What does everyone think of Ballard's hit on Malkin?

[Guest micah]

Lastly, did anyone even listen to Ballard??? The guy who through the hit??? He expected to have to fight after that and he suggested it was the right thing for Crosby to do at that point in the game.

What does Ballard know about the hit he made?

I don't get the Crosby hate. I don't like that he's promoted as a one-man-league, but I don't hold it against him personally. He's a great young hockey player, he does a lot of things right, but the few things he does wrong he gets pounced on for. In fact, if there is any twisted logic that could be used in any way to paint something he did as questionable, people will use it against him. I feel kinda bad for the guy. I'm sure he's laughing at his detractors all the way to the bank, but still.

I also don't understand why so many fans will critisize a guy on another team more than they critisize the guys on their own team. I mean, if you're a Penguins fan, by all means you should be concerned if he does something that you think is dumb. But if you're a Wings fan, why not worry and ***** more about the Wings that do stupid things? I hold people I like to a higher standard.

The rule on Gretzky as I recall was not "don't cheapshot Gretzky", it was "don't touch Gretzky". Fighting after a legal hit is as old as the NHL. I don't get why so many panties are so wadded up about it all of the sudden.

[softshoes 83]

Eh...Ballard was almost on his knees when he delivered that hit. He was low enough that his hands were touching the ground, which makes me think it was pretty low, and therefor dangerous, but I have seen much much worse - it could have gone either way.

Most of this is just people getting their Penguins/Crosby hate on. If Franzen got hit like that and Hossa jumped in, you would all be having kittens and you know it.

Yep, I'm almost certain there would be kittens for sale in every house. Or a run on burlap sacks.

[servo 15]

I see Ballard has the hip check perfected. Konstantinov and Stevens were the Kings here, but his was clean. Too bad Ballard doesn't have the uppercut perfected.

Sticking up for your teammates is onething when they need it, but a clean hit is a clean hit. Should Crosby or anyone else for that matter, go after an opposing teams defence if they shot the puck and it ricocheted off their arm injuring them while they were around the crease? Getting hit with pucks and checks is a part of the game.

Edited April 8, 2009 by servo

[Carman 387]

I see Ballard has the hip check perfected. Konstantinov and Stevens were the Kings here, but his was clean. Too bad Ballard doesn't have the uppercut perfected.

Sticking up for your teammates is onething when they need it, but a clean hit is a clean hit. Should Crosby or anyone else for that matter, go after an opposing teams defence if they shot the puck and it ricocheted off their arm injuring them while they were around the crease? Getting hit with pucks and checks is a part of the game.

You are telling me in the heat of a game, that hit couldn't look very low to you? It's not like the hit was unquestionably legal, it was great hit, but man oh man how can you expect to have a team just sit back after you hit their star player like that? The answer? You shouldn't, Ballard damn well knew he was going to have someone after him - that's hockey, there is no need to blast players for making good entertainment.

[servo 15]

You are telling me in the heat of a game, that hit couldn't look very low to you? It's not like the hit was unquestionably legal, it was great hit, but man oh man how can you expect to have a team just sit back after you hit their star player like that? The answer? You shouldn't, Ballard damn well knew he was going to have someone after him - that's hockey, there is no need to blast players for making good entertainment.

Crosby's role as Captain or the embassador for the NHL isn't to go after guys for payback of any kind. I admire the heart but not the brain. I'm not trying to single out Crosby, but every player now that gets hit and gets pissed off about it. Last I knew the NHL was a checking league.

As for the hit; the best evaulation is at ice level. The players and officials obviously have this view. The posted picture is taken from a biased elevated view. It is pretty difficult to skate backward with your body at 19 inches above the ice surface (knee level). The physics of it would have caused Ballard to fall forward on his face. There was no intent to hit his knees. Hip to hip. Malkin's jump makes it worse. He would have just been rubbed out of the play had he not tried to jump out of the way.

[Carman 387]

I'm not trying to single out Crosby, but every player now that gets hit and gets pissed off about it. Last I knew the NHL was a checking league.

It's a physical league. If you get a huge hit a star player no matter if it was legal or not, expect to be challenge. That's it. No if, ands, or buts. I see the whole arguement about fighting after legal hits, but this was a questionable and huge hit. Ballard knew it was coming, the fans knew it was coming, the goalies knew it was coming, the announcers, and the officals. The hit WAS questionable, sure after review it looks clean, but it's not a matter of it being illegal or legal - more of the matter Pittsburgh needed to get momentum some-way and considering that hit was while they were on a power play Crosby thought the best course of action was to let Ballard know that he should think twice before hitting a star player. I don't see why anyone wouldn't enjoy watching this, I think it's great entertainment on both parties.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Carman

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Crosby's role as Captain or the embassador for the NHL isn't to go after guys for payback of any kind. I admire the heart but not the brain. I'm not trying to single out Crosby, but every player now that gets hit and gets pissed off about it. Last I knew the NHL was a checking league.

