Location: Sorry you don't understand...Y Joined: 10.08.2008
Sep 28 @ 12:14 AM ET
Brendan Shanahan has kind of worked himself into a bit of a jam with his tough (perhaps over-the-top in some cases) suspensions.
Now the precedent is set that an illegal hit gets an automatic suspension - a severe one at that - and if he deviates from that benchmark at all, he will be slammed for inconsistency. He'll eventually be demonized even worse than Campbell... although Campbell did deserve the flak he took.
But if he continues to go with the 3-8 game route for every illegal hit, then people will get sick of it. Heck, I'm already getting sick of it and the season hasn't started yet.
With the way Shanny is calling it, there could very well be a suspension per day all season long. I understand deterrence, but there's also such a thing as desensitization. - Leeman4Gilmour
Easy way to remove desensitization, increase the suspension length each time.
Hits to the head can literally kill, especially as the game gets faster and faster... Be strict now, and players will smarten up.
There was also the idea thrown around earlier about shrinking the benches... Not a bad idea, but the union will never go for it.
Location: "Obviously, Reimer must be the, AB Joined: 02.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 12:17 AM ET
As for pre-season:
-Grabo is a beast. Looks like a lock for 30 this year and that line will pick up right where it left off.
-Reimer is beginning to become like a Grant Fuhr/Bill Ranford type of goalie in that he can look downright average for a whole game, but then kick it into high-gear and make that big save at just the right time to win the game. Those Oilers goalies of the 80s and early 90s were very much the same: unspectacular, but came up big when it mattered.
-Frattin is closing the gap on Kadri for that last spot.
-With Gardiner playing so well and practically making Wilson and Burke give him a spot, Aulie and Gunnar better step it up. Gunnar did show up tonight... Aulie? Might just be the odd man out if he's not careful.
Neil could get 2 or 3 games, but I could just as easily see him get off with a warning. If Grabo doesn't return to the game that might have been enough to guarantee a short suspension.
Location: "Obviously, Reimer must be the, AB Joined: 02.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 12:21 AM ET
Easy way to remove desensitization, increase the suspension length each time.
Hits to the head can literally kill, especially as the game gets faster and faster... Be strict now, and players will smarten up.
There was also the idea thrown around earlier about shrinking the benches... Not a bad idea, but the union will never go for it. - Schenn-Sational!
If it were up to me to wave a magic wand and "fix" the NHL, we'd be back down to 9 forwards and 6 D. Just drop the fourth lines.
Either that or contract to 24 teams. When will the NHL understand that there is simply not enough talent to sustain 30 rosters?
Why does the NHL insist of having a similar number of franchises as the NBA, MLB, and NFL? There are vastly more young kids who play those sports in North America (and the world). Hockey is a sport with limited appeal due to climate that can really only be played by more affluent families, thus shrinking the available talent pool from which to draw.
Location: "Obviously, Reimer must be the, AB Joined: 02.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 12:24 AM ET
Tough call.
Neil could get 2 or 3 games, but I could just as easily see him get off with a warning. If Grabo doesn't return to the game that might have been enough to guarantee a short suspension. - As_I_See_It
If Neil doesn't get at least one or two regular season games, then Shanahan looks like a joke.
He obviously wants to play the role of new sheriff in town, but now he's got to sustain it or he opens himself up to scrutiny.
Like how he's done it or not, he's definitely put himself out there. And when you stick your neck out, you better be sure you can back it up.
Like I was alluding to earlier, I think he's almost put himself in a position to fail.
I thought the Leafs defense was sloppy tonight, but in all fairness, the pairs were totally different than what we have seen previously. This seems to be the defensive pairs come Oct 6:
Phaneuf - Aulie
Schenn - Liles
Gunnar - Franson
Komi
Aulie hasn't impressed so far so I wouldn't be surprised if he's sent down and they let Gardiner play. Also hearing Gunnar could be traded, which would leave a spot for Komi.
Location: Sorry you don't understand...Y Joined: 10.08.2008
Sep 28 @ 12:49 AM ET
Quick question, if Kessel was hurt, why was he playing? I don't care if other guys are also injured, it s the (frank)ing preseason, the games don't count.
Easy way to remove desensitization, increase the suspension length each time.
Hits to the head can literally kill, especially as the game gets faster and faster... Be strict now, and players will smarten up.
There was also the idea thrown around earlier about shrinking the benches... Not a bad idea, but the union will never go for it. - Schenn-Sational!
