Ian Esplen: Getting a point Getting a point

wow, slow day.

5 min and no one has called me a homer

"When you watch an incident like this it is easy to see why players dive and try to sell calls"

Is this the definition of Kesler in an NHL based jeopardy?

Regarding the hit on Hossa, If Hansen was reaching for the puck, his arm would be extended, not bent so his elbow and outer forearm goes into the back of Hossa's head. Questionable hit, yes. Deserves some time off, yes. 1-2 games is my guess. One of the best examples of a clean hit in that game was Bolland on Kesler.

"When you watch an incident like this it is easy to see why players dive and try to sell calls. Now I'm not picking on Hossa here, I do think he did get his bell rung and that he wasn't just trying to sell the call. But if you see a team get a power-play just because you stay down that extra second, then why wouldn't you try it? There really is no harm in trying it after the whistle has gone. "

What a joke. I suppose he then really sold it and went for the suspension by leaving the game and not returning. Brilliant!

"When you watch an incident like this it is easy to see why players dive and try to sell calls"

Is this the definition of Kesler in an NHL based jeopardy?

Regarding the hit on Hossa, If Hansen was reaching for the puck, his arm would be extended, not bent so his elbow and outer forearm goes into the back of Hossa's head. Questionable hit, yes. Deserves some time off, yes. 1-2 games is my guess. One of the best examples of a clean hit in that game was Bolland on Kesler.
- ikeane

He'll probably get suspended for the simple reason that a) he's not a star player b) it was against a team that's constantly on national tv.

wow, slow day.

5 min and no one has called me a homer
- IanEsplen

You're a dirty homer!

Ian, no mention of the Bollig sucker punch on Weise...and the subsequent ass whooping Weise laid on him.

Really good breakdown via r/hockey from honestbleeps on reddit.

Just got back from the game.. a few things:
1) Live, it looked absolutely brutally disgusting. No question it looked intentional / reckless / whatever. but...
2) On review of replays, I can see peoples' arguments both ways... HOWEVER...
If Canucks fans want to get all "situational" about it (it's Hansen! He's not dirty!") --
a) Hansen slashed Bolland earlier this season so hard he sat out the next game.
b) Situationally, Hossa just made the Canucks bleed hard with 2 huge goals... It sort of stands to reason that a guy might be looking to send a message...
I'm not drawing conclusions from this myself... I'm just throwing a couple of facts out there for consideration while everyone says "but Hansen wouldn't hurt a fly!"
In my opinion, trying to be as objective as possible: I think it was a reckless play with at least SOME malicious intent. I can't imagine being in his shoes and "trying to play the puck" and not noticing that my arm has absolutely NO path to get there because there is a giant helmet in the way...
Do I think Hansen is a generally cheap/dirty player? No. Do I think there might've been some dirt in this particular play? Yes.
I will say, however, that it looks less bad on replay than it looked live.

The TSN Panel is going to say what they consider is their opinion. That comment right there would probably trigger you as a "homer".

I'm honestly on the fence here about this hit, as I see both sides of the argument.

I don't think it's a purely clean play - as the Vancouver consituents are claimining, nor do I think it was a calculated malicious attempt to injure as some of my Indian-head compatriots are selling today.

I think it developed as a hockey play - but the follow through of the elbow has me wondering about in-the-moment intent. I don't think that Hansen went into the play to clock Hossa, but I think he definitely - subconsciously maybe - took his shot at an opportune moment. May not have been an attempt to injure, but was certainly done with intent of phsycial play, and it went awry in this instance.

It's hard to fault him completely, because the game happens so fast, and sometimes in the name of being aggressive, players move or step the wrong way.


All that being said, I fully expect him to get at least a game, as the league is trying to make guys activlely think about avoiding the head in moments like this - which I don't think is a bad thing.

I'm honestly on the fence here about this hit, as I see both sides of the argument.

I don't think it's a purely clean play - as the Vancouver consituents are claimining, nor do I think it was a calculated malicious attempt to injure as some of my Indian-head compatriots are selling today.

I think it developed as a hockey play - but the follow through of the elbow has me wondering about in-the-moment intent. I don't think that Hansen went into the play to clock Hossa, but I think he definitely - subconsciously maybe - took his shot at an opportune moment. May not have been an attempt to injure, but was certainly done with intent of phsycial play, and it went awry in this instance.

It's hard to fault him completely, because the game happens so fast, and sometimes in the name of being aggressive, players move or step the wrong way.


All that being said, I fully expect him to get at least a game, as the league is trying to make guys activlely think about avoiding the head in moments like this - which I don't think is a bad thing.
- FredoXV

I'd agree with this if they hadn't just given Setoguchi a fine instead of a suspension for a cross-check to the face.

Ian, no mention of the Bollig sucker punch on Weise...and the subsequent ass whooping Weise laid on him.
- dshiddy

I'm not sure I'd call it an ass whooping, but Weise did well. He looks like he has been working on his fighting.

Move the head and slip the shot.

The puck was a foot away from Hansen
He had zero intention to try to catch the puck - his hand was closed, his other hand halfway up his stick
He targeted his head with a forearm/elbow and actually finished through his head - that isn't "accidentall"

Pathetic that both the blogger here and their fanbase can't simply be honest with themselves on this.

Canucks were lucky to get a point outta that one, they looked good when they turned on the offense but that was only for about 15 outta 60 minutes. As you mentioned, the team defense was one of the worst I've ever seen!!

They can thank Cory Schneider for that point! Without him it would have been much worse, goaltending once again masking the deficiencies of this team. The Canucks, with their currrent roster, won't beat the Hawks in a seven game playoff series. I hope Gillis was watching closely.

As for the hit, careless play by Hansen but not intentional in my opinion. He was reaching for the puck but made contact with Hossa's head before the puck got there, that's why his arm wasn't extended.

I'm honestly on the fence here about this hit, as I see both sides of the argument.

I don't think it's a purely clean play - as the Vancouver consituents are claimining, nor do I think it was a calculated malicious attempt to injure as some of my Indian-head compatriots are selling today.

I think it developed as a hockey play - but the follow through of the elbow has me wondering about in-the-moment intent. I don't think that Hansen went into the play to clock Hossa, but I think he definitely - subconsciously maybe - took his shot at an opportune moment. May not have been an attempt to injure, but was certainly done with intent of phsycial play, and it went awry in this instance.

It's hard to fault him completely, because the game happens so fast, and sometimes in the name of being aggressive, players move or step the wrong way.


All that being said, I fully expect him to get at least a game, as the league is trying to make guys activlely think about avoiding the head in moments like this - which I don't think is a bad thing.
- FredoXV

I do not think there was an intent to injure at all. I do believe that the shot was ill-advised and he may have tried to go for a good ol fashionned cross check to the shoulder blades to avoid Hossa grabbing the puck and taking off into the zone. Case in point, he missed and hit Hossa in the head, enough to cause concussion like feeling which removed Hossa from the game. Based on his slash on Bolland before, coupled with this, his squeeky clean image may be losing it's luster.

does that mean he's not laying into them in the locker room where it should be and not in postgame interviews? don't see how it's the coach's fault here. on hansen, i think he's trying to elbow hoss in the numbers on purpose, but unintentionally got higher up on the head.

my bet, shanny will use it as a "look at me, i'm shanny" move and give him 1 or 2.

Ian:

I'd LOVE for you to answer this....

Why every time there is a "questionable hit that is ONLY a hockey play" are players named Bolland, Hossa, Toews etc and not Bolig, Frolik etc?

Let me tell you why: You know the answer and simply are delusional if you don't believe so.

I'm looking forward to the next game when Carcillo offers an elbow to the back of the head of Kesler or one of the Sedin's and it is simply a "hockey play".

Really good breakdown via r/hockey from honestbleeps on reddit.



The TSN Panel is going to say what they consider is their opinion. That comment right there would probably trigger you as a "homer".
- mikeFAIL

So you mean to tell me someone slashed Bolland?

Why would anyone do that?

He's such a nice honest player.

The puck was a foot away from Hansen
He had zero intention to try to catch the puck - his hand was closed, his other hand halfway up his stick
He targeted his head with a forearm/elbow and actually finished through his head - that isn't "accidentall"

Pathetic that both the blogger here and their fanbase can't simply be honest with themselves on this.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I disagree, they both hand their hands up reaching for the puck, Hansen's elbow hit Hossa before the puck arrived. That's the way I see it, I'm sure he didn't let up though. Not intentional by any means.

still amazed that so many people are trying to rationalize this as a hockey play

hansen got shielded off from the puck by hossa, got frustrated, and threw a chicken wing high to the back of hossa head while in the air.

whether hansen has a dirty history or not, this play deserves a suspension

Horrible! The puck is halfway to the ice when he makes forearm contact to Hossa's head. He wasn't trying to swat the puck with his hand in that play, the video clearly shows that to be true. He lead with his forearm not his hand. When I see the breakdown of the play from the NHL.com video. You see he was clearly following through with a hit to the head at 21 seconds. Just another writer supporting dirty play from his team. This stuff needs to stop in the NHL. Hope he gets at least 3 games. Hossa makes a play to swat the puck with his hand. Hansen had no intention of using his hand.

Ian:

I'd LOVE for you to answer this....

Why every time there is a "questionable hit that is ONLY a hockey play" are players named Bolland, Hossa, Toews etc and not Bolig, Frolik etc?

Let me tell you why: You know the answer and simply are delusional if you don't believe so.

I'm looking forward to the next game when Carcillo offers an elbow to the back of the head of Kesler or one of the Sedin's and it is simply a "hockey play".
- CaptainBlackhawk

I'm not really sure what you're asking? Does anyone speak Blackhawk?

on a side note guys, I am working on landing us another Mod.

still amazed that so many people are trying to rationalize this as a hockey play

hansen got shielded off from the puck by hossa, got frustrated, and threw a chicken wing high to the back of hossa head while in the air.

whether hansen has a dirty history or not, this play deserves a suspension
- FourFeathers773

Only way this is a suspendable offense on these boards it seems (Hawks thread too which has been hijacked) would be if the roles were reversed and Hossa hit Hansen in the head. Then it would be a dirty play based on all accounts. Whether intent was there or not (that should be the debate), the fact is that Hossa shielded Hansen from the puck and was blindsided with an elbow to the back of the head, removing him from the game.

Esplen, I have been on this site reading everything JJ writes, and recently, most of the things you write....YOU ARE TERRIBLE...you predicted a 4-1 hawks thrashing by your nucks going up against the BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE.... and your explanation of the Hossa hit is just plain stupid...how do you get away with writing such nonsense?

Tell you what, you bring your biased reporting somewhere else. IMHO a one year suspension is not enough for a cowardly hit like that. Bring your biased typical Vancouver crying somewhere else....all you ever do up there is cry. BTW, please don't tell me anymore about how Luongo will bring a package of 3-4 good players as he is clearly overpaid and past his prime and everyone knows he needs to be traded so if I were you I would expect one decent player and a prospect at best.