NHL 2006/2007 Thread

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-14 11:43pm

That game was a bloody disgrace. The Flames should have lost at least 6-2.

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-18 07:06pm

I am not an NHL hockey fan until players like Jordin Tootoo are out of the league.

What a joke.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-03-18 09:01pm

I didn't see what happened with Tootoo, elaborate?

Also, Kudos to the Ducks for sticking up for each other Friday night against Chicago. Fucking asshawks were taking runs at McDonald all night, and good ol' Chris Kunitz dropped the gloves and wailed on Tuomo Ruutu. Parros, O'Donnell, and Getzlaf also got in fights for the Ducks as we went on to smoke Chicago 5-2, with one of Chiacgo's being a garbage goal in the last two minutes on a bullshit 2 man advantage.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-18 09:23pm

I didn't see what happened with Tootoo, elaborate?

Short version, he delivered a hit on Mike Modano, and then in one motion, turned around and decked the guy coming in on him to break it up/retaliate/whatever. Not the brightest move I've ever seen, he got a double minor at the time, and probably more coming.

Edit: It was Stephane Robidas who was knocked cold, and carried off the ice.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-03-18 10:28pm

Here's the clip on YouTube.

Tootoo shouldn't have done it, but I can't really fault him. It was a clean hit on Modano, and then Robidas came over to retaliate. What's he supposed to do? Just let Robidas hit him?

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-19 12:21am

Master of Ossus wrote:Here's the clip on YouTube.

Tootoo shouldn't have done it, but I can't really fault him. It was a clean hit on Modano, and then Robidas came over to retaliate. What's he supposed to do? Just let Robidas hit him?

In situations like that Tootoo is supposed to grapple and drop em with Robidas. Not sucker punch him with his gloves still on.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-19 12:53am

It wasnt a sucker punch. But he shouldnt have thrown it like that, glove still on and right at his face.

Ideally, the other fella shouldnt be roaring in full of piss and vinegar to "avenge" at hit on Modano that wasnt even dirty. But, such is the mindset in the NHL

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-03-19 01:31am

Archon wrote:In situations like that Tootoo is supposed to grapple and drop em with Robidas. Not sucker punch him with his gloves still on.

Hilariously, Stars fans have already sabotaged the wiki page on sucker punches to literally show a series of shots of the confrontation between Robidas and Tootoo, but they didn't change the text of the article.

wiki wrote:A sucker punch is an act of violence where the one being punched is either caught completely off guard by a landed fist, or a punch which is thrown to disable another in a place which is not normally a target in a "fair fight," such as on the back of the head (this type of sucker punch is also known as a rabbit punch). Although it is commonly known to be embarrassing and painful to be upon the receiving end of the punch, the act often belies the character of the one throwing the punch, which is often attributed as a cowardly act.

How can this be a sucker punch? Robidas was skating over to start a fight with Tootoo. If you're going to start a fight, how can you be considered "completely off guard?" As for Tootoo's not taking his gloves off, I agree that that he should've gotten them off, first, but Robidas still had his gloves on, too, so it's not like there was a ton of time for Tootoo to ditch his equipment and then defend himself. He hit Modano, turned to try and find anyone coming to retaliate, and then Robidas was on him so he just threw one as quickly as he could. Robidas was clearly coming over to deliver a blow to either Tootoo's head or chest with his gloves still on, and so the grapple was already gone as an option at that point.

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-19 01:58am

I'm not going to say any more until I can get a half decent look at the video. Although I do retract the sucker punch bit.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-19 08:50am

Interesting thing about the incident too; after he clocked Robidas, you clearly see Modano hack him across the back with his stick. He then turns around and probably calls Mikey a few names and suggests they do something about that. Nothing comes of it since the officials and other teammates show up in the general scrum. The more I watch tape of this, the more I'm thinking its another 2-ruleset bullshit scenario -- one for average or subpar players, another for the golden boys. Tootoo shouldnt have done that. But Modano shouldnt have resorted to the hack with the stick either. And Robidas shouldnt have came charging in for vengance where none needed. THIS is the sort of knucklehead mentality that took Steve Moore out of hockey for probably life. And it's still here in the NHL.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-03-19 06:05pm

I enjoy physcial play (cheap shots deserve retaliation, but this wasn't one of them) and I respect the mentality to protect your star players, but if the hit was clean then you have to be careful. But I think Robidas was stupid for rushing in the way he did to let himself get clocked like that, he had Tootoo in his sights and was so set on the kill he never saw the punch coming, that doesn't make it a sucker punch though.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-03-19 06:15pm

Darth Fanboy wrote:I enjoy physcial play (cheap shots deserve retaliation, but this wasn't one of them) and I respect the mentality to protect your star players, but if the hit was clean then you have to be careful. But I think Robidas was stupid for rushing in the way he did to let himself get clocked like that, he had Tootoo in his sights and was so set on the kill he never saw the punch coming, that doesn't make it a sucker punch though.

After watching it, again, it was worse than my first reaction indicated. Tootoo clearly used excessive force in delivering the blow. I still wouldn't call it a sucker punch, since Robidas was trying to go in and fight him, and I still don't think Robidas should have gone after him since the initial hit on Modano was clean, but I can see a brief suspension as a result of it.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-19 09:36pm

Five Games for the knockout punch by Tootoo

On to the next contestant in the ongoing NHL atrocity contest

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-03-19 10:05pm

Burak Gazan wrote:Five Games for the knockout punch by Tootoo

On to the next contestant in the ongoing NHL atrocity contest

The boards over there seem pretty split. I would say ~2/3-3/4 disagree with the suspension and think that Tootoo shouldn't have been penalized, and the rest are evenly split between "about right" and "not harsh enough."