A legal hit could kill someone, the ultra-sensitive new nhl has fans in fear that the next hit could end someones life, my question is what's so different now from 10 years ago?
Frequency has went up for sure, you can blame that on a free flowing game with no slowing up players. When they could have just been a little more stern on where the line is on clutch and grab play, but instead they jumped into a territory that has been muddy and annoying since its institution.
2 cases of players careers ended early was really the start of it, they were both under sized NHLers but that doesn't play in..
In reality players now no longer know what constitutes a big hit and an illegal one. Adding huge suspensions really isn't fixing anything. Its causing more confusion.
-With Gardiner playing so well and practically making Wilson and Burke give him a spot, Aulie and Gunnar better step it up. Gunnar did show up tonight... Aulie? Might just be the odd man out if he's not careful. - Leeman4Gilmour
Aulie has lost his spot, he simply isn't doing the things that made him stick with the team last year, he hasn't looked defensive at all, and I'm going to attribute a lot of that with wilsons new "our d needs to move up with the play" mentality. Clearly that's what Aulie is trying to do, and its what's making him look so bad.
Dark horse team in the east this season, IMO. - sunjot
Leafs were in the playoff race, and came very close last year. They dont have enough of an improvment to do better this year, IMO. There is no reason to belive otherwise. Reimer has to pull a rabbit out of his hat for us to make the playoffs. I think thats what it comes down to.
Location: Sorry you don't understand...Y Joined: 10.08.2008
Sep 28 @ 1:09 AM ET
A legal hit could kill someone, the ultra-sensitive new nhl has fans in fear that the next hit could end someones life, my question is what's so different now from 10 years ago?
Frequency has went up for sure, you can blame that on a free flowing game with no slowing up players. When they could have just been a little more stern on where the line is on clutch and grab play, but instead they jumped into a territory that has been muddy and annoying since its institution.
2 cases of players careers ended early was really the start of it, they were both under sized NHLers but that doesn't play in..
In reality players now no longer know what constitutes a big hit and an illegal one. Adding huge suspensions really isn't fixing anything. Its causing more confusion. - Jay Uller
Location: "Obviously, Reimer must be the, AB Joined: 02.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 1:18 AM ET
Just don't hit the head. That's it. - Schenn-Sational!
My fear is that players will just quit keeping their heads up altogether.
It's the same way that protecting yourself along the boards is a totally lost skill. How many times nowadays do we see that idiotic play where the guuy with the puck turns to face the glass standing approximately 1-2 feet from the boards?
Am I the only one who didn't really mind this hit?
If you're going to be a big enough dumb*ss to turn your back to Ben Eager as he's finishing a check, you better be prepared to pick your teeth out of the glass.
Funny story: I remember listening to Sedin in the post-game interview where he basically admitted to seeing Eager coming and deliberately turned his back to the check.
Likewise, this one... legal or illegal?
I never had a problem with it. Lucic comes in from the right angle (that is, not from behind Spacek) and is clearly in the process of finishing a check when Spacek turns his back.
-With Gardiner playing so well and practically making Wilson and Burke give him a spot, Aulie and Gunnar better step it up. Gunnar did show up tonight... Aulie? Might just be the odd man out if he's not careful. - Leeman4Gilmour
Aulie has lost his spot, he simply isn't doing the things that made him stick with the team last year, he hasn't looked defensive at all, and I'm going to attribute a lot of that with wilsons new "our d needs to move up with the play" mentality. Clearly that's what Aulie is trying to do, and its what's making him look so bad.
Just don't hit the head. That's it. - Schenn-Sational!
As the principal point of contact? If I go to hit a guy in the chest and his head drops, my issues or his? I feel like the nhl would fine just the same.
Location: "Obviously, Reimer must be the, AB Joined: 02.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 1:37 AM ET
As the principal point of contact? If I go to hit a guy in the chest and his head drops, my issues or his? I feel like the nhl would fine just the same. - Jay Uller
Well said. Personally, I don't really have a problem with head-shots if the guy on the receiving end puts his head in a vulnerable position. There is really no rule you can change to remedy that short of removing ALL contact from the game and going to women's hockey rules.
The second the elbows go up to make the hit? Sure, throw the book at them.
The great hitters NEVER got their elbows up. Neely and Clark are great examples of guys who just dropped the shoulder and caught their targets square in the crest.
-Grabo is a beast. Looks like a lock for 30 this year and that line will pick up right where it left off.
-Reimer is beginning to become like a Grant Fuhr/Bill Ranford type of goalie in that he can look downright average for a whole game, but then kick it into high-gear and make that big save at just the right time to win the game. Those Oilers goalies of the 80s and early 90s were very much the same: unspectacular, but came up big when it mattered.
-Frattin is closing the gap on Kadri for that last spot.
-With Gardiner playing so well and practically making Wilson and Burke give him a spot, Aulie and Gunnar better step it up. Gunnar did show up tonight... Aulie? Might just be the odd man out if he's not careful. - Leeman4Gilmour
Leafs were in the playoff race, and came very close last year. They dont have enough of an improvment to do better this year, IMO. There is no reason to belive otherwise. Reimer has to pull a rabbit out of his hat for us to make the playoffs. I think thats what it comes down to. - MikeDubz
considering in both Conferences slots 5-13 were competing for the playoffs with two weeks to go... both the Leafs and Sens have a shot to make the playoffs... unless either are at the 15th spot for the whole season like Oilers... Nail Yakupov!
them pretty good odds.
it'll come down to goaltending and the goals/for - goals/against ratio !
i'll also add Burke gave Reimer backup goaltender dollars.. Reimer is only making $500,000 more than The Monster... which means good cap-management by Burke... but it also means the Leafs still DO NOT KNOW what they have in Reimer... by end of March the Leafs will know if Reimer is boom or bust...
37 games don't mean crap ! just ask Andrew Raycroff after his rookie season in Boston !
Location: PEPPER FOREVER!!!!!, SK Joined: 06.02.2010
Sep 28 @ 2:19 AM ET
considering in both Conferences slots 5-13 were competing for the playoffs with two weeks to go... both the Leafs and Sens have a shot to make the playoffs... unless either are at the 15th spot for the whole season like Oilers... Nail Yakupov!
them pretty good odds.
it'll come down to goaltending and the goals/for - goals/against ratio !
i'll also add Burke gave Reimer backup goaltender dollars.. Reimer is only making $500,000 more than The Monster... which means good cap-management by Burke... but it also means the Leafs still DO NOT KNOW what they have in Reimer... by end of March the Leafs will know if Reimer is boom or bust...
37 games don't mean crap ! just ask Andrew Raycroff after his rookie season in Boston ! - Rimland
Why does the NHL insist of having a similar number of franchises as the NBA, MLB, and NFL? There are vastly more young kids who play those sports in North America (and the world). Hockey is a sport with limited appeal due to climate that can really only be played by more affluent families, thus shrinking the available talent pool from which to draw. - Leeman4Gilmour
Comments like this bother me because the fact is that there are more fans in this world that love hockey over baseball and American football which is only known as football in north America. Both of those sports are really only popular in the Americas and I only say that because of baseball. Football is only popular in the US.
This is the Gary Bettman era lowered expectations.
Truth is we are trying to sell the game to a bunch of people that don't want it.. it is like an ugly hooker trying to give you a discount on going down on her.
Fact is that in Northern Europe they stay up to all hours to watch the games and there is a huge fan base. Get rid of the Southern teams, move ten teams to Northern Europe and watch the TV Deals roll in when you have Moscow vs New York, Stockholm vs Toronto, Montreal vs Berlin.
I am tired of Bettman and his destruction of the game, take it to where the fans are that is where the money is. Right now all we do is pillage those countries for players why not invite them in.. never mind that the chants in the arenas which will be singing will be amazing.
Look outside the box, hockey is great, it is beautiful, and it has support.. just not where Bettman wants to take it. He has lost more die hards than anything in his cause.
Comments like this bother me because the fact is that there are more fans in this world that love hockey over baseball and American football which is only known as football in north America. Both of those sports are really only popular in the Americas and I only say that because of baseball. Football is only popular in the US.
This is the Gary Bettman era lowered expectations.
Truth is we are trying to sell the game to a bunch of people that don't want it.. it is like an ugly hooker trying to give you a discount on going down on her.
Fact is that in Northern Europe they stay up to all hours to watch the games and there is a huge fan base. Get rid of the Southern teams, move ten teams to Northern Europe and watch the TV Deals roll in when you have Moscow vs New York, Stockholm vs Toronto, Montreal vs Berlin.
I am tired of Bettman and his destruction of the game, take it to where the fans are that is where the money is. Right now all we do is pillage those countries for players why not invite them in.. never mind that the chants in the arenas which will be singing will be amazing.
Look outside the box, hockey is great, it is beautiful, and it has support.. just not where Bettman wants to take it. He has lost more die hards than anything in his cause. - DoctorNHL
