He floped around and played it up. I don't think anyone disagrees with that.
But he was hit in the head and there was no reason at all for Shaw to do it. If he wanted to, he could have avoided it. It's very obvious that he could have avoided him if he wanted to, and he chose not to avoid him. - carcus
Fine then eject him and give him a playoff game. Not take him out for a freaking entire series. Cmon you really cant think that was THAT bad to remove a frist time offender for games 2 3 4 and 5 from a series.
i want more than the player suspended. i want the coach suspended, the club fined and if this is repeated x amount of times a loss in draft picks - molly2522
>Well said
>No other pro league protects its stars less than the NHL
>If I'm paying top dollar for a ticket, do I want to see Hossa or Torres?
>We're simpatico on the state of the NHL right now, it's barely a sport
He floped around and played it up. I don't think anyone disagrees with that.
But he was hit in the head and there was no reason at all for Shaw to do it. If he wanted to, he could have avoided it. It's very obvious that he could have avoided him if he wanted to, and he chose not to avoid him. - carcus
Shaw tried to avoid him...he was trying to get his head out of the way. Incidental contact.
Carcus you are explaining my argument exactly this is the problem. Its not the discipline its the professionalism, non-clarity, and consistency. I would agree with shan and disagree with you that a postseaon game is worth more then a regular season game. It has to be. But be more clear than ABOUT 5 games WHHAAAAT?
Everything thats done is knee jerk and reactionary, its like he sticks his thumb in his mouth then puts it in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. No way Shaw deserves almost 4 post season games for what he did. And most people agree with this. I cant do anyting but respect your opinion if you think otherwise but I simply think you are the in minority there. You even hinted to it many times yourslef this was in essence a MAKE UP CALL and a MAKE AN EXAMPLE out of shaw call. This is complete BS in my book .
For me fair would have been the ejection and a post season game - mvp0207
I think the NHL was setting the bar high to let everyone know that hitting the goaltender in the playoffs is unacceptable. IMO, if he would have just hit him he would have gotten 1 game. But he hit him in the head, and I think that is why they came down so hard on him. Honestly, if Smith was really hurt on the play, he probably would have been gone for the series.
He floped around and played it up. I don't think anyone disagrees with that.
But he was hit in the head and there was no reason at all for Shaw to do it. If he wanted to, he could have avoided it. It's very obvious that he could have avoided him if he wanted to, and he chose not to avoid him. - carcus
If he doesn't flop, what do you think the call is? Two minutes tops. I said this earlier. I have no respect for Smith. He, in my opinion embarrassed the officials and the NHL, not to mention himself, by playing it up as much as he did. He doesn't want to be touched, yet there he was yesterday getting in the middle of a scrum at the end of the second period. The guy is a joke and he FAKED an injury so we'd lose one of our better players. Don't tell me you wouldn't be pissed if Niemi flopped like a salmon and you lost Oshi or Backes or a key player for most of the rest of a series.
If the goaltender is in the crease, I get it. He plays a unique position, wears unique equipment, and has a unique set of responsibilities...defend the front of the net. He should be allowed to do this job un-impeded, and without fear of being run.
If however the goaltender CHOOSES to leave the safety and security of the crease and play like a 3rd D-man, he should be subject to the same treatment as any other skater.
"But goalies are vulnerable!". Bullpoop.
First, the fact that they are the most heavily armored players on the ice makes this argument silly to begin with. Secondly, the main reason goalies are vulnerable is because the league has allowed them to become relatively secure in the knowledge of their untouchable status. Make the goalies fair game when they voluntarily leave the crease to play the puck and I gauran-damn-tee you that they will not put themselves in vulnerable positions very often.
If the league is going to continue to insist that goalies should be untouchable, then they should never be allowed to play the puck outside of the crease. Otherwise why not just have your goalie stick handle his way up the ice and dump it in? Easy way to beat a forecheck...have an untouchable player just skate the puck out of the D-zone. - Ogilthorpe2
i want more than the player suspended. i want the coach suspended, the club fined and if this is repeated x amount of times a loss in draft picks - molly2522
Do you really think that's ever going to happen? C'mon man, get it together.
If he doesn't flop, what do you think the call is? Two minutes tops. I said this earlier. I have no respect for Smith. He, in my opinion embarrassed the officials and the NHL, not to mention himself, by playing it up as much as he did. He doesn't want to be touched, yet there he was yesterday getting in the middle of a scrum at the end of the second period. The guy is a joke and he FAKED an injury so we'd lose one of our better players. Don't tell me you wouldn't be pissed if Niemi flopped like a salmon and you lost Oshi or Backes or a key player for most of the rest of a series. - RetiredGoalie
JFK theory... a second shooter. Smith got shot, simple as that... case closed!
