. Than, yield to some one in the wrong and arrive safely. Sorry, haven't had the experience with adjusters - I yield if Rinaldo in the other car. But, I do know enough that discussions are left to lawyers if there is a death involved in an accident

You actually never said (clearly) whether you believe Lindros was to share in the blame. From you said, I can extract that you believe - "Yes Lindros did share blame in his injury". Because as a peewee, he was taught to keep his head up.

We can agree to disagree. I believe a player needs to watch out for themselves, regardless of the circumstance. You do a nice job of summing up your beliefs on "leaving yourself vulnerable". I can buy into that. But, leaving yourself vulnerable not detailed in the official rules - that shooting is or is not omitted, and that's how they teach peewee's... the rule leaves it up to the ref's opinion. I don't like that, it leaves to too much gray area and inconsistency.
- leon neon

This is changing the argument away from if the player is to be partially blamed onto the rules. There is no logical argument that can be made to state that Ruhwedel did anything careless to deserve blame on the play. It's really that simple. Shooting the puck is not a careless act on the ice.

This is changing the argument away from if the player is to be partially blamed onto the rules. There is no logical argument that can be made to state that Ruhwedel did anything careless to deserve blame on the play. It's really that simple. Shooting the puck is not a careless act on the ice.
- MJL

I am baffled that we are even having a discussion about this.

I am baffled that we are even having a discussion about this.
- MBFlyerfan

Complete with driving instructors!

This is changing the argument away from if the player is to be partially blamed onto the rules. There is no logical argument that can be made to state that Ruhwedel did anything careless to deserve blame on the play. It's really that simple. Shooting the puck is not a careless act on the ice.
- MJL

Not really. I said many times, it was an illegal hit via the rules. You're trying to bring rules into this by saying peewee's are taught this or that... The only reason that I brought rules into it was to get some point of view what the definition of Vulnerable is - which there isn't any.

My whole argument was based on what Rinaldo said and disagreeing with Tim's article. Rinaldo said he was to blame, but Ruhwedel shared the blame. My take on his statements were that Rinaldo believe himself to be guilty of an illegal hit, but due to Ruhwedel position (awkward at best) led to the injury. Ruhwedel dropped his head below far below shoulder height in a fast moving hard hitting sport. By definition, that is putting himself into a vulnerable position. All I'm saying is that I understand Rinaldo's point.

Not really. I said many times, it was an illegal hit via the rules. You're trying to bring rules into this by saying peewee's are taught this or that... The only reason that I brought rules into it was to get some point of view what the definition of Vulnerable is - which there isn't any.

My whole argument was based on what Rinaldo said and disagreeing with Tim's article. Rinaldo said he was to blame, but Ruhwedel shared the blame. My take on his statements were that Rinaldo believe himself to be guilty of an illegal hit, but due to Ruhwedel position (awkward at best) led to the injury. Ruhwedel dropped his head below far below shoulder height in a fast moving hard hitting sport. By definition, that is putting himself into a vulnerable position. All I'm saying is that I understand Rinaldo's point.
- leon neon

How does what peewee's are taught, such as skate with your head up, have anything to do with rules? It doesn't.
Vulnerable is like porn. You know it when you see it.
In order for any player to meet your premise, they would simply have to not play the game, and remain on the bench. A player cannot be blamed if they didn't do anything wrong or careless. Which Ruhwedel simply didn't. Rinaldo's point is pure BS, and I hope someone in that locker room sets him straight.

How does what peewee's are taught, such as skate with your head up, have anything to do with rules? It doesn't.
Vulnerable is like porn. You know it when you see it.
In order for any player to meet your premise, they would simply have to not play the game, and remain on the bench. A player cannot be blamed if they didn't do anything wrong or careless. Which Ruhwedel simply didn't. Rinaldo's point is pure BS, and I hope someone in that locker room sets him straight.
- MJL

"Porn, you know it when you see it." Must disagree here... People have wildly different options on what it is and what it isn't. I think you'd get different opinions if you go and asked the people on the streets of Holland versus Iran.

Yes, there is inherent risk stepping out on the ice. It's risky handling the puck, which puts you in the crosshairs. Dropping your head is vulnerable.

