2010-2011 NHL Season Thread

[Callisto]

I still dont get this Gillies suspension. He didnt hit Clutterbuck from behind, he didnt even hit him in the head..."ops he was on the ice injured, SUSPENSION".

I think it's universally agreed on that the second Gillies suspension was a complete joke. As far as Chara's, I didn't look into it much so I don't have a lot of opinion on it, I know he's typically regarded as a clean player. There's one more Habs/Bruins game remaining, right? Guess we'll be in for another kabillion penalty minutes in that one.

[Kaylia]

Before blamming Chara, they should blame the retarded glass design. They can add cushions, or make it curves inside..anything. The worst thing that could happen is a weird bounce the few time it actually hit that part.

[Valisk]

Look at the picture Kaylia. That red thing IS the cushion.

[Melena]

Drew Remenda wrote a short article on the Sharks page about the latest head hit and how he's done getting angry over it since the players just don't seem to care that they are pretty much trying to kill each other out there.

http://fans.sharks.nhl.com/community...-on-head-hits/

Posted by Drew-Remenda
I DON’T CARE ! I rarely utter, write or even think those words when it comes to a hockey issue, but I officially couldn’t give a rat’s behind on headshots, dirty hits and concussions.

Callous and unfeeling you say? How can I be so unfeeling? The simple answer is, if the players don’t care, then why should I? Why should you?
It is like we tell our kids; your actions speak louder than your words. Well, the actions of the NHL players are screaming a message of contempt and a remorseless outlook for each other.

The latest headline grabbing transgression comes from Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. Chara, the 6’9” monster defenceman, ran Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens head-first into the glass partition that separates the two benches. Pacioretty’s head snapped back and the Canadiens forward slammed violently to the ice. He laid on the ice as the Bell Centre crowd fell silent. Chara was given a 5 minute interference penalty and a game misconduct. After several minutes and great care by doctors and training staff, Max Pacioretty was wheeled off the ice and rushed to a nearby hospital. Reports are good that the young man is going to be OK. As OK as you can be with a fractured vertebrae. But he won’t be back on the ice anytime soon.

So now, Mike Murphy has to try and read the mind of Zdeno Chara. The league’s Vice President of Hockey Operations will determine supplemental discipline. Because Colin Campbell’s son Gregory plays for the Bruins, no matter what decision is made it will be the wrong one. Fans and pundits will argue the suspension length and nothing will change. No message will be sent because the players aren’t accepting any calls at this time.

If the players truly cared something would have changed by now. After the lockout the NHL changed the rules on obstruction and the players adjusted.
The style of play has changed. Players have to block shots, grind along the boards and play a more physically taxing defensive game and they have changed to the demands of their coaches. But for some reason they can’t resist trying to tear their opponents head off.

So from now on, I’m out! I will no longer condemn, fret about or defend dangerous hits because it is an exercise in futility. I will no longer try to read a players intent. I will no longer argue with other so called experts about player positioning on the rink and roll my eyes at the “ya gotta keep your head up” arguments. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what the media, broadcasters and fans do or say. The players simply don’t get it or don’t want to get it, which I think is closer to the truth. So have at it boys, knock yourselves out, literally!

[Izzy]

Cushion or no cushion, that's still going to cause a drastic change in momentum to one part of the body, no matter how hard you hit it.

If you stack up 100 feather pillows, you might end up not getting a concussion, but you're still gonna separate the vertebrae from the way your neck bends.

[NynJa]

"NHLBruins Boston Bruins
The NHL has informed the Bruins that there will be no fine and no suspension for Chara ^BB
"

I'm officially fucking disgusted

[friedfunk]

Replace Max Pacioretty with Alexander Ovechkin, if Chara's punishment is any different then the league needs new officials.

And the sad thing is if Pacioretty bounces right back up, then this hit makes all of the highlight of the night shows.

[NynJa]

"I conducted a hearing with Boston Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara with respect to the major penalty for interference and game misconduct that he was assessed at 19:44 of the second period for a hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens.

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.

"This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."

How the fuck could you not find evidence of headhunting, between the fact his gloves were holding his head above the boards, and the fact he has history with Pacioretty.

[Ratatapa]

Shit is going to hit the fan in montreal and at other places

[aurik]

Patently stupid. Any illegal hit that results in serious injury should warrant a mandatory suspension.

[isladar]

There hasn't been a hackey riot in Montreal for awhile.

[aurik]

Yeah not since last spring!

http://teamhockey-news.blogspot.com/...ckey-riot.html

[isladar]

Jesus, how did y'all make it for so long?

[Deader2818]

They prob looked at where the point of contact was made. The point of contact was made at the shoulder area and he pushed up from there.

Figured he'd get a game or 2 but not shocked he didnt get anything.

[Thoronas]

How the fuck could you not find evidence of headhunting, between the fact his gloves were holding his head above the boards, and the fact he has history with Pacioretty.

I was kinda hoping they'd give him something. This is gonna piss people off to no end and if Pacioretty loses more than the rest of this season it's going to look bad on the league.

[aurik]

They prob looked at where the point of contact was made.

Was still an illegal hit that resulted in serious injury -> should be a mandatory suspension.

[Kaylia]

Look at the picture Kaylia. That red thing IS the cushion.

Well, that's why I was saying they should make it curves. This way, the player's head would slide along the glass or cushion instead of hitting a wall.

Idk, it's not the first time I see someone get a bad injury like this, and I'm sure there is better solution than that small cushion on the side.

Cushion or no cushion, that's still going to cause a drastic change in momentum to one part of the body, no matter how hard you hit it.

If you stack up 100 feather pillows, you might end up not getting a concussion, but you're still gonna separate the vertebrae from the way your neck bends.

If Actually, it depends of the pillow compressibility. The body is elastic up to a certain point, and slowing down the collisions would most likely help here.

Anyway, my point was to prevent a drastic change in momentum by removing the "side" of the glass.

[Selamis]

Sad day for the NHL, the one time I wish Colin Campbell was involved in this. They make such a big deal about headshots and protecting players and raising awareness about concussions...and then don't do a damn thing after this vicious play. Pathetic.

[vagus]

Don't matter if it's a headshot or slew footing. Any type of action to cause harm to another player should be an automatic suspension.

Not just Montreal Canadian fans but fans of hockey should be outraged by this ruling. This will end up blowing up in the face of the NHL. The Canadian's will seek revenge and all hell will break lose. Been 7 years since the Moore incident and in that situation Bertuzzi got suspended for the rest of the season. Not sure why Chara isn't given something similar. Almost seems like NHL is afraid to suspend Chara since the civil case ruling is happening soon.

[Ishido]

"We're trying to crack down on hits that cause concussions"

*Doesn't suspend player for a horrible looking hit that causes a concussion (SERIOUS concussion as it has been worded in several places) and fractured vertebrae*

Also as a bit of cruel irony this is pretty much the same injury that Moore had after the Bertuzzi incident.

edit: That means this season the NHL has suspended someone for making a blowjob motion while letting this go unpunished except for a penalty in-game.