Opie

You make the world's worst analogies, first it was akin to drunk driving now not changing your oil. Seriously you like fights we get it, really we do!

You pulled the same BS last year and the year before!

Bruins appear to not be in heavy pursuit: http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins...with_kovalchuk/

I guarantee you he already knows what the KHL offer will be. Some one told his grandmother's hairdresser who happened to let it slip to Nana that the KHL Whoevers will give him a gazillion. After that Nana had to call he grandson. All kidding aside I am pretty sure he has a very accurate idea of his value in the KHL.

Or that you were one, do you know his cut on a deal like that! What is standard 17%? Something like that I think.

I was asked in this another thread and felt it fit this conversation as well, the hit delivered btw was a clean hit, that the conversation was based on.

I was thinking the same thing when Boston put out Ryders name so early, if he and Kovie go what other big/semi big names are there(Ryder is semi big name)

Not as pissed but I have vested interest in this scenario. But when and why do May and Z end up on the same line? But let me use a scenario a little closer to reality, as in something that actually happened. Markov levels Stoll, as Dats is on his way to score, an Oiler starts a fight with Markov (like happened to Vancouver earlier) and Dats never scores. Or Better yet let me give you a scenario where I believe it was carried out correctly, yet another Wings scenario. Lappy hits Lids clean, yet actually does injure the man. (It is very important to note at this point in time we are no longer dealing with ifs/maybes/could have been/fairies/leprechauns or any other mythical way a hockey player "potentially" could have been hurt, I am talking about the 'C' getting injured for realz!) Shifts later, not the second after the hit, the hero of LGW's Grit Crew (and an all around good guy for the record) Aaron Downey fights Lappy. Not because some one some day may get hurt if lappy kept hitting that way. NO because he hurt the 'C'. The game is being broken up for a clean hit? Seriously, Zetta got hurt already on a clean hit this year, where was the upheaval for no retribution! GRRRRRRRR IZ WANT MYZ RETALIATIONZ!!!!!!!111111oneoneomg If this was the case every time Krowall or Stuart leveled Umberger the Wings games would be near impossible to watch. (sure that was an exaggeration!)

Bruins also made it known that Ryder is available, maybe they are looking to clear room or make roster room for Kovie?

On TSN as well!

This is the problem with lots of announcers today Goaliemanpat, they want the fans to notice them and not the play, they are trying to sell themselves as much as the game. A good play by play guy to me gets wound up once and a while (See Emerick's Marty Broduer vs the World call), but let the color guy do the emotional calls, the play by play guy should be just that, tell me what is happening from play to play!

I honestly don't think it will take much cash to sign this guy in the offseason, I think he signs with a contender for a 1-3 year deal relatively cheap (given his skill set). This man has been paid very well for quite a few years, has seen all star line mates exodus multiple times. I just don't see how Kovie stays in ATL or goes to a non contender, unless he just wants the dough, then I see him in the KHL. If you are not going to be on a winner and therefore playing for your money by Feb most years, why not go to the KHL where the money is tax free and it is your home country. Or If you are going to finally get a chance to play for a Det, SJ, Dal, Bos, Chi, ANA, etc where you at least know that the team is trying for a cup, not for the cap floor. Simple question, what is the best record Kovie's team has ever had? 06-07 43-28-11 lost (swept) in EQF (aka the first round). The only year that they have made the playoffs, teammates like Savard, Hossa, and Heatley have all left for greener (not necessarily money wise) pastures, if I am this guy, I want to win, I want a cup and if not at least the chance to win one like Hossa and Heatley have had shots at!

I love that video look at Kessel trying to find someone he knows won't fight!

While it may not be new (I never argued it was new) but it has seen a drastic rise in occurrence. It used to be if you destroyed a guy, or went after the 'C'. Now it is any hit on anybody that looks big. Now if a third of fourth line guy gets lit up, there is retaliation. Regardless if your guy had his head down or not. Retaliation for big hits to cover Gretz, sure name me another player that had the impact that Gretz had and was protected like he was, was Messier or Kurri protected like that, nope. You know why, Gretz was a once in a lifetime player, and one of the first NHLers that could not defend himself in any way shape or form. Players before him, like Howe, and the like defended themselves and didn't need anybody's help. They played in an era with basically socks and foam for padding, yet they didn't have to come to the rescue of their star players. Gretz changed more than just how the game is played, he changed the way the players acted in the game. Of course he never did anything dirty, he couldn't protect himself from Me if he had too. Again I ask who protected Messier? Would he not be the equivalent to Richards on the stars, or would he be Kurri? So then who protected Kurri? Nobody, so because in 198whatever McSorely defended one player it now means that any one can start a fight over a clean hit. This is the equivalent to your girlfriend dumping you and hitting on me, sure you want to kick my ass, but what did I do to deserve the ass kicking? I was just hanging out drinking at the bar. Clutterbuck was hanging out at the bar, Richards play screamed "Hey, I am a newly single girl, want to stick it in my ass". Clutterbuck being the guy he is felt obligated to take advantage of the situation put in front of him. But he did nothing illegal, committed no foul on an unwritten rule, he just played the game the way it was intended, and that merits a fight? It has gone overboard and now it is for any and almost every big hit. You honestly don't think the frequency in these actions has gone up drastically in the last I don't know say 5-7 years? This is no longer about defending your 'C' or best player, it is about revenge for big hit.

Oh man I forgot about that one. The biggest problem that I have with Edwards doing it (being from the area) is the guy he replaced was simply awesome! Dale Arnold: The guy was class, plain and simple class! He is from Maine so I may be a little Biased. Coming out of the lockout all of the ESPN radio and broadcast guys were freed up, and Boston decided to go with Edwards instead of Arnold, huge mistake, huge mistake.

what and evil laugh that was! BTW Brickley (his partner) is alright on Bruins broadcasts, but they need to leave him off of Versus!

They sounded just as pissed as they did right after the huge hit! Point being what fans do and do not like has nothing to do with this argument the argument is not how to build a fan base, it is are these fights after a clean hit warranted. Fans are going to cheer for a fight regardless of whether or not it was legit or a complete one sided sucker punch, do Nashville fans not cheer after Tootoo cheapshots someone while they are dropping there gloves? You like fights, you want more of them, you don't care what they are for or why they started, we get that!

HAHAHA defend your player from potential injury by fighting on a clean hit. I have a better idea, if you are Ott, next time you are on the bench next to Richards, tell him to look both ways before crossing the street. Where does this logic end, well it is the second face off of the game and Kronwall is on the ice, he is known for hitting, as a coach do I send my fighter out to "prevent" an injury? No, it is hockey, if you can not take a hit, this game is simply not for you (you meant in general). Richards, Umburger, and others have a habit for skating around looking at the puck, not a good habit to have. Fighting over these hits is further proof the lack of respect players have for each other is growing. And your posts about this being a part of the game since way back are off based. Guys would get up and get retaliation on their own, that is all that this is, your injury prevention theory is crap, it is retribution and retaliation. Hitting is part of the game, if my linemate gets his teeth knocked out from a clean hit, I would give him a number to a good dentist and Dr. Rahmani to have his vision checked. Then after practices I would skate around, allow him to hold the puck and I will come out from behind huge cut outs to help him practice seeing hits coming. How often does Dats get hit like this? Why? Because he alludes the hit, not only does he know where the puck is at all times he knows where the other 9 skaters are on the ice. He is even so good at it he hurts players that miss him, or leads them to collide with teammates. Checking and avoiding checks/ Ice vision are both skill sets needed to play the game!

And in some instances has cost teams a breakaway and a clean scoring chance (See Vancouver earlier this year)! BTW thanks for letting me piggy back!

First off, I am so god damned sick and tired of fights after ******* clean hits! JESUS CHRIST IT IS HOCKEY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PEOPLE GET HIT! There now back to the original question, no, there is no one worse than Jack Edwards in the history of the game (shouldn't say that but I have a hard time imaging worse). I have never heard an announcer wet himself over the most routine mundane plays ever. This guy makes a goalie stopping a clearing attempt (from 200 feet away) sound like he just made the greatest save in the world, but it wasn't it was just a tribute to the greatest save in the world. Okay except the Tenacious D reference, that post is the truth! As brought to you by me!

If I were a shark's fan I would be used to the feeling that eventually every year the Summer comes and every year my team looks like a contender, right up until the second round!

Homer Cleary Fils, interesting.

1. Howard 2. Stuart 3. Lids Stuart played unreal and has made almost as many saves as Ozzie (not a shot at Ozzie, Stuart has been there to save Howard and Ozzie many many times). Lids is Lids, and without Howard, well I don't even want to think about it!

look at your avatar Zetterbergforty, when has this team ever Tried to lose? Dillhole!

Both Ozzie and Howard have stated multiple times all year how important their relationship has been to Howard's growth. Howard last year before going back to GR mentioned something about learning to handle the game like Ozzie. I said this years ago, Ozzie will be the best mentor available to Howard, he can teach Howard the most important part of the game for a goalie, mental toughness, especially in Detroit.