Paul Stewart: Crisp Thoughts

As have you, Stewy, I have known Crispy since his playing days in the 1970s with the Flyers (and also remember him playing earlier with the St. Louis Blues and New York islanders) all of which teams he served as the ultimate checking center. I also followed him through his coaching career as well which began as an assistant with the Flyers in in 1977, six years with the OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1978-85), the AHL Moncton Golden Flames (1985-87) where he coached Brett Hull in his rookie pro season in which he scored 50 goals, and then on to the NHL where he led the Calgary Flames to the 1989 Stanley Cup during his three seasons there (1987-90), and six years with Tampa Bay (1992-98).

Since then he has been doing color commentary on TV with the Nashville Predators along with play by play man Pete Weber providing great insight in his commentary always delivered with both humor and enthusiasm. It is always a pleasure to see Crispy when the Preds visit Philadelphia, and to work in the booth with them from time to time as well.

Stewy your descriptions of Crispy's special relationship with Freddie Shero and his never hold a grudge attitude are spot on. There is also no better hockey raconteur whose stories are always spiced with his infections laughter. And he has never minded being known as "the other guy from Perry Sound", the Ontario town made famous in hockey circles by its other native son, Bobby Orr.


Fred Shero and Terry Crisp (from the 1974-75 Flyers Media Guide), and behind the bench of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Paul was on Hockey Night in Canada radio yesterday to discuss his blog on the incidents in the Penguins-Bruins game:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/...23314778/?sort=MostRecent

Paul was on Hockey Night in Canada radio yesterday to discuss his blog on the incidents in the Penguins-Bruins game:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/...23314778/?sort=MostRecent
- bmeltzer

A great interview and well worth listening to.

Crispy was almost my next door neighbor during his Flyers playing days in the 70s. He looked at the next door neighbor's house when it was up for sale. I was praying he would like it. It would have been so cool to, as a kid, have a player on my favorite sports team living next door. Alas, he bought elsewhere. That's ok, Tom Bladon and later Dave Poulin lived a block or two away at various times.

Paul Stewart: Crisp Thoughts
- Paul Stewart

Another great read Paul, thanks. I always admired the way 'Crispy' played and then coached.

Hi Paul, I listen to your Hockey Night in Canada radio interview. I have to respectfully disagree with you when you talked about how if Thornton had tapped Orpik on the shoulder and asked him to fight instead of blindsiding him he should of fought. There's no reason for any player to have to fight after delivering a clean hit or in your words making a good hockey play. What's next fighting after every goal that makes a goalie look bad.

As far as Neal I certainly don't condone the kneeing incident but I don't think Neal is that TYPE of player. He's only had a few incidents in his NHL career that I know of and wouldn't you know the last couple have been against a couple teams (Boston, Philly) that are known for borderline and crossing the line plays that seems like they get away with a lot more than other teams. How much abuse does a player no matter what team they play for have to take before they crack and say screw this and take matters into their own hands. Marchand is known for being a pest and crossing the line/dirty and diving. Yet he or guys like him get away with 4 or 5 infractions and as soon as there is retaliation you call a penalty on the guy that retaliates. You make an assumption that Neal meant to knee him and I think he probably did in kind of an accidental kind of way in the sense of I'm not going to move and if I hit I hit him. If you can assume that Neal did it on purpose then me knowing Marchand is a diver and embellishes that it should be safe for me to say he may the knee to the head a lot worse than it really was not to mention the fact I think he didn't miss a shift. Also if you can assume Neal did the Knee on purpose then can I assume Steckel purposely elbowed Crosby in the head? I don't think he but did under these assumptions that are going on you say that.

All I'm saying is the refs need to keep control of the games and call what's out there in a game to call NOT what the refs want to call. And enough of the make up calls. If a team commits 5 straight penalties don't call something on the other team because the refs feel they need to even the calls out. It's things like these that make hockey always considered the worst reffed sport. Hard to attract new fans when people try to get into hockey and have no idea what a penalty is because you call a hook one time and the next it's the same thing or worse of a hook and don't make the call. Or the refs calls games like the league wants you to in regular season but then you put whistles away in playoffs. If it's a penalty in game 1 then it's a penalty in the playoffs. Not saying Reffing is easy I'm sure it's a very difficult job but I'm tired that the sport I love gets laughed at even here in so called Hockeytown (Detroit) and no sports radio coverage because they think reffing is such a joke in the league.

