N4C3R 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 I think the league can't afford not to suspend Chris Pronger for that hit. I believe he acted carelessly in the very least, and it should be addressed by the disciplinary office. This isn't the first time this playoff year that the Wings have been targeted for cheap shots when the game was decided. That is the kind of stuff the league needs to crack down on, and the reason I believe they will suspend Pronger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RockyMountainWingGal 108 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) Check out the stories on TSN - they all think he should be suspended - Pronger that is. Rob Niedermeyer got what he deserved. Pronger needs to go - when do you think they will decide? I'm fuming right now that that A-hole did that. p.s. the Red Wings better be lobbying hard for the suspension Edited May 16, 2007 by RockyMountainWingGal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossCheck24 2 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 How long would it take to hear either way? It should be soon right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calfan 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 I've played defense for probably close to 18 years or so give or take. Maybe we went to different hockey schools or something. Where I come from the recognition should've been there for Pronger that he was not going to get to Holmstrom and because of body position and Niedermayer coming from up top that homer's best play (being left handed and all) and the obvious play would be to cycle the puck back down low. If Pronger had been thinking about the game he'd have realized the puck was destined to go back down low. Niedermayer had the up top coverage. If Pronger wanted to break up the cycle he shoud've been down by the goal line prepared to intercept the pass along the wall. When Pronger vacated his area he's leaving it up to his partner or a weak side forward to fill his position down low which, in the defensive zone is absolutely not what I would do. If that pass makes it down low you have Pronger trapped up high, a wings forward with possession down low and a forward or d trying to get to him and that leaves 1, if not 2 wings coming from the weak side for a tap in. I guarantee you if this is a 1 goal game or a tied game, Pronger doesn't think about chasing Homer down. That's Niedermayer's coverage right there. Plus, Pronger saw Niedermayer coming, what on Earth would make him think that the 2 of them needed to converge on 1 player along the boards who is going to release the puck prior to you getting there anyway. I disagree with your assessment of how to play defense. No offense of course. The other way to break the cycle is to take one of the players out of the cycle. Another reason for Pronger to continue on to finish his check. That said, IMO he was more interested in hitting Homer than he was in getting puck possession. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RockyMountainWingGal 108 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 Anyone have a link to the email the NHL about this - I cannot find one? thx Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 I think the league can't afford not to suspend Chris Pronger for that hit. Agree, and as ridiculous as this sounds, maybe the NBA can actually help us here by their suspension of some pretty big names in the Phoenix/San Antonio series. One of the key players on Phoenix was suspended a game just for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation. Point here is the idea of suspending a star player during a critical time in a series might not be as far fetched as we think. Suspend Pronger. esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZAMBONI 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 Keep celebrating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossCheck24 2 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 What damage did fisher do when he cross checked that guy in the mouth(I don't remember)? He got a game for that right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BringHomeTheCup! 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 I've played defense for probably close to 18 years or so give or take. Maybe we went to different hockey schools or something. Where I come from the recognition should've been there for Pronger that he was not going to get to Holmstrom and because of body position and Niedermayer coming from up top that homer's best play (being left handed and all) and the obvious play would be to cycle the puck back down low. If Pronger had been thinking about the game he'd have realized the puck was destined to go back down low. Niedermayer had the up top coverage. If Pronger wanted to break up the cycle he shoud've been down by the goal line prepared to intercept the pass along the wall. When Pronger vacated his area he's leaving it up to his partner or a weak side forward to fill his position down low which, in the defensive zone is absolutely not what I would do. If that pass makes it down low you have Pronger trapped up high, a wings forward with possession down low and a forward or d trying to get to him and that leaves 1, if not 2 wings coming from the weak side for a tap in. I guarantee you if this is a 1 goal game or a tied game, Pronger doesn't think about chasing Homer down. That's Niedermayer's coverage right there. Plus, Pronger saw Niedermayer coming, what on Earth would make him think that the 2 of them needed to converge on 1 player along the boards who is going to release the puck prior to you getting there anyway. I disagree with your assessment of how to play defense. No offense of course. I don't disagree that Pronger went out of his way to really give it to Homer, however, he was in position. On d, when a team is cycling, there are a few ways to stop it. One of them is pasting a guy into the boards, and taking him out of the cycle. I guess I can see your assesment. But again, I disagree. I've played d for sometime, not as long as you, but I did play at a fairly high level. One thing you learn is when Pronger vacates, someone else slides into that spot. The only free man would have been Robby's dman. The opposing winger would have had his d covered, Pronger partner would have his winger, and the centers could cancel each other out. I'm not saying is was a good play, but it wasn't as if Homer was at the blue line. No offence taken on the 'how to play d', i've been around the block enough times to realize different strokles for different folks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dicksmack 33 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 It's gutcheck time for the NHL. One of their goldenboys (so-called) has put them in the position of having to do the right thing... Can they do it? We'll see... The excuses were predictably lame: some moron host on 1270 AM said it was Pronger's height, and the fact that Homer was "off balance" and standing lower than normal--this is all nonsense. Yeah, and Moore was hurt when the Bertuzzi stepped on a stick and in the piling on afterwards. A team is getting blown out at home, and they target a gritty (but much smaller) guy who's scored two of those goals and made them looked esp. bad on the 2nd one. He's viciously hit from behind by two guys. They both should get something, if what Niedermayer did warranted a major and a game misconduct, he's just a guilty This one should be easy. I liked Babcock's sly insertion of the WWF-esque term "turnbuckle" in describing this incident. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted May 16, 2007 The other way to break the cycle is to take one of the players out of the cycle. Another reason for Pronger to continue on to finish his check. That said, IMO he was more interested in hitting Homer than he was in getting puck possession. While that is a true statement, it was not a good move IMO. If Holmstrom were to be taken out of the play then it was Niedermayer's responsibility to do so. He has the high coverage and the passing lane preventing Homer from going up top to Lidstrom. Holmstrom's play, as well as any forward in that position is to get the puck back down low and attempt to re-cycle. Knowing that, and given that Niedermayer had the coverage responsibility, Pronger had no business being where he was. We all know he chased homer down to drill him, not to break up the play. Pronger actually enabled the play to get worse for the Ducks. Had there been no penalty on that play Prongs is left high and dry and the Wings have an odd man down below the goal line. A very good situation for us but not proper defensive play by Pronger in this case. Whatever, it isn't a big deal in the grand scheme. I just think that under normal circumstances a defenseman should not chase down a forward who has the obvious distance and speed to make the play prior to you delivering a hit that draws you out of your coverage area. It's pretty obvious to me anyway that that is a bad play. Holmstrom makes the pass, 2 Ducks caught along the boards with 1 Wing. That leaves an odd man situation down low by the goal. Not exactly textbook defensive play in my mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedRockit 0 Report post Posted May 16, 2007 (edited) I think Pronger hurt more his team than Homer in this incident. I just read this one month old Teemu Selanne interview from Finnish sportsmagazine IS Veikkaaja: Selanne describes Pronger a player who is acting very well inside the team and he knows his value to the team. - He isn't very loudy guy in the lockeroom, but he is the only guy, which our coach is a little bit scary against. If I decide ask from Carlyle an off-day for the team, he'll just laugh for me. But if Pronger asks it, Randy will agree without a question. Selanne compares Pronger like a mother, which feelings will influence to the whole family. - Your have to keep your mother happy in your family, then all the others family members will stay happy. But if your daddy is unhappy, others can still be happy. So you can read it between the lines. When Pronger loses his game, then the whole Ducks team will lose their game. Fine for the Wings. Translated from Finnish to my bad English, there could be some mistakes, sorry about that. Henkka, thanks for the Selanne article-- verrry enlightening and it helps explain something else. See, I'm still not happy with Rob N. I followed the Panthers on their Cup run in '96 (not sure why, except the FLA is really the southernmost county in Ohio and I've tons of friends down there, or maybe it was the rats!, so endearingly reminiscent of our octopussies) and I grew fond of Nieds The Younger. However, I firmly believe he deserved every bit of his punishment, regardless of whether Pronger got off/gets off scot-free. This guy KNOWS what a concussed head can do a a career-- his own career has never recovered from his own headbangings-- and he DID charge across the ice, and don't tell me he didn't see Pronger moving in fast with blood in his eye and murder in his heart. This morning, I keep wondering why a seemingly decent player like RN would stoop so low... and wondering how deep Pronger's bad influence could run re: his team's attitude and style of play. The Selanne article confirms what I've been thinking-- that, yeahhhh, Pronger's a MOTHER, for sure and all. :!: PS. Newbie to this forum, but definitely not new to the Wings.... I'm a longtime fan, no bandwagon jumper, moi! I stumbled into this place about a week ago, and think it's amazing-- even the opposiition's posters show class. Bless you all especially for being here for me last night, as I don't get Versus and was listening on RW Radio. It helped tremendously to share the joy (and calm down during the scary bits) by reading the posts here. Off to find an avatar and maybe a coolish sig..... Edited May 16, 2007 by RedRockit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BringHomeTheCup! 0 Report post Posted May 17, 2007 While that is a true statement, it was not a good move IMO. If Holmstrom were to be taken out of the play then it was Niedermayer's responsibility to do so. He has the high coverage and the passing lane preventing Homer from going up top to Lidstrom. Holmstrom's play, as well as any forward in that position is to get the puck back down low and attempt to re-cycle. Knowing that, and given that Niedermayer had the coverage responsibility, Pronger had no business being where he was. We all know he chased homer down to drill him, not to break up the play. Pronger actually enabled the play to get worse for the Ducks. Had there been no penalty on that play Prongs is left high and dry and the Wings have an odd man down below the goal line. A very good situation for us but not proper defensive play by Pronger in this case. Whatever, it isn't a big deal in the grand scheme. I just think that under normal circumstances a defenseman should not chase down a forward who has the obvious distance and speed to make the play prior to you delivering a hit that draws you out of your coverage area. It's pretty obvious to me anyway that that is a bad play. Holmstrom makes the pass, 2 Ducks caught along the boards with 1 Wing. That leaves an odd man situation down low by the goal. Not exactly textbook defensive play in my mind. If anyone was out of position, it was Robby. Look where the hit was, hash marks. Again, not trying to say that it was good hit, or Pronger wasn't trying to hurt Homer (because I think he was) but you are making it sounds like Pronger was way out of position, he wasn't, he had his man covered. Where Robby was, at the hash, he left his point wide open. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings_Dynasty 267 Report post Posted May 17, 2007 i call BS...when a guy from the opposing team gets layed out on a hard hit in ur arena u cheer...thats hockey...orignally people cheered but i dont think anyone new the extent of what had happened to him....people were actually clapping when he skated off the ice No, they cheered the initial hit, which is understandable. Then they booed when he stayed down on the ice and play was halted. That is low-class. And by the way, the only way I cheer an injury is if it is deserved. Say, later in the game, Bert crumples Wronger when he doesn't have the puck, I lose my voice screaming for blood. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites