NHL 2011-2012 thread

[YoshiEgg25]

Shanahan can take a long walk off a short pier. Keith had no ill intentions. His elbow was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an accident. Either way, Sedin had it coming. He started it anyway!

I was actually at that game, and yes, Sedin had it coming. I'd have loved to see Burrows get a suspension for just being a general asshole too.

[Yancakes]

God. Regardless of how much of a Canucks fan I may be, I'm absolutely sick of this bullshit. If they keep up with this, within a couple of years people will be afraid to hit at all. The vast majority of suspensions are over genuine and obvious god damn accidents.

The worst was a couple of years ago, I don't remember who was involved at all (nor the teams), but a CLEAN open ice hit laid out a player who cracked his head on the ice as he fell down. I don't think there was even a concussion or anything, but the hitting player got suspended, I believe, for the hit. This may have been an AHL game, though, I can't remember.

Regardless, I'm no proponent to violence, but holy fuck it's a CONTACT SPORT. I don't see the NFL changing its rules, or laying down fines and suspensions every time a hit hurts someone, and it's a far more dangerous sport!

[Breetai]

Shanahan can take a long walk off a short pier. Keith had no ill intentions. His elbow was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an accident. Either way, Sedin had it coming. He started it anyway!

I was actually at that game, and yes, Sedin had it coming. I'd have loved to see Burrows get a suspension for just being a general asshole too.

He totally had it coming. Guess what? That is a normal part of the game, just like Yan said! I'm serious about Shanahan. I have no respect for the guy. Same with Doan a few days ago. Just BS.

Yes, charging someone from behind and cross checking them is bad. In Keith's case, this was enough for a freaking penalty. That's it. MAYBE a major. Even then, the refs saw it and called a minor. Why, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST AN ELBOW! If Sedin wasn't hurt, it wouldn't have been a big deal. He knew damn well Keith was right there and probably intended to draw a penalty when he turned. Sedin hit Keith in the head with a shoulder. Why was Sedin now suspended? Two reasons; Duncs was not hurt, and Sedin is apparently a star. Papers here in Canada would are probably going to rip on Keith, so this suspension is total PR (and BS). If Keith played on a Canadian team, he would not have got 5 games. I actually think that.

Why didn't Burrows get suspended for kneeing Keith in the groin?

The damn punishments aren't even consistent! Keith got 5 games, and had NO previous instances in 7 years. Doan had previous instances and got 3 games.

In summary, Keith got kneed in the groin and shouldered in the head. Later, when he was near the guy who hit him in the head earlier, he left his elbow up because his emotions were running high. The two players who illegally hit Keith earlier got no suspension, but Keith got 5 games when precedent says he should have gotten less than 3 AND the other two Canuck players should have gotten suspended always based on precedent. Totally inconsistent.

I hope the Hawks meet the Canucks in the playoffs and destroy them in 4 or 5 games. Vancouver doesn't deserve the cup anyway. They're a bunch of sorry losers (see last year....). Sorry Yan. Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa didn't have riots when their teams lost in the finals (all to non-hockey cities, by the way! At least Boston is a hockey town). At least Keith will get some rest.

While I'm at it, I HATE the seeding system. Both the Hawks and the Devils are substantially better teams than the Kings and the Panthers (by stats), but neither have home ice advantage. Same with the Pens. They are easily one of the best teams, but would likely not have home ice in the second round and maybe the third. Yeah, the top team in a division should get a playoff position, but that's it. None of that "top 3" BS. Florida and LA are NOT top 3 teams. Not even close. Teams that actually earned home ice advantage in the regular season (like the Hawks or Preds, for example) should not be knocked down by teams that are only above them because they won their division with much fewer points.

So, screw Shanahan, screw the city of Vancouver for being poor sports (Montreal style!) and screw Bettman for allowing such a stupid system and for confusing basketball with hockey.

[skyknight]

I am now disappointed with Shanahan, and I do now agree with some sports beat writers that the head of discipline should be an outsider, with little or no attachments to the NHL or the players. The ruling has been inconsistent throughout the season, with the harshest punishment given to "famed" players, while the key players are given lesser terms (no more than 5 games).

With NFL cracking down on intentional harm towards players, I do say the NHL does needs to define its game, it is already bad that Crosby have missed most of the season due to head shot, and this cannot be set as a trend for the future - I do say take another look at Bear-hug ruling (was legal in the past of NHL), and some way to reduce potential hazards (icing, goalie "trap" area...).

[Yancakes]

I don't think it's fair to say the Canucks are sore losers when it's the denizens of the city who rioted. A few years back they rioted when Guns'N'Roses cancelled a show

I miss Vancouver so much. It's an amusing as fuck city to live in.

I agree that the problem is an absolutely drastic level of inconsistency. It's an issue that they're going to have to resolve in the next year or two or face pissed off fans stopping watching the sport.

I don't see the Canucks getting past the second round, honestly, if they even get through the first. If they come up a team with any defensive might they'll get blown away. I'll be rooting for Nashville all the way

[Breetai]

I don't think it's fair to say the Canucks are sore losers when it's the denizens of the city who rioted. A few years back they rioted when Guns'N'Roses cancelled a show

What's that say about the people of the city in general? I mean, I like Vancouver. It's pretty and all (some parts!), but... geez, talk about a city with a feeling of entitlement. Aside from Montreal (same problem), what other city in Canada riots out of control when they lose a sporting match (or a rock star pulls the same sense-of-entitlement pussy move)? The Canucks themselves are also one of the worst team for faking injuries and playing dirty, soccer style, in order to draw penalties. They have less class than just about every team in the league.

I don't think I'm being biased just because I'm a Flames and 'Hawks fan. The Oilers are one of Calgary's biggest traditional rivals (so is Vancouver), but I have nothing but respect for that team. Same with the Jets, Senators (now that the all-star Heatley is gone) and even the Leafs and the Habs. The Canucks really do seem to be possibly the least sportsmanlike team in the league. The Trevor Linden era Canucks certainly were not like that (maybe with Bure as an exception).

I miss Vancouver so much. It's an amusing as fuck city to live in.

I lived in Kelowna for a while and loved visiting Vancouver. I DO like the city.

I don't see the Canucks getting past the second round, honestly, if they even get through the first. If they come up a team with any defensive might they'll get blown away. I'll be rooting for Nashville all the way

'Hawks all the way. I want to see Keith legally take out both Sedins for a few games and sweep the Canucks in 4. Think there'll be a riot in Vancouver if that happens and Keith gets off scott-free??


As for the Flames, I think with their loss today they are pretty much done. I don't expect a riot in Calgary, though.

I would love to see the Penguins go all the way to the finals. I think you have to agree that they are fun to watch, with all the insane amount of pure skill and teamwork. The Flyers are probably next, in my eyes. In the west, to be honest, the Blues have been amazing. Nobody can deny that.

Emotionally, I want to see a Jets/'Hawks final.

[the King]

More fun from the NHL front office.

PITTSBURGH — The New York Rangers were furious and not because they lost what was, for them, a meaningless game, to the Penguins.

But Brooks Orpik’s knee-to-knee hit on Derek Stepan at 15:21 of the third period in the Penguins’ 5-2 win sent Rangers coach John Tortorella into a postgame tirade that also took shots at Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.


"Absolutely, it’s a cheap, dirty hit," Tortorella said, his voice rising. "I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there, I wonder what would happen? So I’m anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just no respect among players. None. It’s sickening."

The Rangers (51-23-7) already had clinched first place in the Eastern Conference with Tuesday’s 5-3 win at Philadelphia and the Penguins (50-25-6) clinched the fourth seed with Thursday’s victory.

But the Rangers now have to worry about Stepan’s availability.

Orpik appeared to stick out his leg to hit Stepan’s right knee as he crossed the Penguins’ blue line. Orpik, who also crushed Stepan into the backboards in the first period, received a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct. Stepan skated off the ice under his own power and remained on the bench for the remainder of the game.

The Rangers did not have an immediate update on Stepan, who received treatment after the game and was not available to the media. Orpik did not speak to the media, either.

"Ask the guy who did it, ask him," Tortorella said when pressed on the lack of respect among players. "It’s one of the most arrogant organizations in the league. They whine about this stuff all the time and look what happens. It’s ridiculous, but they’ll whine about something else over there, won’t they? Starting with their two (freakin’) stars."

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma defended Orpik by saying his defenseman was trying to hit Stepan on an angle.

But Marty Biron (27 saves), who made his first start since a 5-2 loss to the Penguins on March 15, said Orpik has a reputation for dirty play.

"I saw it the whole way and it crossed my mind to go all the way down there," Biron said. "It was gutless, dirty. That guy is known for sticking his leg out. ... He’s going to continue to do that unless somebody either gets him with a suspension or whatever. It’s very dangerous."

So, Tortorella speaks the truth and then the NHL promotes and puts his comments on their website for a day and then league hands down a 20K fine for criticizing the NHL's golden boy and his team. So if you play for Pittsburgh you can take a guy out with a knee like Orpik did and get away scott free, but make a comment on it that is spot on and there is a fine...awesome. Bettman wants it to be like the NBA, here you go.

[Luke]

Ryan Clowe makes play from the bench.

And King, I think we feel the exact same way about Bettman, and have since the get go. He changed the sport, and not for the better. And you nailed it, he wants hockey to be the NBA on ice, which isn't hockey. His rules encourage cherry picking, and excuse my foul language, and for mother fucking crying out loud not every time someone is checked near a board is it boarding, nor is every God Damned shove a cross check.

Good on him for the Winter Classic, but that's it. As long as he keeps the sport alive, good, and I understand that it's not only Bettman who encouraged changes to the game, but I can't wait for his retirement.

If he has any financial savvy at all, I would imagine Jeremy Roenick would make one great NHL Commish.

two line passes should never be legal *grumble grumble*


edit- I actually made the grumble sound.

[Yancakes]

Hockey day at my place! Four games going at once! (Yes, me and my friends are watching all 15 games today!)

[Yancakes]

Heh, fuck the haters! A team who sucks doesn't get President's Cup two years in a row