I think the NHL was setting the bar high to let everyone know that hitting the goaltender in the playoffs is unacceptable. IMO, if he would have just hit him he would have gotten 1 game. But he hit him in the head, and I think that is why they came down so hard on him. Honestly, if Smith was really hurt on the play, he probably would have been gone for the series. - carcus
So he decided to finally set a bar with a rookie. He could have set a bar with weber also. NO BAR THEIR. He could have at least gave some type of barometer with the lucic hit as to how these things were to be handled NOPE nothing there. In stead out of nowhere he levies the largest suspension he levied since hes been sheriff or about 4 post season games. (then he wahcked asham a multiple offender for a crosscheck to the face then face slam to the ice all away from the play with an INTENT to injure the same penalty)
Sorry Carcus im not budging on this one it was a poor decision.
Clearly Shaw was in the wrong. He should have stopped before contact, grabbed Smith by the head, and slammed his face into the boards. $2500, done. - Ogilthorpe2
Oh, come on JJ. I know you really don't believe that, do you? Watch it one more time. Smith doesn't lean in long after Shaw committed to anything. His head was down in that position for quite a while and he didn't move it until Shaw moved it for him. 16 second mark of the video is a great angle looking straight down on the hit. His head is not moving and is down before Shaw turns the corner of the goal.
- carcus
Look where Shaw's stick is in the still frame of the video. On the ice, going for the puck! When he misses the puck, he brings his arms in to his body and appears to try to make himself small and squeeze by Smith to avoid contact. He didn't, and as a result, the punishment he's getting is nonsense! I wouldn't have minded a game, or time served, but 3 is ludacris!
Hagelin: Rookie, elbow to the head, first time offense: 3 games
Carkner: Assault on a player defenseless on the ice, multiple offender: 1 game
Asham: Cross check to head, multiple offender: 4 games
Backstrom: Cross check to the head, match penalty, 1st time offender: 1 game (for the same dirty hit!)
This is why most fans in the NHL are pissed! I'm interested to see how Shammy blows this one!!!
If the goaltender is in the crease, I get it. He plays a unique position, wears unique equipment, and has a unique set of responsibilities...defend the front of the net. He should be allowed to do this job un-impeded, and without fear of being run.
If however the goaltender CHOOSES to leave the safety and security of the crease and play like a 3rd D-man, he should be subject to the same treatment as any other skater.
"But goalies are vulnerable!". Bullpoop.
First, the fact that they are the most heavily armored players on the ice makes this argument silly to begin with. Secondly, the main reason goalies are vulnerable is because the league has allowed them to become relatively secure in the knowledge of their untouchable status. Make the goalies fair game when they voluntarily leave the crease to play the puck and I gauran-damn-tee you that they will not put themselves in vulnerable positions very often.
If the league is going to continue to insist that goalies should be untouchable, then they should never be allowed to play the puck outside of the crease. Otherwise why not just have your goalie stick handle his way up the ice and dump it in? Easy way to beat a forecheck...have an untouchable player just skate the puck out of the D-zone. - Ogilthorpe2
+1000
Goalies out of the crease should be fair game. Not cheap hits but regular play.
Mike Smith is the biggest cry baby in the league and a fraud. I would be embarrassed to be on that team.
Ogilthorpe2 Season Ticket Holder Chicago Blackhawks
Location: 37,000 FT Joined: 07.09.2009
Apr 18 @ 3:25 PM ET
So as a goalie, you're an expert... - geta02it
Not a goalie, but I am an expert in exercising common sense.
If the NHL, especially Bettman, since he was at the game, had any balls, the officiating crew of Ian Walsh and Stephen Walkom, should be told, "thanks for your services, but you won't be needed for the rest of these playoffs. They were absolutely atrocious last night. I know officials can't see everything and just like a player, can have a bad game from time to time. but they way they officiated that game last night was behind explanation. Ian Walsh is in the same category at Tim Peel. If you see either of those guys officiating a game you know one of the teams is gonna get f--ked and you just have to hope it's the other team and not yours.
If he doesn't flop, what do you think the call is? Two minutes tops. I said this earlier. I have no respect for Smith. He, in my opinion embarrassed the officials and the NHL, not to mention himself, by playing it up as much as he did. He doesn't want to be touched, yet there he was yesterday getting in the middle of a scrum at the end of the second period. The guy is a joke and he FAKED an injury so we'd lose one of our better players. Don't tell me you wouldn't be pissed if Niemi flopped like a salmon and you lost Oshi or Backes or a key player for most of the rest of a series. - RetiredGoalie
I would be mad, but I would expect the Blues player to be suspended if he hit Niemi in the head.
