stevkrause

Well, lets agree to disagree on the effect regarding concussions then, but even to cut down on cuts, broken bones, etc... isn't that alone worth the change? And yes, the helmets/chinstraps need to be mandated as well.... I agree with you there 100%

I guess I'm an anomaly, because I've been a fan for well over 20 years now and I do not want to see the origins, or the tradition from the game removed and I love the game in it's pure form - but I also think evolution of the game where it belongs is an addition to the quality of the game, not a subtraction... so I'm basically a 50/50 traditionalist/reformist I guess...

that would be stellar to get him back... I'm just glad he's feeling better

The logic here is flawed... the force will most certainly be absorbed differently to the recipient of the hit depending on the shell, as that is the first point of impact - if it is stiff and does not give (ie hard shells) it is going to drive the force forward, not absorb it... it has nothing to do with the inertia and the force of the momentum, but rather how it is absorbed... For example, say you drop a bowling ball filled with foam on a target... now, invert the materials, put the foam on the outside and the hard shell on the inside - same weight, same materials - are you honestly going to try and argue that the impact will be the same? Same general rule here...

I agree, I think the only thing it would reduce (which would be the whole purpose) would be the intentional blows - the accidental ones are always going to happen and that's part of the game, but penalties are still accessed for accidents - ie high sticking

We'd still have to give them more than that - even with his health problems, but could get him for way less than otherwise if he hadn't had to have 2 back surgeries... since it is an expiring contract and he's coming off the injury though, it might be a nice gamble - because if it works out, you get an ELITE goaltender for cheap (Howard, Lebda or Meech and a mid to late level draft pick for Lehtonen and a prospect or pick)

not true whatsoever - the hard plastic causes a much larger source of impact, as none of the momentum is absorbed buy the pads, but fully transferred due to the materials used... if soft caps were used, more force would be absorbed, thus lessening and reducing injury - this does not mean that switching to soft caps are going let a guy just get up and skate away from a hit like the one on Havlat last year, but it will most CERTAINLY decrease the likelihood of concussion - also, the helmets should be regulated as well....

That's pretty much what I suggested in my first post - but the dirty hits NEED to go, and they need a legit discipline board to hand out punishments fairly, evenly and without bias - until this is done, it will still be a second class league.

agreed...

because we NEED to see what Howard is at the NHL level day in and day out - out of minor league options... didn't we already have about 100 threads discussing this?

ugh... I don't know how much more clear to make it - I don't think anyone should "be made an example of" - I think they need to clearly define what is an offense and then enforce those punishments - ACROSS THE BOARD. If this is punished evenly and fairly, eventually, the cheap shots will go away from the game and younger generations will not mimick these poor decisions to look like the "cool" NHL players, thus improving future classes... You can still play hard, hit DAMN hard and be physical as all hell, without taking liberties and hurting a guy for the sake of hurting a guy.

we're going in circles, forget about Richards for one moment and think on the broad scale... once again: Not EVERY head contact hit should be suspended... but there are variations and the discipline committee needs to gain some consistency and punish accordingly and without bias All of this is going to be subjective and until the league gets a legit board in there and not some Mickey Mouse organization, this debate is going to continue, more people are going to get hurt, suspensions that should be called will be missed and people will get suspended that have no right getting suspended...

he's referring to the game - see my reply above

In other words, the decision making process/behaviors of players are being formed based on what they see as "OK" - if these hits are not passed as "OK" from the NHL level down, they would not be a learned progression

exactly. as I said above

no, it's not ironic, because he was the greatest player to ever play the game - and that was a VERY different time... I suppose I can't like any goalie who wears a cage in today's game because Jacques Plant and Terry Sawchuck didn't back then by your logic... or how about hating any player who uses a curved stick, because Howe didn't... wait, I should probably hate any player who has a hard boot on their skate and not just a flap of leather too... you love comparing apples to oranges, don't you? It's called progress - as technology and society evolves - so does sport. period. The Kariya hit, Steven's had his elbows tucked, he was in front of Kariya and Kariya was watching his pass - clean hit. Once again, there are a variety of factors to take into effect and I'm not the once making the decisions... we will all have our own opinions of every hit and it's up to a PROPER board to make the PROPER decisions - which the league currently does not have.

apples to oranges. 90% of Steven's hits were great, clean hits - but those other 10% he should have been punished for... and yes... I want to take hitting out of the game... DIRTY hitting this is coming from a guy who's game revolved around the physical aspect when I played travel hockey - I was a physical presence first and foremost and prided myself on my physical game, but also would like to think I always did it with respect... if a hit like that were dropped on a teammate of mine - I would have a serious problem with it. The fact is, the respect in the game is disappearing and this is worrisome - there is very little accountability anymore and players are not learning at a young age to respect their opponents while still playing hard and that they WILL be accountable for their actions - also, players are not being taught well enough on how to protect themselves soon enough... but that's a whole different topic... EDIT - just for clarification - I am talking about hits like the one on Booth from Richards and the Steven's hit on Lindros - NOT the one on Kessel - that was clean

I disagree with the intent on Richards hit... there's no reason to blind side a guy like that - it's different if he has his head down and you come in from the front - Richards was behind/on the side of him and CLEARLY head hunting... the incident with the kid from Kitchner was definitely cheap and his elbows DEFINITELY came up, but at the same token, the kid saw him coming, had plenty of time to avoid the hit AND turned his back to the hit - BIG no-no... so I see this one as 50/50. once again............ Not EVERY head contact hit should be suspended... but there are variations and the discipline committee needs to gain some consistency and punish accordingly and without bias - THAT'S where the problem comes in - Elbows, forearm shivers and leaving of the feet needs to be cracked down on and they also need to remove the terminator style football pads from the game and force soft cap pads, so when there IS a clean shoulder hit (like Ohlund's) that a guys head isn't taken off... All of this is going to be subjective and until the league gets a legit board in there and not some Mickey Mouse organization, this debate is going to continue, more people are going to get hurt, suspensions that should be called will be missed and people will get suspended that have no right getting suspended... the NHL needs new leadership across the board...

exactly.

good job reading my post... ignorance breeds stupidity. those still protect just as well and can have stronger plastic armor underneath well still being padded on top - the actually absorb the impact more... hard plastic - hard impact: soft cap - absorb impact (and protect better from pucks):

for the record - Wisniewski's hit deserved a suspension... also, Mike Richards hit on Booth deserved a more serious suspension... Ohlund's was clean.

He needs to be paired with a stay at home D-man, not turnover machines like Lebda and/or Meech - keep in mind, he is also leading the team for defensive scoring - I think Janik needs to stay up and play regularly... Meech and Lebda can batte for #7 and one of them can go (hell, they can both go and bring up Delmore too as far as I'm concerned) Also, as Opie said - this also has a lot to do with overall team defense improvement and Ozzie's DRASTIC improvement in net...

I'd say Janik looked very solid out there - he should be given at least 3 to 5 games and then re-evaluate our situation - keep in mind, he would have to clear waivers to go back down, so once everyone is healthy, something has to give... if we can't trade Meech or Lebda, I would rather one of them waived than Janik at this point - and that isn't going off of 1 game with us - that's going off of his 161 other NHL games and solid defensive play through his career, plus his added physical element of the game...

Not EVERY head contact hit should be suspended... but there are variations and the discipline committee needs to gain some consistency and punish accordingly and without bias - THAT'S where the problem comes in - Elbows, forearm shivers and leaving of the feet needs to be cracked down on and they also need to remove the terminator style football pads from the game and force soft cap pads, so when there IS a clean shoulder hit (like Ohlund's) that a guys head isn't taken off... All of this is going to be subjective and until the league gets a legit board in there and not some Mickey Mouse organization, this debate is going to continue, more people are going to get hurt, suspensions that should be called will be missed and people will get suspended that have no right getting suspended... the NHL needs new leadership across the board...

I don't get it... I wasn't for it before the year started, but what the hell is wrong with some of the Williams haters - he has played OUTSTANDING for us thus far, especially considering his price tag....