jfranzen

Wrong year.

As "The greatest defenseman to ever play the game" there's no reason he would have been excluded without him saying something. It stands to reason that he was invited and declined. Informally, that is.

No Lidstrom though, wonder if he opted out.

Needs more Helm, guy has more heart than anybody.

He'll probably be out for that long because of his injury anyway.

Agreed, even with the first-timers getting inconsistent calls, Shanahan needs to make it clear that this type of play as well as this type of player are not welcome in the NHL. I'm thinking we'll see a suspension lasting the rest of the regular season. I was hoping the same would be done with Torres. But I'm sure they'll make an example of Carcillo. I still think they're being too lenient with these suspensions though, instead of trying to differentiate the different plays, I think a flat 3 game suspension should be handed out for first time offenders, 10 for second, season-long bans for three, maybe guys will start to take it seriously and lead with the whole body and not the hands or shoulder. Last I checked, hip-checks were still legal and just as effective.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=609696 "Chicago Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing with the Department of Player Safety regarding his hit on Edmonton's Tom Gilbert Monday night."

Would the Wings pick him up even with potential post-concussion symptoms making future concussions more probable?

Last one I heard was Detroit vs Minnesota at Comerica Park.

Yup, I live in Houston and got to watch the Aeros' run at the Calder Cup. That coach knows what he's doing.

Seems to me like he also has trouble with deciding when, and when not, to pinch in the offensive zone. He pinched in and left Kindl all alone against that first goal against Edmonton last night.

I bet they'd be better fighters if they had an enforcer...oh wait...

Omg datsyuk! This guy is some kind of sorcerer.

Crosby used to be a hockey player...then he took a shoulder to the head.

Neat thread. At the end of the season this needs to get called back up and put to a poll for the seasons greatest hits.

I agree with the lack of respect thing, players seem to have no regard for fellow NHL'ers' well-being anymore. I also think a lot of this has a lot to do with the equipment players are wearing. There's a reason you don't see Bertuzzi making the big hits like other people his size, the pads he wears offer just enough protection to meet the requirements of the NHL. The equipment really does protect players from those crushing body checks, but to do that they have to have hard shells on their shoulders. If we take away the plate armor, you'd see a lot less concussions as as result of head-hunting checks. Another point was made about being able to detect concussions as well, it wasn't really taken seriously until just a few years ago when QB's in football were taking helmet hits. It's always been the history of a certain condition going on the rise when the means to detect it become widely available.

Even if he does decide to hang 'em up for the season, you're still going to hear about it until he comes back. When/if he retires early, you're going to hear about it then too, forever. Get used to it. I think the media is bound by law to report about this guy from now on, punishable by cutting off their hockey mullet.

Would you let him play?

"However, should Crosby not return by then, that much-trumpeted outdoor game will only serve to remind of the previous outdoor match, New Year's Day 2011, when Crosby suffered the first hit to the head that would send the NHL into its dark spiral." I'd say so. I didn't even know the NHL was in a dark spiral. /shrug

Wings have been on a hot scoring streak, but I think the key to winning this game will be smart defensive plays, aggressive back-check and staying out of the penalty box. You can do iiiiit!