haroldsnepsts

Player's brains around the nhl just got a little safer.

I agree it was a mismatch but Tropp chose to drop the gloves. He could've just as easily skated away or given a little slash and moved on with the play. If Scott had a problem with it he should've settled with Devane.

How do you have any idea what Kessel was saying to Scott? Scott being sent out had to do with the previous fight. The Sabres were upset about Tropp getting his bell rung in a fight against a bigger opponent in Devane. But both those guys looked like willing combatants and Tropp hit his head on the ice when he pulled Devane down. That's not Devane's fault. So Rolston sends out ubergoon Scott. Carlyle counters with the least aggressive line he could've. About the only thing that could excuse Scott's actions was if on the faceoff Kessel turned to him and said "You wanna go?" Instead it sounds like it was Scott telling Kessel he was going to jump him. http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/26715/leafs-start-season-with-dose-of-adversity

Good lord, if you recognize that it's a quote from a movie (one of my favorites) then you also know the context. I was trying to make a joke about you seeming so worked up about this, not calling you a name. If I weren't so lazy I'm sure there's a pic or gif of it somewhere. I apologize if you took it personally. I just don't see why your posts seem so angry. And I'm not sure who's making Kessel out to be a saint. He did give several two handed slashes to a guy. I didn't think I needed to state that he wasn't a saint. But if a goon like Scott came after Zetterberg or Datsyuk I'd be fine if they responded in exactly the same way. I don't disagree that people would be going nuts in this thread if it were Crosby. But people also have an irrational hate for Crosby here and look for any opportunity to express it. That's why I prefer to consider how I would feel if a Wings player did what Kessel did. And I'd be fine with it. Regardless of how you've decided what my opinion would be, I'd be fine had Crosby done it as well. If you look back at my posts it's pretty clear Crosby irritates me but I don't deny what a talented player he is. It would've been even worse had Scott gone after someone with the concussion history of Crosby. Frankly I do think Scott should be suspended and Rolston should be fined. He sent out his goon to start something. Carlyle responded by putting out the least confrontational lineup he could've picked and Scott went after Kessel anyway.

Here's a good take on the fight that I generally agree with. It's from one of my favorite hockey blogs, written by a former minor leaguer. http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2013/09/23/on-the-regroup-leafs-sabres-brawl-goalies-included-zack-kassian-breaks-gagners-jaw/#more-86077

So it took how many seasons for the league to take a really unique and cool event and completely make it run of the mill?

Lighten up Francis, it was hyperbole. Though it was Scott's goon tactics that set off the whole melee. I'm glad Kessel two handed him. Scott picked a fight with a much smaller non-fighting star player and jumped him on the faceoff to boot. What he got was a taste of old time hockey, and he absolutely deserved it. As I said, I'm not even a Kessel fan, but it's an unbelievable idiotic move for a useless goon like Scott to jump Kessel on a faceoff. I think fighting has a place in hockey but it's crap like Scott just pulled that will get it completely removed from the game.

Perry, while bigger than Datsyuk, is hardly a comparison to John Scott dropping the gloves on a faceoff to go after Kessel in a preseason game. Perry is not a very good fighter for starters, while Scott is a straightup goon. Perry is also a top line player squaring off with another top line player. And it was still a bush league move when he went after Dats. There is no earthly reason why Kessel should've dropped the gloves with Scott there.

Nope. If it were Crosby I would still think Scott was a goon that had no business jumping Crosby on a faceoff. Scott started something idiotic. He plays 6 minutes a night and is a giant goon. He deserved everything coming to him for jumping Kessel off the faceoff. You just don't do that as an enforcer. And I'm not even a Kessel fan. In a perfect world Scott would get a 10 game suspension and Kessel would get a fine. Exactly. Kessel did drop the gloves and go. But it would've been insane for him to fight Scott.

wtf is Kassian thinking there? How is that not intentional? When you miss a hit, you don't spin around and swing your stick. If the league is still taking into account the injury, then it could be a significant suspension.

Holy heck what craziness for a preseason game. Good on Kessel. Scott is literally a giant goon and deserves a a BC two-hander for going after Kessel. This wasn't an all out scrum on the ice where they ended up paired off. He jumped him on the faceoff. It's not like Kessel was giving him a facewash and acting like wanted to go. There is no circumstance where someone like Phil Kessel should drop the gloves with John Scott, especially off a faceoff in a meaningless preseason game. Phil Kessel 6' 200 lbs. John Scott 6'8" 270 lbs. Zetterberg isn't afraid to jaw and lay the lumber on guys. Not a two hander like that but think of how he plays against Crosby and Toews. If some goon the size of Scott had dropped the gloves and gone after Zetterberg I'm guessing there'd be a different perspective on what happened. And what spear do people keep talking about? I see Kessel pushing Scott's hip at the end of the scrum, but I didn't see anything close to a spear. Welcome to Toronto Bernier. Nice job in the fight against Miller.

Datsyuk why'd you pass that puck? Take the shot!

Exactly. Ross is listed at 6 ft and 169 lbs. And he's jawing at a guy who's 6'4" 220 lbs.

Does Sammy count as a defenseman when he plays the point on the PP? Because he's definitely awful.

Who is this Ross guy on the Hawks? He's been acting like a fake toughguy all game. Earlier he was yapping at Ericsson and E just laughed at him.

Nice to see Sheahan going to the net so much.

Wow. Dats with the bad giveaway, Jimmy stops a clean breakaway. I guess everyone was sleeping?

Holy crap how did they not score. Did Jimmy get that?

Agreed. It's certainly not helping Smith that his defensive partner is Marchenko.

terrible giveaway by marchenko and flukey goal.

Abby is actually looking great on the line with Z and Dats. Making smart passes, retrieving pucks, getting shots.

Nice job by Smith to bury the Hawks player as he tried to go wide.

Kronner and the shinguard assassin on the point for the PP. Abby Dats Z out with them.

Smith loses a puck battle in front of Jimmy and Chicago ties it.

Abby Dats Z on the top line. NIce shot by Abdelkader. off the crossbar. Tatar with the goal! Nice feed by Nyquist. That line has been buzzing.