Surprisingly, a lot of people also think Modano's slash should've resulted in a suspension. I would say about half of them.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-19 10:43pm

It's not that surprising I think Ossus. A lot of the stickwork seems to get ignored, especially if "star" players are the ones doing it (Wayne Gretzky worst example, when he sticked Dougie Gilmour and didnt get a minute, subsequently scoring winning goal against Leafs to advance to cup final; no, Wayne, I've not forgotten....) Five games seems a bit stiff, since Robidas got zippo despite a charging call (darkly humourous when he's unconcious on the ice

) I suspect part of the reasoning behind the suspension is an attempt to deter further incidents of this nature. We'll see -- I think its just rinse repeat from the NHL officiating mob.

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-20 02:59pm

After going over the video again I have come to the same conclusion as Fanboy and MoO. The slash was basically harmless from what I saw.

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming...

The Flames have to beat Detroit tonight if they want to make the playoffs.

EDIT TO ADD:

And an article for Fanboy from the LA TIMES, here.

You may have already read it.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-03-20 09:34pm

I hadn't seen that one yet Archon, my thanks. We definitely sold out the two games after that one against Columbus against Chicago and LA, and I would expect that the remaining games against Dallas and San Jose will be nothing short of sold out.

It's been much more fun to go to the games when the crowds started getting bigger. This just proves two things i've been saying for a long time. Southern Californians love a winner, and that the attendance in Anaheim would pick up once 2007 began. Games against Pittsburgh and Detroit earlier in the year struggled to draw, but we've had no problems since.

And as far as my previous comments about Physical play, the Ducks have a whopping 65 Fighting major as of March 19th and lead the NHL. Phoenix is second with a mere 42. By contrast, Detroit, Minnesota, Montreal, and the Islanders combine for only 52! Part of that was Shane O'Brien, but as his career progresses and he develops into (in my opinion) a top notch NHL Defenseman, he won't be getting in as many skirmishes.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-20 10:04pm

The Leafs win 2-1 over Jersey to stay on pace with the logjam for the last playoff spots in the East. Sundin gets points # 899 and 900 as a Leaf <S>

Oh, for anyone keeping score of the misery, the Oilers continue to burn up in the atmosphere, losing streak is up to 11 since trading Smyth

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-03-21 12:50am

Burak Gazan wrote:Oh, for anyone keeping score of the misery, the Oilers continue to burn up in the atmosphere, losing streak is up to 11 since trading Smyth

And Staios is gone for the rest of the season, having had season-ending surgery.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-03-21 01:59am

Nice win by the Flames, almost a really good comeback by the Yotes tonight on VS. All three of Wild goals were scored in the final minute of the first and second periods, which feel like a kick in the unshielded testicles from ain ice skate made to fit Shaquille O'Neal. Afew costly penalties had them back in it scoring 2 PP Goals in the span of about 4 minutes. Never heard much about Backstrom before but he looks like a guy who could be dangerous in a playoff series.

Archon · Post by **Archon** » 2007-03-22 11:59pm

FLAMES FINALLY BEAT THE PREDATORS!

*dances*

Sorry for not doing it in regulation DGG!

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2007-03-23 12:44am

Apologize to me too ya jerk! :p

Of course, it's not like I should be miffed at you, when we lose for the second time this year at Phoenix. We won 3 out of 4 at Dallas, and 3 out of 4 at San Jose, and 3 out of 4 at LA, but only two at PHX of all fucking places. *spits*

For the second time this year, Todd Fedoruk is knocked out in a fight. Oy vey. I 'll still cheer for him, because he provided some of the best entertainment for me last season.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-23 09:50am

Fedoruk is day-to-day, apparently they need to do more tests. At least its not as bad as the last major injury. TSN had some of their guys at the game, and one of them actually thought he was dead

I suppose its not coincidental that now Campbell is talking about whether fighting still belongs in the game

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2007-03-23 10:27am

Burak Gazan wrote:I suppose its not coincidental that now Campbell is talking about whether fighting still belongs in the game

Colin Campbell is a fucking moron. Yeah, let's ban fighting, but we'll let the guys do knee to knee hits, charging from behind, highsticking in the face, and elbow to head hits. The guy does not give a shit about player safety. Even if someone like Crosby or Ovechkin gets his career ended by a cheapshot, dumbfuck Campbell will still be blabbing on about the need to take fighting out of the game while doing absolutely nothing about cheapshots.

Burak Gazan · Post by **Burak Gazan** » 2007-03-23 10:53am

The part near the end of the article is dead on:

There is a counter-argument to banning fighting, however.

Some players could take more liberties with the stars without fear of answering to a tough guy.

''I worry about what would happen if there wasn't a way to let out the frustration with a fight,'' said Roenick. ''Because let's face it, there is absolutely no respect in the game any more, with the way guys are taking runs at people and with the cheap shots and the late hits. Guys are getting hurt. If you take fighting out all of a sudden these guys are going to take even more liberties because they don't have to be accountable for themselves.

''I think somebody is going to get hurt more from a vicious hit from a guy not being worried that he has to drop his gloves and get his ass kicked.''

Primeau agreed with JR and has a solution.

''It has to go hand in hand,'' said Primeau. ''If you're going to outlaw fighting, you absolutely have to outlaw any kind of stick infraction. So if you're saying, for example, that fighting is a 10-, 15- or 20-game suspension, then a reviewable high stick has to automatically be a 10-, 15- or 20-game suspension.

''Because sticks are just going to get higher when guys know there is no recourse or retribution.''

The no respect factor is just getting worse. I watched highlights of the Pens-Islanders game last night and some imbecile kicked another player between his legs in response to a hit on the boards