The Bortuzzo hit is pretty much what goes on every game lately, and not just Pens games. Refs let most everything go. Players realizing nothing is being called continue to take more liberties against each other until someone crosses the line.

I'd love to see the league crack down on cheap shots especially to the head, but until it does unfortunately we need guys to play like Bortuzzo did last game. Pens tried cleaning up their team after Mario's comments and Cooke's last incident, but all it got them was 4 straight playoff embarrassments while their stars were harassed into poor performances.

I don't have a problem with the hit to this extent. I think it will warrant a fine and that is about all. Drives through center mass and doesn't extend an arm or elbow. A bit late but that's why he will be fined. Not much different, in my opinion, than the Phaneuf hit on Hornqvist you didn't have a problem with. Just a little bit later.
- usethe1-2-2

My thoughts exactly. I think people are more PO'd because it was Jagr who got hit and not some fourth line plug.

are pends and ducks perfect trade partners now or what. zatkoff and martin for DSP, belesky... or something

are pends and ducks perfect trade partners now or what. zatkoff and martin for DSP, belesky... or something
- ChrisMS

DSP would be my first choice of their young forwards. I think currently he is playing the best so I'm not sure they part with him with Martin's FA status.

The Bortuzzo hit is pretty much what goes on every game lately, and not just Pens games. Refs let most everything go. Players realizing nothing is being called continue to take more liberties against each other until someone crosses the line.

I'd love to see the league crack down on cheap shots especially to the head, but until it does unfortunately we need guys to play like Bortuzzo did last game. Pens tried cleaning up their team after Mario's comments and Cooke's last incident, but all it got them was 4 straight playoff embarrassments while their stars were harassed into poor performances.
- Tojo.

The thing is that the league is cracking down on borderline hits like this rather than the obvious dirty stuff that goes on. the obvious headshots are simply given fines while a hit that is clean (slightly late) is given 2 games.

Sorta.

The players, and their behavior, are a product of the league.

If anything the "new generation" was the sarcastic part.
- Danny_Devito

I just think that we romanticize about a time where players respected each other and all that feel good crap, but it was never the case. You look at any era, and there were tons of bad hits, cheap shots, etc. But as time goes on, we forget about those.

I think players have adjusted to where they put themselves into bad positions more than before. Ray Bourque said that he was taught that if a player was going to hit you, to "build a fence" with your stick or your elbows, to make them get the worst of it. That doesn't happen now, and players seem to be willing to take bad hits to draw penalties. Take hits from behind... Players before were smart enough not to bend down and play the puck facing the boards. It wasn't like their opponents just respected them more, it was that they didn't have as many chances to.

Scott Stevens might have respected his opponents, but he was always looking for guys in vulnerable positions. Look at Messier... he's portrayed as this great leader, but he was as cheap as they'd come, especially with the elbows to the head. Gordie Howe is hockey royalty (as he should be), but he is known almost as much for his elbows as his goals.

Ruterford quote:

“We're looking for more than one (top-six forward) now and trying to juggle what cap space we have,” Rutherford said. “This is not an easy process, by no means, to accomplish our goal, but we're going to try and do it."

Ideally what we'd like to do is make a deal that's for the bigger picture, for the long run.”

Asked whether a potential trade would have to revolve around someone who is capable of playing with Malkin, who is sometimes tough to read and react to, Rutherford's response was telling.

“I talked about the need for a top-six forward prior to ‘Duper' going down,” Rutherford said. “You can do the math.”



Lots of good stuff here -- Interesting to come out and say hes looking for more than one. And that hes looking at the long term, considering hes 400 years old.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I love it. Watched the oilers game last night, perron would be a great addition as he battles hard every shift. Yak looked pretty good, made the right decisions with the puck, didn't see all of the board battles I did from perron (could be wrong, watched perron mostly) but Yak looked very fast and like he could pot 35-40 with geno. I would say perron would be our best bet for top 6, no way we can give up sutter. Sutter is way to important for us to give up especially if we are going to go deep into the playoffs this year.

Another look would be DSP from anaheim. They need goalie help, maybe zatkoff and martin maybe a mid round pick as well can pull him and pelesky or someone of that caliber. We could use any of the belesky, maroon, palmieri maybe even cogliano (3g 4a value lowest atm)

I just think that we romanticize about a time where players respected each other and all that feel good crap, but it was never the case. You look at any era, and there were tons of bad hits, cheap shots, etc. But as time goes on, we forget about those.

I think players have adjusted to where they put themselves into bad positions more than before. Ray Bourque said that he was taught that if a player was going to hit you, to "build a fence" with your stick or your elbows, to make them get the worst of it. That doesn't happen now, and players seem to be willing to take bad hits to draw penalties. Take hits from behind... Players before were smart enough not to bend down and play the puck facing the boards. It wasn't like their opponents just respected them more, it was that they didn't have as many chances to.

Scott Stevens might have respected his opponents, but he was always looking for guys in vulnerable positions. Look at Messier... he's portrayed as this great leader, but he was as cheap as they'd come, especially with the elbows to the head. Gordie Howe is hockey royalty (as he should be), but he is known almost as much for his elbows as his goals.
- rival22

I notice a lot now players turning to the boards in order to either avoid being checked or to possibly draw a penalty.