Disturbing Trend

[YzermanZetterberg 0]

It appears the Red Wings have developed a serious hooking problem.

In each of the last three games, they had four hooking penalties called on them. In fact, 12 out of 20 penalties (60%) over that period have been hooking calls. For the five games so far in November, it's 17 out of 32 penalties (53%). For the season, 31 out of 110 (28%).

In contrast, the Wings' opposition had just two hooking calls out of 17 penalties in the last three games (12%), five out of 28 over the last five games (18%), and 19 out of 101 for the season (19%).

We can go around and around as to whether or not most of these calls are actually merited, but that won't change the fact that the Wings keep parading to the penalty box at alarming rates. The bottom line is that the team needs to do some serious work on limiting the amount of stick checking it does.

[up2here 41]

It appears the Red Wings have developed a serious hooking problem.

In each of the last three games, they had four hooking penalties called on them. In fact, 12 out of 20 penalties (60%) over that period have been hooking calls. For the five games so far in November, it's 17 out of 32 penalties (53%). For the season, 31 out of 110 (28%).

In contrast, the Wings' opposition had just two hooking calls out of 17 penalties in the last three games (12%), five out of 28 over the last five games (18%), and 19 out of 101 for the season (19%).

We can go around and around as to whether or not most of these calls are actually merited, but that won't change the fact that the Wings keep parading to the penalty box at alarming rates. The bottom line is that the team needs to do some serious work on limiting the amount of stick checking it does.

It appears to me like its a lack of hustle. If the players were in better position they wouldnt have to hook anyone. I'm guessing its just a slump and Babs will straighten them out.

[wingnut40 176]

We can go around and around as to whether or not most of these calls are actually merited, but that won't change the fact that the Wings keep parading to the penalty box at alarming rates. The bottom line is that the team needs to do some serious work on limiting the amount of stick checking it does.

Bad boys, bad boys. They really need to watch that, especialy if they know how the refs have been calling BS penalties.

"But the referees won't let us be, calling penalties so let me see, we'll score short handed on a 5 on 3, 'cause it feels so empty without Stanley"

[zata40 3]

darn those hookers.

[SweWings 45]

darn those hookers.

Hihi. Misinterpretation for teh weeeein.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Bad boys, bad boys. They really need to watch that, especialy if they know how the refs have been calling BS penalties.

"But the referees won't let us be, calling penalties so let me see, we'll score short handed on a 5 on 3, 'cause it feels so empty without Stanley"

Haha, im watching that movie right now, looks like someone else is too....

[wingnut40 176]

Haha, im watching that movie right now, looks like someone else is too....

Me? No I was just saying. That funny coincidence though. Why do we call them boys? I don't get that. After they score it's like "Hey, good job boys!" Hmm

Wait, Bad Boys 2? I went looking for it after you said that. USA right?

[arnoldbuck 0]

It appears to me like its a lack of hustle. If the players were in better position they wouldnt have to hook anyone. I'm guessing its just a slump and Babs will straighten them out.

"No hear either skip."

- Darryl Strawberry

[lfd250 1]

It's could be a lack of hustle, however it is the DUMBEST rule in the book. I touch your midsection, not even turn you a bit and it's called. They wonder why the scoring is down. Try lack of flow.

[Kp-Wings 3]

It's not the players: it's the refs inability to determine whether or not it's an actual penalty. They just look and say "Stick on player! It must be a penalty!", even if it is nothing more than a small tap.

Bettman has got these guys so screwed up, it's ridiculous. I can assure that the reason that pretty much every ref in the league acts like they have a stick jammed up their ass is because Bettman has got them all under microscopes to call numerous penalty's. In his mind, more PP's means more scoring, but in all honesty that just shows how much Bettman doesn't know about the game of hockey. He should just take the high road already and slump back to the NBA.

The new NHL, so to speak, really sucks. The whole aim of the new game was to make it faster by eliminating clutching and grabbing. While they are a fine enough job of that, keep in mind that the game has almost no flow at times, because they call so many penalties. It's defeating the purpose.

[Grittzkey 1]

i have a solution, stop hooking them, and just check them into the boards, stop being ******* and hit someone.

[CenterIce 83]

It's interesting that you keep hearing that just having the stick parallel to the ice is considered hooking, However, the rule specifically states you have to impede a player. They really need to reign this penaltyh in. Going back as far as last year's playoffs, hooking has been the number one called penalty.

http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html

55.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player or

goalkeeper who impedes the progress of an opponent by hooking

with his stick. A minor penalty for hooking shall be assessed to any

player or goalkeeper who uses the shaft of the stick above the upper

hand to hold or hook an opponent.

[eva unit zero 271]

Impeding progress doesn't have to mean 'yanked backwards in such a manner as it caused the opposing player to slow considerably'.

Just the presence of the stick is enoug hto impede; it restrains the arm and limits the movement options the hooked player has.

Stick off ice and on body intentionally is a real penalty in 100% of cases. Just so you know.

[CenterIce 83]

Impeding progress doesn't have to mean 'yanked backwards in such a manner as it caused the opposing player to slow considerably'.

Just the presence of the stick is enoug hto impede; it restrains the arm and limits the movement options the hooked player has.

Stick off ice and on body intentionally is a real penalty in 100% of cases. Just so you know.

The unfortunate reality is that you don't even have to come in contact with a player with your stick to get a hooking call. I saw one call last year that Zetterberg received a hooking penalty when he had his stick up in the air and was a few feet away from an opponent. The back ref called it.

[PenaltyShot 96 521]

"But the referees won't let us be, calling penalties so let me see, we'll score short handed on a 5 on 3, 'cause it feels so empty without Stanley"

Great song "Everybody just follow Steve"

I thought we were done with all of the lazy hooking when Lang left town whether it's laziness or refing or both, it is becoming a major problem the boys need to address. Better positioning, less parties with Kid Rock.