As for the hit; the best evaulation is at ice level. The players and officials obviously have this view. The posted picture is taken from a biased elevated view. It is pretty difficult to skate backward with your body at 19 inches above the ice surface (knee level). The physics of it would have caused Ballard to fall forward on his face. There was no intent to hit his knees. Hip to hip. Malkin's jump makes it worse. He would have just been rubbed out of the play had he not tried to jump out of the way.

How long have you played defense? I've got 20+ years of doing it and doing it violently at times. I would never deliberately throw a hip check that low. For those that think that's a prototypical hip check or a textbook hip check and liken it to Rob Blake or such.....I'd say you don't know WTF you are talking about.

That hit has more resemblance to a Bryan Marchment type hit than a clean hit. Camera angle, shmangle. His ass is knee level. That's one hell of alow hit. And contrary to your opinion, if you know how to skate backwards and have good balance you actually can delivery that hit at top speed without falling flat on your face prior to contact. It isn't like Ballard was hunched over like that for 80 friggin' feet. He dipped down right before impact.

It's low enough to be a questionable hit. It's a dangerous hit. You want to see a proper hip check. Here's some. IMO, McLaren was one of the biggest hitters I ever saw. Brad Stuart throws his hits in much the same fashion. As did Rob Blake. Notice how when done properly, the guy getting hit usually gets smoked and not flipped up head over heels.

Igor Larionov flipped an Ave player head over heels once too and I wouldn't call what he did a proper hip check.

[Guest micah]

Crosby's role as Captain or the embassador for the NHL isn't to go after guys for payback of any kind.

So we're clear here, do you think that Brendan Shanahan would make a poor ambassador for the league? He's picked quite a few fights after legal hits....

And yes, I agree that the fact that he porked his teammate's wife makes him a poor choice for ambassador, but let's just pretend for the sake of argument that that never happened.

[CenterIce 83]

This photo is evidence of why I started this thread. I belive the hit was too low. Ballard is at Malkin's knee when he makes contact. Malkin didn't jump. I think too many people are taking the commentators' word at it, but he did pass the puck with his skate just before the hit, so he was on one leg. The "jump" was him flipping over Ballard. To me, it wasn't a good hit. Too low. Looking it over a few times, it looks like Ballard comes in low, puts his arm to Malkin's knees, and pushes up. Then, Malkin flips over him, because his momentum is still going forward, while his legs are stopped. I can't really call that a hip check at all.

Edited April 8, 2009 by CenterIce

[toby91_ca 620]

Also can't lose sight of the fact that Ballard was the first to drop the gloves, not Crosby.

[servo 15]

So we're clear here, do you think that Brendan Shanahan would make a poor ambassador for the league? He's picked quite a few fights after legal hits....

I didn't make my point well, Crosby's role isn't to fight anyone. Period. How F*&^%$# would they be if he was in the same position as Lillia? Bettman sure doesn't want his role model chasing people down for paybacks.

[Wombat 26]

How long have you played defense? I've got 20+ years of doing it and doing it violently at times. I would never deliberately throw a hip check that low. For those that think that's a prototypical hip check or a textbook hip check and liken it to Rob Blake or such.....I'd say you don't know WTF you are talking about.

That hit has more resemblance to a Bryan Marchment type hit than a clean hit. Camera angle, shmangle. His ass is knee level. That's one hell of alow hit. And contrary to your opinion, if you know how to skate backwards and have good balance you actually can delivery that hit at top speed without falling flat on your face prior to contact. It isn't like Ballard was hunched over like that for 80 friggin' feet. He dipped down right before impact.

It's low enough to be a questionable hit. It's a dangerous hit. You want to see a proper hip check. Here's some. IMO, McLaren was one of the biggest hitters I ever saw. Brad Stuart throws his hits in much the same fashion. As did Rob Blake. Notice how when done properly, the guy getting hit usually gets smoked and not flipped up head over heels.

Igor Larionov flipped an Ave player head over heels once too and I wouldn't call what he did a proper hip check.

This, plus the videos, was a tremendous post. I agree with everything you posted.

The hit was borderline, as the photo clearly shows. I respect Crosby for doing what he thought necessary after seeing a star on his team get hit that way.

