Avery's Screen

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

I think the point is entirely missed.

Every single thing you listed happens when players are actually PLAYING the sport of hockey. Avery stopped playing hockey the moment he focused on Broduer's sightline and followed that around instead of anything else.

Curve of the stick is to shoot the puck.

Tear away jerseys were to fight an opponent.

Crosschecking depending on the severity (and yes there is a penalty for an excessive amount) is used to fight the opponent for the puck.

I guess we will never know what would have happened if Crosby did that, cuz he didn't and that's an asinine point to try and make cuz he didnt do it. In the reference to star treatment look no further to the skate stomping incident to complain about that, because both a lower-tier and all-star player did the same thing. Look what happened. You can't argue star treatment here because there is nothing to compare it too. The point holds no weight.

I would say the NHL took a matter of hours to settle this because it was that simple. If a player stops playing hockey to try distracting a goalie instead of making a play simple as that...penalty. Now with suspensions, there is a lot more thought that needs to go into it. It's a more important process and I can't fathom why anyone would criticize them for not rushing through it.

If you can make a point to how Avery's actions contributed him to playing hockey, himself making a hockey play, I'd love to hear it and then I might just have to agree with you but for now I think I'll have to agree with the NHL rules.

somebody give me one of those cheesy thumbs up!!!

[OsGOD 3]

If you can make a point to how Avery's actions contributed him to playing hockey, himself making a hockey play, I'd love to hear it and then I might just have to agree with you but for now I think I'll have to agree with the NHL rules.

somebody give me one of those cheesy thumbs up!!!

Well he did throw off Brody and the rest of the Devils as they still left him wide open in front of the net for him to actually score on a LEGAL play... I would say it helped out his hockey game just as us chanting "Elll-iiiiis Elll-iiiis" on saturday lead directly to flub on his part and then a goal.

[VladyIBELIEVE16 257]

Today's Paper.

0430_001.pdf

[DaKineMaui 8]

Today's Paper.

0430_001.pdf

Oh for EFFS sake! Just get rid of the instigator rule and all is well.........for EFFS sake.

Shame on ALL the Devils for not pounding........Ah hell.......Scott Stevens just took his NJ jersey off and peed on it.

[OsGOD 3]

Today's Paper.

0430_001.pdf

Thanks for the 's I needed my fix today!!!

[vangvace 12]

Found this on a Devils forum with the caption "Here's our boy Sean doing what he does best! Flapping his arms like a little..." I thought it was funny.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

For those of you who thought this was embarrassing or hurts the integrity of the sport, get a sense of humor.

I realize they just made an unsportsmanlike penalty/rule for this this morning or last night or whenever, which I can understand and support because it's the minimum consequence I would have chosen, but at the time of the situation/game Avery didn't high-stick anybody, he didn't enter the crease, he made no contact with Brodeur. No high-sticking or goalie interference call. He was just being Tomas Holmstrom or Ryan Smyth in front of the net being a pain in the butt to Brodeur's vision, LEGALLY (before the unsportsmanlike rule), in an entirely unorthodox and creative manner. Nothing more/less. I found it curiously funny. It will have no effect on watching the game, negative perceptions, or whatever else. The game will just go on like normal. And Avery has done a lot worse in his career OFF the ice.

I seriously do not understand why there is so much of a hissy fit over this.

[JPT 26]

My opinion is that that was a total bush-league play. I would be embarrassed if any of the Wings resorted to that. I will admit I did get a chuckle out of it though...

[Viperar 16]

please baby jesus let this thread die

[OsGOD 3]

please baby jesus let this thread die

I am not one for putting words in your mouth, but i believe this sign is what you are really looking for

[imisssergei 0]

I think the point is entirely missed.

Every single thing you listed happens when players are actually PLAYING the sport of hockey. Avery stopped playing hockey the moment he focused on Broduer's sightline and followed that around instead of anything else.

Curve of the stick is to shoot the puck.

Tear away jerseys were to fight an opponent.

Crosschecking depending on the severity (and yes there is a penalty for an excessive amount) is used to fight the opponent for the puck.

I guess we will never know what would have happened if Crosby did that, cuz he didn't and that's an asinine point to try and make cuz he didnt do it. In the reference to star treatment look no further to the skate stomping incident to complain about that, because both a lower-tier and all-star player did the same thing. Look what happened. You can't argue star treatment here because there is nothing to compare it too. The point holds no weight.

I would say the NHL took a matter of hours to settle this because it was that simple. If a player stops playing hockey to try distracting a goalie instead of making a play simple as that...penalty. Now with suspensions, there is a lot more thought that needs to go into it. It's a more important process and I can't fathom why anyone would criticize them for not rushing through it.

If you can make a point to how Avery's actions contributed him to playing hockey, himself making a hockey play, I'd love to hear it and then I might just have to agree with you but for now I think I'll have to agree with the NHL rules.

somebody give me one of those cheesy thumbs up!!!

You contradicted yourself there Sparky. In one sentence you say that all the things I mentioned are things that happen when players actually are playing the game. Then you talk about fighting. I won't argue that fighting has a place in the game, but it does not occur while players are playing the game. In fact, the game stops when a fight breaks out.

However, you missed the entire thought behind the post, let me spell it out for you.

Every game, every shift, there is a player that does something illegal to gain an edge, and at some point in time these antics weren't illegal (generally speaking.) But then someone thought they should be, and we are where we are today. You have to ask yourself, is there anything really wrong with having a 2 inch curve? I mean, there is a point where the curve on a stick becomes a hinderance. God forbid the guy with a 2 inch curve ever have to use the backhand side of his blade! These are things that have very little effect on the game, just like the new "Avery rule".

I'll give you another example. Don't quote me on the player, but I believe it was Eddie Shore. One of the most feared, and respected defensemen to ever lace up a pair of skates. What did he do? He would cut the palms out of his gloves so he could grab the opposing players jerseys while making it nearly impossible for the ref to see. Illegal? Highly. Innovative, creative, and beneficial? Certainly. What's it boil down to? Players will always find a way to bob and weave through the rules.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say about star treatment. You sound like you are trying to butter both sides of the bread here. You brought up the stomping incidents, so I'll respond. My argument about Crosby absolutely holds water here. I'm not arguing the fact that he didn't do it, merely that if he did, it would be no where near big deal that it is since Avery was the offender. Perfect example is the stomping incidents. Simon gets to take nearly a half season off, while Pronger gets a week vacation before the playoffs. It all depends on who you are, not what you did. If you can't see that, than there is no point in talking about this any further.

Avery's actions did contribute to the play, you can't argue that point. The only thing that can be argued is Avery's ability to follow the play. Avery was doing his job, screening Marty, and trying to get into the Rangers heads. Which he did an excellent job of. I won't argue that it was not the ideal position for Avery to be in, however, you can't say it wasn't contributing to the play, Marty had to deal with Avery in front of him, rather than simply following the puck. On the most basic level, it's no different than what Homer does.

And to GS&T:

The level of 'in your faceness' is a matter of opinion. Personally, I feel more cheated when I find out someone on my favorite club is using an illegal curve, or a tender is using illegal pads. It makes you wonder if he could have roofed the puck as easily, or made that huge save. What Avery did was up front, and for lack of a better word, honest. He wasn't trying to hide anything, he just did it, right in front of everyone. It's like getting into a fight at a bar. Who is being more of a man, the guy who challenges you face to face, or the guy who waits until you turn around and busts a bottle over your head? At the end of the day, you don't like either guy, but you can at least have some respect for the guy who challenged you face to face.

[imisssergei 0]

For those of you who thought this was embarrassing or hurts the integrity of the sport, get a sense of humor.

I realize they just made an unsportsmanlike penalty/rule for this this morning or last night or whenever, which I can understand and support because it's the minimum consequence I would have chosen, but at the time of the situation/game Avery didn't high-stick anybody, he didn't enter the crease, he made no contact with Brodeur. No high-sticking or goalie interference call. He was just being Tomas Holmstrom or Ryan Smyth in front of the net being a pain in the butt to Brodeur's vision, LEGALLY (before the unsportsmanlike rule), in an entirely unorthodox and creative manner. Nothing more/less. I found it curiously funny. It will have no effect on watching the game, negative perceptions, or whatever else. The game will just go on like normal. And Avery has done a lot worse in his career OFF the ice.

I seriously do not understand why there is so much of a hissy fit over this.

:clap:

[Copenhagen848 58]

That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in a hockey game. I don't see a thing wrong with it either.