Hank

And I would hope that even a cement head like Downie would get this message. It's time for players to realise that the best way to get even is on the scoreboard. NOT by head hunting. Couldn't agree more. But this is the first step in the right direction. And I think the league needs to be a lot tougher in their suspensions in the playoffs. If this same hit occured in the postseason it should be at least half. 10 games.

Good. And I'm not just saying that because I despise this 'rat' but because it sends a VERY clear message that this type of hit won't be tolerated. I don't need to see Sid or A.O. sprawled across the ice the same way McAmmond was. Finally the NHL is growing some balls to protect the players from themselves.

Yeah, poor Kopecky has a sweet goal himself but gets no mention because of Grig's. I would say Kopecky's was just as nice. But boy does he look stupid in these new horribly clingy jerseys!

It made #8 on ESPN's plays of the week.

Exactly. That's what Iginla and McCarty have done for years. They take the draw and then assume their position. That sounded kind of bad eh?

That's a good question. Who knows? I think a lot of people around the league realize that Crosby gave them a discount. But I'm sure that won't stop some GM's from trying to wittle down some of their RFA's to take a lower amount.

It's been reported that Heatley's asking for $8.5M a year while Ottawa is countering with $7-7.5M a year. What's the problem here? I think we all know that Heatley could get close to $10M on the open market this summer. If you look at what guys like Gomez and Briere got, $8.5M for Heatley (a back-to-back 50 goal, 100 point scorer) is a steal! Don't be dumb Sens, lock him up!

The thing is, I think he's already giving them a 15% discount at $8.5M. I don't think it's a stretch at all for some team to throw $10M at him. So if he took a deal at $7.5M that's a 25% cut. And whether anyone likes it or not, the PA still has some influence over what players should be making. If Heatley took $7.5M I'm positive he would get a LOT of static from his union brothers. In today's NHL $8.5M is a sweet deal for a player like Heatley. And the Sens need him way more than he needs the Sens. Afterall, if he becomes a UFA he can choose which team to go to. If Neidermayer and Selanne retire, I wouldn't put the Ducks past picking him up. Or a team like the Canes or the Sabres. There's a lot of legit contenders out there that could afford $9-10M a year.

The Wings brass likes the centres they have now. They really like Kopecky's size down the middle and with Kris at centre, that can't happen. Kris makes a better winger 5-on-5 than he does a centre. He has no hands and he gets out muscled when facing large centres like Thornton and Getzlaf. I also like Drapes on the wing because then Flip can stay a centre where he belongs.

Judging from last nights game I'd have to agree. He isn't noticeable out there for long stretches at a time. Not only that, but on fast plays out of the Wings zone, Grigs gets left in the dust. I hope it's still conditioning but as of right now Grigs doesn't deserve to be on the opening night roster. He'll have to toil as the 13th forward for a time until he can catch up. And if he can't, I guess it's back to Russia.

There's basically no middle-men anymore. You either get $1M or you get $9M. That's why there's rummblings that the PA won't extend the current contract after next season. A lot of the middle guys are ticked that rookies and young players are taking so much money away from them. Some in the PA have even suggested that they have a tier-system like the NBA has where you can't make so much if you're under a certain age or only have a handful of years in the league. I still don't think any pro athlete is worth over $4M when you consider what they do. But I don't blame the players for wanting a big piece of the pie. Owners have to deal with a lot of headaches, but without the players, there wouldn't be any fans to watch them.

LOL! She sure did! She said she thought she could skate faster than him. Hahahaha. But I love your comparison! Igor Sheppard.

Good points. And with this new era, chemistry is such a huge factor. They could replace him with a couple of players but will the gel? Will Spezza find chemistry with a new winger like he has with Heatley? Not only that, but I'm sure there's a lot of Eastern Conference teams that will love to have him. Imagine if he goes to a rival like Buffalo or Toronto? I'm sure the Sens fans would love watching a guy walk away that burns them 6 times a year. This whole situations smells like the Symth-Oilers deal. Everyone knows he'll get a lot more than $8.5 on the open market.

Yeah, that goal was really nice. Backhand-forehande deke. But I have to laugh. I watched it with my wife and she said "Boy is that guy slow!". Hahahaha!

Dryden?

I can't say I blame him. I have 2 boys and it would take a LOT for me to cross the pond to play in a league far away from them. Hopefully he gets the callup or can have his family move over.

