NHL 09-10 Season

[Pizoi]

I'm not sure if your loyalty to the Ducks is swaying your opinion on the hit, but to me, it was clearly a headshot. He basically threw an elbow right into Doan's jaw. He had no reason to put his arm up like that, it would have been a perfectly fine hit if he led with his shoulder instead.

[Usha Starchild]

Quite amazed at the outcome of the Canucks and Rangers game tonight, was really expecting a loss tonight. Winning vs the Rangers 4-1 when your missing 7 regular players and 3 of your main stars is mind boggling to me. Canucks started the season 0-3, and since have gone 9 and 4 with an injury riddled team. really cant wait til everyone gets well.

[Grimmlokk]

Jesus the Pens power play looks listless without Gonchar and Malkin out there. 0-13 without Malkin so far.

Shame about Ovie, woulda liked to see how many goals he could score if he stayed healthy for 82 games this year. Guy is a blast to watch, makes rooting for a season ending injury to him every year just a little bit harder.

[Eomer]

Originally Posted by EmpireF4i

Ducks defenceman Wisniewski suspended two games

Not saying that Wiz shouldnt have been suspended, but I still think Richards should have got a lot more than a penalty. Double standards in the NHL are messing up the game. Doan should have had his head up and not ducked and this wouldnt have been a head shot.

Blatant elbow or forearm shiver. Absolutely suspendable, and should have been penalized on the play.

I'm not being an asshole when I say this, and not trying to offend you, but are you a fairly recent fan of hockey? Have you ever played it at any level past rec league? Most of your complaints about hits and suspensions make it seem like you don't have much of an understanding of what's acceptable and what isn't according to league rules and "the code."

Richard's hit was a clean hit according to the NHL rules. He didn't jump, he didn't extend his arms or elbows, it wasn't from behind, it wasn't a charge in terms of him taking multiple strides directly towards a player, it was a clean shoulder check where the player happened to have their head down and they were blindsided. According to the current league rules, that's a totally clean hit. Scott Stevens made a career scrambling guys brains with hits like that.

You can argue that the rules should be changed, and I'll agree that something needs to be done. The number of players going out with concussions is unacceptable, and there's plenty of research on former NFL players that indicates repeated brain injuries, even if it's a string of very minor ones, can cause serious long term neurological problems. I heard that former NFL players are five times more likely to develop dementia than the general population, but I don't know how well controlled that was for other factors like race, diet, size, obesity etc.

The NHL is going to have to do something, because the rate of head injuries currently is way the fuck too high. But as it stands, incidental contact with a player's head while delivering a shoulder check is not illegal in the NHL.

[Ishad]

Originally Posted by Eomer

The NHL is going to have to do something, because the rate of head injuries currently is way the fuck too high. But as it stands, incidental contact with a player's head while delivering a shoulder check is not illegal in the NHL.

I wish the NHL would remove the instigator rule for a year and see if the number of headshots/cheapshots dropped.

[EmpireF4i]

Ive played since high school and I still play every week. I graduated in '98.

What I have a problem with is the inconsistency. You can go to any hockey forum and hear fans complaining about what is and what isnt called a penalty/suspension.

Another problem I have is that every time something like this happens, then NHL has meetings about "head shots" and how they are making strict rulings on them.

If you blatantly take a run at someone and try to injure them, sure, suspend someone. But In the play where Wisniewski was suspended, Doan had his head down and was ducking into the zone. Ok, maybe call a penalty, roughing or whatever, but to suspend a guy for that is just uncalled for.

So is any penalty where someone is "injured" going to result in a suspension because the NHL reviewed it? It shouldnt because there are tons or other boarding, slashing, high sticking, that go without suspension or even review.

Hell, you can even just read the comments left by the people on the story on TSN. I doubt all of them that disagree with the suspension are Ducks fans.

[Pizoi]

I won't deny that Doan has his head down a bit, but Wisniewski clearly led with his elbow/forearm. Like I said, lead with your shoulder if you don't want to be suspended. It's really that simple.

[Eomer]

What I have a problem with is the inconsistency. You can go to any hockey forum and hear fans complaining about what is and what isnt called a penalty/suspension.

I agree to an extent in terms of in-game calls. Shit gets missed, or calls are made that shouldn't have been. Unfortunately that's going to happen when there's only two refs, and 12 players on the ice. And the rules in hockey can be inherently difficult to enforce consistently, due to how fast plays develop and happen.

Suspensions and reviews from the league I don't agree as much. I think sometimes players get off easier than they should, and that the NHL should be throwing the book at some guys a lot harder, but overall if a guy gets suspended he typically deserved to, and if he doesn't, typically he shouldn't have been or the call on the play was sufficient.

No matter what, it's never going to be perfect.

As far as fans complaining, is that any surprise? 95% of hockey fans have never played a single game of contact, competitive hockey and barely know the rules.

Another problem I have is that every time something like this happens, then NHL has meetings about "head shots" and how they are making strict rulings on them.

Which they are. On one hand you complain about Wisniewski's suspension, which was a clear shot to the head with an extended forearm, and then on the other you say the league needs to crack down on head shots. Wisniewski's was a head shot. Richard's was a clean body check delivered to the torso of his opponent with his lowered shoulder, in which his head suffered incidental contact. It's pretty clear, from my view anyway.

If you blatantly take a run at someone and try to injure them, sure, suspend someone. But In the play where Wisniewski was suspended, Doan had his head down and was ducking into the zone. Ok, maybe call a penalty, roughing or whatever, but to suspend a guy for that is just uncalled for.

What part of "don't hit an opponent in the head with an outstretched arm or elbow" isn't clear? Again, on one hand you call for Richards to be suspended for dropping his shoulder and leveling an unaware player with a clean hit, and on the other you say Wisniewski shouldn't be suspended for delivering an extended forearm to the head/throat of another player. And by the way, Doan didn't have his head down at all, he was skating directly towards Wisniewski and was trying to get around him when he was elbowed directly in the chin/throat. He knew where the guy was and was probably anticipating body contact, but even then the elbow snapped his head back so hard it scrambled his brains.

And you say the NHL is inconsistent?

So is any penalty where someone is "injured" going to result in a suspension because the NHL reviewed it? It shouldnt because there are tons or other boarding, slashing, high sticking, that go without suspension or even review.

Ummm, no. Players will be suspended if they break the rules and injure an opponent. If it's a clean hit, the review will determine that it was and the player won't be suspended. If it wasn't the review will determine if the call on the ice was sufficient, and if it wasn't, what further punishment is required.

Honestly, there's been suspensions or non-suspensions to complain about over the years and I'm sure there'll be more this year, but the two examples you keep harping on are really poorly chosen.

[Valderen]

Just treat the headshot the same way they treat high sticking. You hit the head, you get a penalty...minor or major. Then have a review to decide wether there is need for suspension or not.

It won't stop hitting, and it won't stop head shot from happening like high sticking still exist, but maybe it will bring the number down somewhat.

[Eomer]

Originally Posted by Valderen

Just treat the headshot the same way they treat high sticking. You hit the head, you get a penalty...minor or major. Then have a review to decide wether there is need for suspension or not.

It won't stop hitting, and it won't stop head shot from happening like high sticking still exist, but maybe it will bring the number down somewhat.

Some junior leagues in Canada have done that, as well as international leagues and in the world junior championship. I'd be fine with it, although implementing it would be somewhat of a nightmare initially. It would definitely put a chill on hitting until players and refs figure out what is and isn't allowed, much like when they cracked down on interference and hooking.

[Kasi]

Much happier now with how the Flames are playing. They're playing well on the road, have tightened up much more on defense and are letting a lot less shots through to Mikka. Bourque has stepped up big as has Iginla. They also have done a good job of scoring first which helps.

[Grimmlokk]

So now the Pens are minus 3 major Defensemen(Gonch, Letang, and now Orpik), Malkin, Max Talbot, and Tyler Kennedy.

They're a pretty deep team, but what the fuck.

[Ishad]

Injuries have been crazy this year.

Laraque gets a five game suspension for his knee on knee hit to Kronwall the other night. Pic Related: