Barrie

I just heard, again on the FAN590, Bettman's counter to Air Canada's threat is that the NHL teams won't use Air Canada anymore if they pull their marketing $$$. This idiot just doesn't get it!

I heard an interesting counter to Air Canada comments today on Toronto's FAN590. Air Canada's head offices are in Montreal, they're all Habs fans, so people in Toronto are wondering if they're only threatening to cut their marketing because this hit was against a Habs player?... I'm not sure what to think. I actually don't have a problem with some of these threats from the outside, because obviously the NHL can't govern themselves. Also I'm wondering if the Chara non-suspension has to do with the NHL realizing they're at fault here because of the different arena designs? I'm hearing a lot of arena design talk today. I posted pictures in the Chara discussion that arenas, for some reason, have different glass design (Montreal vs. Detroit). I wonder if Chara brought up the arena designs when talking to the NHL about a suspension, and they let him go without punishment so they can make every arena standard with little to no attention from fans and media?

Like I've said on this board before, and to hockey fans I know, Commissioners should be like Presidents and only be around 8 years, maybe even 10 and that's it. We've been stuck with this moron and his ideas for 17 years now. It's time for some fresh blood and new ideas.

FYI, Glenn Healy is on Prime Time Sports in Toronto, and just mentioned the glass in Montreal is different.

I keep thinking, if Chara made that hit in Detroit, or any other arena with that design, this isn't an issue at all. Pacioretty probably would have just landed in the bench and we'd all be laughing at the youtube clip. Edit: I keep mentioning the different arena designs, because of that I'm ok with no suspension on Chara. The arena and NHL are more responsible for this hit than Chara. There should be standard rules and designs to arenas. When guys only have a split second to make decisions, designs shouldn't be different. Guys make those split second decisions, based on what their used to, so things shouldn't be different when they're skating at top speed. I'm actually shocked arenas are different around the league. This is the NHL, the best league in the world, not a rec league.

I found an interesting picture, check out the glass between the benches at The Joe. Why is Montreal different? Each arena should have the same design! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpowers65/2393939644/ I guess my point is, what is Chara used to, glass all the way to the boards, or back a bit?

You know what the sad thing is, the WWE has done more recently to protect their players/wrestlers from concussions than the NHL. The WWE has actually banned some moves they can do.

agree, that's a horrible spot for glass! There doesn't need to be glass there! The Joe doesn't have glass there.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that glass between the benches not there in other arenas? You see my posts, I'm all about getting these kind of cheap shots out of the game, but I'm wondering if this is more on the Montreal Organization than Chara? When players only have split seconds to make decisions, injuries from different arena designs shouldn't be the players fault. Having glass between the benches like that is dangerous, especially in the neutral zone, when players are more likely skating at top speed there than in the offensive zones.

I'll get grilled for this from some, but fighting is a thing of the past in hockey. It's time to move on. With what they know about concussions and head shots, it's time to give automatic game misconducts for fights and FINALLY get serious about head shots. I for one am scared someday to maybe see Datsyuk or Zetterberg get a serious concussion from someone who's half the player they are, and jealous of their talents and successes in the League, like Cooke. It's much more fun to watch Draper-Helm-Abby stake around and cause problems with their speed, instead of meat heads like Chris Neil or Cooke. Fighting and goons have been slowly going out of style since the 1970's, it's time to finally get them out of the game. I hope Don Cherry takes this article seriously, but I highly doubt it because he's stuck in 1972.

I think we should be favored to win when Vegas makes their odds. I'm picking a Philly-Detroit final, with us winning a 5th Cup since 1997. I really don't see why we won't win, we're the best team with the most experience, plus we had some extra rest from a second round exit last year. Goaltending across the league is average, so I'm fine with Howard in the playoffs. I have no doubts the defense will tighten up once the playoffs start. Right now, with a big lead in the division, we're just killing time. Actually going back to 1995, I've picked the Wings to win every year but 2007 (Anaheim), 2009 (Didn't make a pick, haha), and 2010 (Vancouver). Hey, I've been right 4 times with the Wings, and a 5th with my 2007 Anaheim pick. I remember telling people when we got Shanahan we we're going to win the Cup. People thought I was crazy, but it was just one of those feelings that we were finally due.

That's one of my favorite parts of the 1997 footage, but I don't think he was covering his mouth like a school girl, I think he was just wiping his mouth or something.

One of the worst days of my life, I thought Yzerman's career was done. I'm not watching that video!

I just put it on Facebook

Nothing against Dats, but Z is the future captain. All the reasons have been stated already, so I won't go over them again.

Great deal Kenny!

Yea I'm wondering why Atlanta wants to move him. Who moves a 20 year old, unless he's got some baggage that those of us outside the Atlanta organization don't know about? It's not like it's a salary dump. What's up with him? Yea, I looked at his stats, and wasn't too overly impressed. He's got a lot of years a head of him, but no way would I be willing to sell the farm for him!

That made me laugh

I agree, teams like ours tend to kill time before the playoffs, just ask Kobe and the Lakers. Once the playoffs start, we'll tighten up on D.

There's no reason to make any trades, we're stacked! Just bring on the playoffs!

agreed, Toronto IS NOT the mecca of hockey as they have self proclaimed themselves. I think the mecca of hockey is a region, Montreal down to Detroit, just like Baseball's mecca is Boston down to New York. I don't think it's fair to say one city is better than the other. Sports mecca's are regional, it's not just one city. I really don't care either way if the Leafs make it or not, I'm just not interested in listening to Leaf fans involved in playoff talk. I'll bet money if the Leafs make the playoffs the city will go crazy!

You know Burke is going to make moves to make the playoffs, killing their future even more. So glad I'm not a Leafs fan. The organization is caught in a such a vicious cycle that they have no future, and haven't had one since the 1960's. Every move they make is a band-aid to cover up the massive problem.

because they aren't in the poll

Gotta go with Getzlaf. I can't stand him, but he would be my favorite player if he wore the winged wheel. He was the guy I enjoyed watched the most on team Canada in last year's Olympics. He's a great all around player.