I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but they did win the cup without him (and obviously against him in fact). The other two you mentioned though, as has been mentioned all week, probably would be way more valuable to Pitt right now than Hossa (given all the other players Pitt has up front).
- eayost

honestly since they let hossa walk i haven't been afraid of the pens. i can deal with sulkin and crybaby, but when they have hossa too they're scary as poop

he made them truly dangerous and unstoppable offensively. huge mistake letting him go.
- flyerscup2011

They didn't let him go...

Regardless, he was a major loss. Hossa is a top 10 NHL forward IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAQs8lq6KJ8


edit: meant to post this one, announcer is a grade a jack wagon

http://www.sportsnet.ca/v...est/Hossa-stretchered-off
- dillpx183

the actual contact wasnt so agregious IMO. Hard to tell where the puck was and how long after he had the puck was he hit. It seemed like well after.

1 for neal 4 for asham

The hit on Hossa was exactly like Couturier's. Only difference is Torres hit him in the head.
- stveshdy

umm from what i saw neal hit couturier in the head

honestly since they let hossa walk i haven't been afraid of the pens. i can deal with sulkin and crybaby, but when they have hossa too they're scary as poop
- flyerscup2011

They did win a Stanley Cup without him.

1 for neal 4 for asham
- thenighttrain17

word?

Per Dave Molinari, Pens beat guy, Neal gets 1 game, Asham 4

They didn't let him go...

Regardless, he was a major loss. Hossa is a top 10 NHL forward IMO.
- LordStanley88

they didn't pay him what he wanted either

Lot of twitter comments of players lacking respect on hits. Even on legal hits, you see it. The Brown hit on Sedin. The Kronwall hit on Voracek. It reached a point where landing a check no longer has anything to do with separating a player by the puck. It's about finding the most vulnerable/unsuspecting player and seeing how hard you can make their head hit the ice. This is why the instigator penalty absolutely needs to get dropped. This way, teams can again afford to carry an enforcer who is there to make sure that players don't take liberties on any of his teammates. Shelley can't skate to save his life, but he undoubtedly had a purpose in Sunday's game. Knock Neal's teeth out so that he doesn't think about taking another run at our players. Instead, we have instigator penalties and refs giving players a 10-minute misconducts, which is the equivalent of letting the responsible player hide behind mommy's legs.....
- steelydan

More likely is that they'd wrestle and that'd be it. There's rarely a clear winner in these fights anymore. Also, unlike the old days, everyone is bigger and stronger. I think the average player is much more apt to handle themselves physically against these big guys... unless you start employing 6'8" goons. Maybe I'm not being old school enough, but I think big suspensions (and more importantly, large salary loss) would do more to stop this stuff.

I really love Hossa, even though he is a Blackhawk.
- bodiva88

Me too.

His work ethic is very much like Jagr's.

He comes across as a class act and, yeah, he is one helluva hockey player!

Does Detroit still have a 23 game home winning streak?

word?
- roenick97

everyone on twitter is saying it even pens writers

More likely is that they'd wrestle and that'd be it. There's rarely a clear winner in these fights anymore. Also, unlike the old days, everyone is bigger and stronger. I think the average player is much more apt to handle themselves physically against these big guys... unless you start employing 6'8" goons. Maybe I'm not being old school enough, but I think big suspensions (and more importantly, large salary loss) would do more to stop this stuff.
- eayost

except in fights involving derryk engelland

Per Dave Molinari, Pens beat guy, Neal gets 1 game, Asham 4
- Jsaquella

1 Game might be all it takes. With key players like Neal, Adams and Asham out of the line up, we really need to take advantage. Give the Pens no momentum. A sweep just became a must.

1 game for Neal, a repeat offender who delivered two deliberate headshots on unsuspecting players away from the play. Hmmmm.... Bravo Brendan. Good job.

1 for neal 4 for asham
- thenighttrain17

i hope that's wrong. it should be 6 for neal and 22 for asshat

1 game for Neal, a repeat offender who delivered two deliberate headshots on unsuspecting players away from the play. Hmmmm.... Bravo Brendan. Good job.
- PLindbergh31

to twitter i go, wait for a tweet mr. shanafemale dog

i hope that's wrong. it should be 6 for neal and 22 for asshat
- flyerscup2011

unfortunately it is correct

Terrible....just terrible.

What is it with these players? No respect. None whatsoever.

This brings up another one of my stories. Sorry fellas, but you might want to get used to it....

I've played hockey for about 12 years....I'd say heavy hits are being thrown in 6 of those years. I was never much of an open ice hitter, but it wasn't because I wasn't a good hitter, or I didn't like to throw them, or I "wasn't that kind of player". I'd see someone crossing through the neutral zone with their head down completely oblivious....just a textbook, mouthwatering invitation to cream someone. I never hit people like that though. Do you know why? Because players like this usually are worse than me- they were slow or younger. I'd peel off, chuckle to myself, and say "Your welcome" in my head as I skated past him.

Then there were the other kids- we had one on my team- that wouldn't skate past them. He'd absolutely destroy them. He was a clean hitter- always kept the shoulder and elbow tucked- but I'd be embarrassed and ashamed watching my teammate kill a kid that frankly didn't deserve to be killed.

It is obvious to me, for whatever reason, that in the NHL right now the majority of those that throw hits are not like me. They're like the other kid on my team. No respect for fellow players. It's sickening to me and embarrassing in a sport where sportsmanship is so highly valued (e.g. the handshake at the end of the playoff series) I think this is the direct result of not paying for it with a punishment- be it a hit or a fight, players throw these hits knowing no one will be coming after them! It's a problem that began with the post lockout "score score score" mentality, and now the beast has matured.

If Shanny doesn't get his head out of his ass, these sickening hits are going to surface every week.
- Giroux_Is_God

I would never hit a player like that. I'm not getting paid, they aren't getting paid. To me it is pure idiocy what you described. People have lives, jobs, families. There is no way I'm jeopardizing that by trying to be macho douche and killing some guy in what amounts to a pickup game.

i hope that's wrong. it should be 6 for neal and 22 for asshat
- flyerscup2011

It's what it is, and honestly it's what should have been expected.

1 game for Neal, a repeat offender who delivered two deliberate headshots on unsuspecting players away from the play. Hmmmm.... Bravo Brendan. Good job.
- PLindbergh31

Damnit

here's my tweet:



Joseph Campbell ‏ @JCamp28 Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@NHLShanahan 1 game for neal? are you (frank)ing kidding me? i don't know if you're a puppet or not. but these decision suck!

1 game for Neal, a repeat offender who delivered two deliberate headshots on unsuspecting players away from the play. Hmmmm.... Bravo Brendan. Good job.
- PLindbergh31

http://video.nhl.com/vide...onsole?catid=60&id=172993

here's my tweet:



Joseph Campbell ‏ @JCamp28 Reply Delete Favorite · Open
@NHLShanahan 1 game for neal? are you (frank)ing kidding me? i don't know if you're a puppet or not. but these decision suck!
- flyerscup2011

I'll get the tissues for Mr. Shanahan.

This is caustic....