Thanks for the info. One other thing, the same guys on XM were saying there might be issues with him and that he might leave to go back to Sweden. Is this true? And if so, is it over money or playing in the AHL?

MacK, someone on XM was saying that Stralman has the potential to be the next Nick Lidstrom. What have you heard on him (I could have the name wrong too).

It all depends on how you look at it. First, the NHL would never suspend a premier player for a great amount of time. If Crosby or Thornton delivered this hit, they'd probably get no more than 5 games. And even though Downie is a nobody it will still send a loud message to the entire league that head-hunting is not acceptable. Remember, it's not the star or elite players that are giving out hits like this, it's the 3rd line pluggers that are; guys like Latendresse, Colby Armstrong and Downie. It will send a very loud message to the minority that loves giving these types of hits out. I say make a loud statement and stick by it. Downie should be suspended for 10 games and all 4 games they play against the Sens this season (including playoffs if the meet in the spring).

Not only that but that elbow, in the manor of which it was delivered. was safer than Downie's hit. Like Gordie said, Downie should get a minimum of 10 games. I'd go for 20 if I were the league and here's why: Downie is a nobody in the league. The NHL nor the Flyers will pay a hefty price with him gone for 1/4 of the season and it sets a very loud tone that the league will not tolerate this kind of hit. If they don't come down HARD, then what happens when someone does this to Crosby? The league will suffer greatly if their best and most marketable player is out for a long period of time (or even his career). Downie is the perfect goat to make an example of. It's not like the league is tossing a player of Heatley or Phaneuf type ilk. Besides, the kid is an a**hole. Nobody deserves a hefty suspension more than him.

Good question. I don't know. But he seems to think that his talent level is too good to keep off the squad. I should mention that he did say there's a chance he'll go to GR for a couple of weeks to get his conditioning back. But that's the only thing holding him back.

I think Rafalski signed a 6 year deal. He should be around until 2013-14 season.

Well said.

Totally agree. But it's a shame that the league is so impotent that it asks the players to police themselves. And then they get upset when something happens like the Bertuzzi-Moore incident. But I still think even with a team of nothing but enforcers, Steve Downie still makes this hit. He has no brain. At least we can all agree on this. Van Damme is a fantastic dancer!

I did judge the hit for what it was. After getting creamed by Schubert he flew down 190 feet of ice and hit the first target he could find by propelling his body into MacAmmond. His hit was so violent and ferocious that he, himself, flew into the end boards head-first. Downie was looking for blood after being legally hit at the other end. And my comments of JR are in regards to how hard some players hit each other. Today's player certainly does try to hit as hard as they possibly can. And that's the problem. These guys CAN let up as they used to back in the day. I think it's naive to think that they can't. But that's the whole issue. Players today couldn't give a crap about their fellow man or union brother. They're cannibalizing each other. That hit, or the Armstrong hits, or the Torres hit could all have resulted differently. In each case, the player didn't have to barrel into a defenseless player, shoulder to head, the way they did. But back on topic. I have no idea how you can say this hit is a good legal check. It's clearly a charge. And past transgressions will certainly be looked upon when he's justly suspended. LOL! How did you prove it! Opie already supplied evidence that it is a match-penatly. Take your referee-snobbery somewhere else. Nobody except you and your mom care about what level of ref you are. "Oh Kutcher! You're a level 3 official! Can I drop my panties for you???? You're a hero!!!!" Get a life. Except this hit had nothing to do with making the team. He got leveled twice and was looking to make someone pay. And he did it by charging down over 150 feet of ice before propelling himself into another player. They interviewed several current NHL players about the incident and every one of them was against it. But I guess hits like this are praised from the stands where it's nice and safe. EDIT: stick I wanted to add that I agree with you that in the heat of the battle things like this happen. That's very, very true. My problem is hockey has always encouraged losing your cool. Emotion is great in sports but hockey goes out of it's way to say 'use your emotion in any way that you can'. Someone hits you with a clean check? No problem, stick them in the head! Football's a pretty violent sport and yet you don't see players fist-fighting after a wideout gets leveled coming across the middle. OL's don't throw down when their quarterback is sacked. Emotions run high in the sport but the league does an excellent job in making sure they keep them in check and use them in legal fashion. The NHL needs to find a way to curtail these types of hits. That Downie hit was pure revenge. If the league suspends someone, like Bill Clement suggests, for 40 games over a hit like this, I guarantee it comes to an end.