For the record I think Neal got what he deserved the 5 games and Thorton should get 15 - 20

Hi Paul, I listen to your Hockey Night in Canada radio interview. I have to respectfully disagree with you when you talked about how if Thornton had tapped Orpik on the shoulder and asked him to fight instead of blindsiding him he should of fought. There's no reason for any player to have to fight after delivering a clean hit or in your words making a good hockey play. What's next fighting after every goal that makes a goalie look bad.

As far as Neal I certainly don't condone the kneeing incident but I don't think Neal is that TYPE of player. He's only had a few incidents in his NHL career that I know of and wouldn't you know the last couple have been against a couple teams (Boston, Philly) that are known for borderline and crossing the line plays that seems like they get away with a lot more than other teams. How much abuse does a player no matter what team they play for have to take before they crack and say screw this and take matters into their own hands. Marchand is known for being a pest and crossing the line/dirty and diving. Yet he or guys like him get away with 4 or 5 infractions and as soon as there is retaliation you call a penalty on the guy that retaliates. You make an assumption that Neal meant to knee him and I think he probably did in kind of an accidental kind of way in the sense of I'm not going to move and if I hit I hit him. If you can assume that Neal did it on purpose then me knowing Marchand is a diver and embellishes that it should be safe for me to say he may the knee to the head a lot worse than it really was not to mention the fact I think he didn't miss a shift. Also if you can assume Neal did the Knee on purpose then can I assume Steckel purposely elbowed Crosby in the head? I don't think he but did under these assumptions that are going on you say that.

All I'm saying is the refs need to keep control of the games and call what's out there in a game to call NOT what the refs want to call. And enough of the make up calls. If a team commits 5 straight penalties don't call something on the other team because the refs feel they need to even the calls out. It's things like these that make hockey always considered the worst reffed sport. Hard to attract new fans when people try to get into hockey and have no idea what a penalty is because you call a hook one time and the next it's the same thing or worse of a hook and don't make the call. Or the refs calls games like the league wants you to in regular season but then you put whistles away in playoffs. If it's a penalty in game 1 then it's a penalty in the playoffs. Not saying Reffing is easy I'm sure it's a very difficult job but I'm tired that the sport I love gets laughed at even here in so called Hockeytown (Detroit) and no sports radio coverage because they think reffing is such a joke in the league.

For the record I think Neal got what he deserved the 5 games and Thorton should get 15 - 20
- Guins6687

What I said was that the Coach likely played a part. Someone was yelling for "someone" to get that guy and Thornton did what he perceived to be his job...he just got the wrong guy. But then again, I only see in black and white and can't see in team colors. Shame on me, respectfully. That's why not everyone can ref or should ref and likely why not a lot want to ref. It ain't easy.

Regarding Neal, a player can only cry wolf so many times. Between his time in Dallas and Pittsburgh, this is his third career suspension and he's had at least two League-issued fines and one warning on assorted borderline suspendible incidents. He's gotten a reputation.

What I said was that the Coach likely played a part. Someone was yelling for "someone" to get that guy and Thornton did what he perceived to be his job...he just got the wrong guy. But then again, I only see in black and white and can't see in team colors. Shame on me, respectfully. That's why not everyone can ref or should ref and likely why not a lot want to ref. It ain't easy.

Regarding Neal, a player can only cry wolf so many times. Between his time in Dallas and Pittsburgh, this is his third career suspension and he's had at least two League-issued fines and one warning on assorted borderline suspendible incidents. He's gotten a reputation.
- Paul Stewart

If I was a ref for Oiler games, they would have more wins. Question for you Paul. If you could scrap any player while you were a ref, who would it be? I enjoy your blogs, good reads.

Paul wondering if you got a chance to see the "No Goal" delayed penalty that happend in the Buffalo/Ottawa game, and what your thoughts are on that?

I guess what goes around comes around. Sabres got lucky against SJ with a goal that wasnt. Are on the wrong end of this one.

Thoughts Paul ?

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=438675