[Wombat 26]

This photo is evidence of why I started this thread. I belive the hit was too low. Ballard is at Malkin's knee when he makes contact. Malkin didn't jump. I think too many people are taking the commentators' word at it, but he did pass the puck with his skate just before the hit, so he was on one leg. The "jump" was him flipping over Ballard. To me, it wasn't a good hit. Too low. Looking it over a few times, it looks like Ballard comes in low, puts his arm to Malkin's knees, and pushes up. Then, Malkin flips over him, because his momentum is still going forward, while his legs are stopped. I can't really call that a hip check at all.

I completely agree. Especially in the heat of the battle, it can be seen as a low/borderline hit. Malkin certainly did not try to jump over the check. One foot is lifted but you have to lift your feet to skate. Ballard, when hitting him, lifted him up and flipped him. Crosby was justified in squaring up with Ballard face to face like men.

[softshoes 83]

If it was Gary Roberts who dropped the gloves instead of Crosby this thread woulda been over about 4 pages ago.

[CenterIce 83]

If it was Gary Roberts who dropped the gloves instead of Crosby this thread woulda been over about 4 pages ago.

The main reason I posted it was not because of Crosby's fighting but because of Ballard's hit, but you are right. Most of the posts have been leaning toward the Crosby fighting part.

[mjlegend 155]

Maybe next time he's trying to go in on the Panthers, Malkiin will dump it in at the blueline, so the second best player on the Penguins doesn't have to spend 17 minutes in the box because Malkin can't keep his head up?

By the way, for those people on here with a gigantic man-crush on Crosby, I wonder what you think of these two grafs from the NHL.com story:

Ballard and Crosby received fighting majors and Florida's Bryan McCabe scored on the four-on-four while Crosby was in the box for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he picked up at the same time. The teams played scoreless hockey for over a period before Florida's David Booth scored a power-play goal at 19:48 of the second period while Jordan Staal was sitting out a holding penalty.

"That Ballard hit really changed the momentum. We were getting outshot pretty bad there," Booth said. "That got the crowd really going, especially on a big star player like Malkin. They're probably the best two players in the league, so when they're on the ice together it's really tough. For Ballard to take out both Malkin and Crosby on the same shift, that's pretty cool."

He basically cost his team the game and fell hook, line and sinker into the Panthers' physical plan. If that's what you want your captain doing (taking a selfish retaliation penalty) instead of trying your damnedest to get a win when you're trying to clinch a playoff spot, I'm glad Crosby doesn't play for the Wings.

[CenterIce 83]

Guess which hit I just saw listed as #1 on NHL.com's Top Ten Hits list.

Edited April 9, 2009 by CenterIce

[Guest micah]

Maybe next time he's trying to go in on the Panthers, Malkiin will dump it in at the blueline, so the second best player on the Penguins doesn't have to spend 17 minutes in the box because Malkin can't keep his head up?

LOL, 17 minutes. Somebody likes to post without knowing what they're talking about. It's you!

He basically cost his team the game and fell hook, line and sinker into the Panthers' physical plan. If that's what you want your captain doing (taking a selfish retaliation penalty) instead of trying your damnedest to get a win when you're trying to clinch a playoff spot, I'm glad Crosby doesn't play for the Wings.

Yeah. The Wings would totally suck if they had Crosby. He's always selfishly starting ights and wasting 17 minutes in the penalty box. What a bad Captain. Less PIM than other crappy Captains like Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier, but still - he sucks. Sucks! What a selfish sucky selfish-suck he is!

[shadow47 1]

Gorgeous hit. Just gorgeous. The best hipcheck I've seen in awhile, just the grace and precision and smoothness of how Ballard comes out of it, not dirty, not dangerous. How hockey should be played. Not like Sid running around trying to fight with a visor on. I laughed when Potvin said "I understand Sid TRYING TO BE STRONG" f'ing hilarious!

[CenterIce 83]

Gorgeous hit. Just gorgeous. The best hipcheck I've seen in awhile, just the grace and precision and smoothness of how Ballard comes out of it, not dirty, not dangerous. How hockey should be played. Not like Sid running around trying to fight with a visor on. I laughed when Potvin said "I understand Sid TRYING TO BE STRONG" f'ing hilarious!

I am not sure how you consider this a hip check, when the contact was with the arm/shoulder area. I also am not sure how you can say it is not dirty/dangerous, when he goes after the guys knees.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Crosby

[Chelichic 12]

It was a great hit. Sid trying to go after him for it was a poor choice.

[mjlegend 155]

LOL, 17 minutes. Somebody likes to post without knowing what they're talking about. It's you!

Soory, forgot about the Crosby Rules. If Boogaard does what Crosby did, he gets a game but because Sid is The Face Of The NHL, he gets only seven. He still put his team down a man at a crucial time, and it ended up costing his team the game

Do you think the Wings would be better off if Lidstrom fought, say, Shea Weber after a clean check on Zetterberg?