NHL 2011/2012 Season

[Derishton]

And Crosby is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms. Booooo!

After a game with ... surprise, surprise ... Boston. It took several days, but TSN's panel was finally starting to talk about Krejki's role in the Crosby setback. I had though I'd never see an honest conversation in the media concerning Boston ever again.

Now if they'd just start talking about why Marchand gets a modest financial penalty for a slew-foot even Boston fans thought was dangerous, we'd be getting somewhere. I'm sure Shanny has an explanation, something to do with Marchand being the best lil' guy in all the land who wouldn't do nuttin' to hurt nobody, honest!

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Wow. Philly announcing that Pronger's concusssion has ended his season. I wonder, at his age, if we haven't seen him play his last game.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Wow, Hockey really needs to do something about its concussion problem.

 

[TheSeeker]

Wow. Philly announcing that Pronger's concusssion has ended his season. I wonder, at his age, if we haven't seen him play his last game.

I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Garak]

General douchebag and worst GM the league has ever seen Mike Milbury is accused of assaulting a 12 year old boy:

Link

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I don't like Milbury, but that article doesn't give any details. In this lawsuit happy country he might not have done much to warrant getting sued. This could be nothing more than him pulling two fighting kids apart and one parent over-reacting.

 

[TheSeeker]

Yeah. I'll need to hear a few more facts on this one.

 

[Derishton]

Yeah, I loathe Milbury but I'd want more details before I believed this one.

 

[tomalak301]

Wow, Hockey really needs to do something about its concussion problem.

It's trying to and I do think the league is being very proactive about it. Maybe more should be done, but unless you take away hitting entirely, I don't think this problem is going away anytime soon.

 

[Darth Duck]

Wow. Philly announcing that Pronger's concusssion has ended his season. I wonder, at his age, if we haven't seen him play his last game.

I think I might be the only person I know who doesn't hate Pronger. I'd hate to see him go out like this.

Wow, Hockey really needs to do something about its concussion problem.

No kidding.

General douchebag and worst GM the league has ever seen Mike Milbury is accused of assaulting a 12 year old boy:

Link

When I saw that story pop up I only glanced at the article title before clicking the link and ended up glad it wasn't sexual assault. Still an awful story though.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Even though I'm a Flyers fan and am saddened about Pronger, Crosby alone should be enough to get people's attention. Actually, I think Lindros should have gotten people's attention 12 years ago, but it's still a major problem.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Pat LaFontaine's career ended in 1998 due to concussions.

Ken Dryden has something to say about it.

Mr. Bettman and the NHL can't use science as their shield. They must move out of Stage 2 to Stage 3: No amount of well-modulated, reasonable-sounding words changes the fact that a hit to the head, by elbow, shoulder or fist, is an attempt to injure that needs to result in expulsion or suspension. No amount of hopefulness and crossed fingers will change the fact that the NHL, like the NFL, needs to start imagining and introducing “head-smart” ways to play.
And Mr. Bettman needs to be Mr. Bettman. We look back on those 50 years ago who defended tobacco and asbestos and think, “How could they be so stupid?” Mr. Bettman and the NHL cannot wait for this generation of players to get old, just so they can know for sure.

Dryden has in the past called for an elimination of fighting in hockey, his comments here follow the same vein. But he's right, the NHL needs to take a stand and play "head smart".

I still think the biggest deterrent would be tying suspensions for hits with intent to injure or for those outside the rules - blindside, blow to the head, etc - to the length of time the injured player is out.

Which would have meant that Todd "chickenshit" Bertuzzi would still be on the outside looking in, but I digress.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I have no problem with ending fighting, although they also have to make sure it isn't just a scapegoat since there are plenty of other problems contributing to it as well.

 

[Canadave]

I think what really needs to be done is to get rid of enforcers. Fighting has it's occasional place to prevent brawls, but the guys who are out there only to fight need to go. One idea I heard is to give every player the freedom to fight five times in a season, but each fight subsequent to those five results in a suspension. I think that would do a lot to help, while still keeping something that a lot of people consider to be a major part of the game.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

There's a couple of problems with that. Even if you banned all fighting, it wouldn't get rid of enforcers. Having someone for the purpose of laying a hard hit would still be there and that would be difficult to find/enforce. I don't think anyone wants to take the hitting out of hockey, which is what makes it so hard to find the line.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Anyone watching 24/7 Flyers/Rangers Road to the Winter Classic? HBO usually does these things really well. It puts me in an awkward position of rooting for the Rangers, though. Still, the Winter Classic should be exciting.

Part 1 is on demand and part 2 is on HBO tonight.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I have no problem with ending fighting, although they also have to make sure it isn't just a scapegoat since there are plenty of other problems contributing to it as well.

You ban fighting and games can get more out of control. Have you seen a college game that's gotten out of hand? A lot of stick work, slashing, spearing, and the like, along with chippy hits behind the play and extended scrums every whistle.

The potential for injury goes up in these games significantly.

But having players who train to be fighters, learning technique and sparring is over the top.

Anyone watching 24/7 Flyers/Rangers Road to the Winter Classic? HBO usually does these things really well. It puts me in an awkward position of rooting for the Rangers, though. Still, the Winter Classic should be exciting.

Part 1 is on demand and part 2 is on HBO tonight.

It's pretty good.

 

[Canadave]

There's a couple of problems with that. Even if you banned all fighting, it wouldn't get rid of enforcers. Having someone for the purpose of laying a hard hit would still be there and that would be difficult to find/enforce. I don't think anyone wants to take the hitting out of hockey, which is what makes it so hard to find the line.

True, but there's a world of difference between hard-hitters who are also skilled players, like Dion Phaneuf and Zdeno Chara, and between pure enforcers like Jay Rosehill, whom the Leafs only have on the roster to play in games where a fight is expected. No way would that role survive.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

While I'm all for improving the talent of the games, I don't want "feel good" measures. I don't want them to say "we banned fighting" and then wash their hands as more concussions take place.

Generally, a hockey fight isn't really a good fight anyway. It's a few side jabs until they both topple over onto the ice and get broken up.

 

[Danny99]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AhtSgnuzdYqEJ8PyaExiZMV7vLYF?slug=ap-mapleleafs-wilson

The Leafs extend Ron Wilson's contract.

Why?

The Leafs have shown some improvement and are actually contending for a playoff spot these days. But he hasn't done anything in the past or present to justify it, this team hasn't made the playoffs yet.

I just can't justify it, except for the easy answer of the Burke/Wilson friendship.