Paul Stewart: Can't Finish What You Didn't Start

Good read Paul and I feel it's not if but when something tragic will happen. I don't blame the players so much as the NHL. Often I see the ref's call the major penalty. The joke is the slap on the wrist a player gets from head office. In dollar terms a three game suspension is like me getting docked 10 minutes of pay. When the NHL clamps down and start giving 10-15-20 game suspensions you will see these harmful hits magically disappear.

Paul, you are spot on with this. I will say however that while the majority or the blame lies in poor coaching and perpetuation of the "macho" psyche, especially at the Midget/High School/Jr level, there is some focus that also needs to be placed on the officials. I have seen too many clean hits called penalties, and dangerous hits let go because no one thankfully was injured. A consistent message needs to be sent all the way around.

It doesn’t help that Tom Wilson just won the Stanley cup. A lot of nhl hopefuls have to look at that and think I’ll just play like him.

Yes, finally.
The purpose of a check is to take the puck away from the other team.
A perfect check is when the player delivering the check is the one who ends up in control of the puck.
Running an opposing player through the end boards is pointless, if both the checker and checked end up on the ice, with no change of possession.

The comments about separating the player from the puck is the point of a check is correct. However the hard checks that go further and drive you into the boards whether you get the puck or not is intimidation. Many small skilled players get thrown off their game because they are more concerned about not getting hit then they are about making a play with the puck.

I read about a week ago that Eric Lindros says it's time to think about taking hitting out of the game.

I read about a week ago that Eric Lindros says it's time to think about taking hitting out of the game.
- Wingsfan61

I think hitting to stop a players momentum is fine. The hits that are obviously meant to hurt an opponent should be penalized. However that will only work if it is consistantly called, and whether the player gets up or is carried off should have nothing to do with whether a penalty gets called.

There is no consistency in calling penalties. There is infractions called in the first period that isn't in the third period. Infractions called during the year is all of a sudden ok in the playoffs. Would like Bill to talk about why this takes place. Most of the problems created in officiating is not the players but brought on by the league itself.

While I am not advocating the wild west, a lot of the fault for injuries in hockey and football actually falls also on equipment. The more any athlete believes he is safe, the higher risk he is at. From baseball players with protection of elbow pads hanging in longer (and then taking one to the face), to football players who tackle with their helmets instead of their shoulders, to hockey players who just turn the back by the wall so no one can hit them - all athletes should have the following phrase from boxing reinforced in their heads at every practice, every game,

"Protect yourself at all times"