"Porn, you know it when you see it." Must disagree here... People have wildly different options on what it is and what it isn't. I think you'd get different opinions if you go and asked the people on the streets of Holland versus Iran.

Yes, there is inherent risk stepping out on the ice. It's risky handling the puck, which puts you in the crosshairs. Dropping your head is vulnerable.
- leon neon

Straw man argument, same as the driving scenario from earlier. So if a player get's elbowed in the head while handling the puck, he is partly to blame for it! It's impossible to shoot a slap shot without changing the level of your head. And that is not a reckless act on the player's behalf. So therefore, no blame can be assigned to that player. So unless there is something more here, I'm done. Because a credible point to blame Ruhwedel, has not been made.

That it's not so common?
- SchennBros

Not amongst your posts, anyways

Tim, why don't you comment on the lack of suspensions for James Neal on your beloved penguins? he is much more reckless and out of control than rinaldo in far more instances.

also, you say the punishment is correct, but if there were 6 games left, he would have gotten 6. doesnt that imply the punishment really wasnt correct in your eyes?
- flyershockey

You do know that James Neal was suspended for 5 games this season, right? A suspension that was very well deserved, I should add.

How about you worry about your own miscreants, and we'll worry about ours.

You do know that James Neal was suspended for 5 games this season, right? A suspension that was very well deserved, I should add.
- Emperor Filonius

Neal still got off easy. Did you happen to catch Paul Stewart's thoughts on Neal from one of his previous blogs?

"To recap, last month Neal got his third strike under the diving protocol. He was given a break. This month, Neal was guilty of at least the seventh League-reviewed play in his career for a reckless or dirty hit. He was given a break again, in the same season where there was no choice but to banish him for five games for kneeing an opponent in the head." - http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=58889

Dude's a piece of trash.

Neal still got off easy. Did you happen to catch Paul Stewart's thoughts on Neal from one of his previous blogs?

"To recap, last month Neal got his third strike under the diving protocol. He was given a break. This month, Neal was guilty of at least the seventh League-reviewed play in his career for a reckless or dirty hit. He was given a break again, in the same season where there was no choice but to banish him for five games for kneeing an opponent in the head." - http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=58889

Dude's a piece of trash.
- wolphnuts12

Of course I read Stewarts article, and you may have noted that I said he got what he deserved. Neal may be dirty, but at least he's a dirty player who is a 40 goal scorer. Rinaldo is just dirty.

Like I said, you worry about your own miscreants and we'll worry about ours.

Of course I read Stewarts article, and you may have noted that I said he got what he deserved.
- Emperor Filonius

He deserved more suspensions than just the 5 gamer though. And that's the point. I'm not debating that the hit was bad. There shouldn't be any head contact in my opinion, but that's his first review in 2 years. Neal gets reviewed all the time. At least 7 times I think that article said? So the Dept. of Player Safety needs to start being consistent.

it wasn't correct, he should have been suspended longer for that hit.

Of course I read Stewarts article, and you may have noted that I said he got what he deserved. Neal may be dirty, but at least he's a dirty player who is a 40 goal scorer. Rinaldo is just dirty.

Like I said, you worry about your own miscreants and we'll worry about ours.
- Emperor Filonius

fair enough. you should follow your own directive and leave the room.

Why can't they admit this, why can't they disclose that? Sheesh

Anywho, you say that Homer has to defend his player and then spend the rest forgetting what you said.

But I agree Rinaldo needs to be spoken to. I volunteer that you ask him that for your next piece.
- wilsonecho91

get a life.

Tim,

As a journalist working with the Flyers and being privy to the Flyers bras and the locker room, why did not you address your questions with Holmgren and Rinaldo using your investigative reporting skill and then placed your investigation piece on HB?

I appreciate your opinion, but it does not distinguish as a journalist and, frankly, it's not much different from the folks who comment on this board.

Had you done more of investigative reporting, you would have had much bigger readership (including me on a regular basis).
- missingmike

tim barely blogs here, and only does so at the slightest whiff of any kind of controversy. it's been rather light in that department this season. not shocking he jumped on this.

With Kaleta gone, he is the biggest piece of poop in the league.
A completely useless and dangerous player. He takes someones top 6 out and watch Giroux get his head taken off.