329 replies to this topic

[Konnan511]

I know what you mean, but at the same time, would you agree Abby practiced his salesman abilities on that one a little bit?

He completely flopped, but he still did take a headshot. It's like when you get hooked and embellish it, you still got hooked. IF he would have been grazed and flopped it would be different and I'd be shakin' my head at him, but he did take a nice shot on that. It's not like Jumbo Joe diving or any of the Nucks' diving after a tap someone. I think there is a fine line between diving and embellishing and to me AppleFritters embellished but didn't dive.

[P. Marlowe]

Another instance when I think Babcock is overreacting. Same thing with the Smith vs Smith incident. Is he trying to manipulate someone?

Detroit Free Press

Babcock took offense to MacArthur's hit on Justin Abdelkader at the end of regulation. "The guy's head twisted right around, so I assume Shanny (league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan) will look at it. To me, this is a blind-side hit from the side and it's a tough one."

[haroldsnepsts]

Another instance when I think Babcock is overreacting. Same thing with the Smith vs Smith incident. Is he trying to manipulate someone?

Detroit Free Press

The answer is likely yes, but Babcock needs to watch some replays before he starts to sound like Quennville out there, calling every hit the worst he's seen.

[P. Marlowe]

TSN.ca

Maple Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur has been suspended for two regular season games for his hit on Justin Abdelkader of the Detroit Red Wings last night.

[Konnan511]

The answer is likely yes, but Babcock needs to watch some replays before he starts to sound like Quennville out there, calling every hit the worst he's seen.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

He completely flopped, but he still did take a headshot. It's like when you get hooked and embellish it, you still got hooked. IF he would have been grazed and flopped it would be different and I'd be shakin' my head at him, but he did take a nice shot on that. It's not like Jumbo Joe diving or any of the Nucks' diving after a tap someone. I think there is a fine line between diving and embellishing and to me AppleFritters embellished but didn't dive.

Fair enough. It's a play MacArthur didn't have to make. 2 game suspension seems to follow the pattern of the crack down. It's 2 regular season games, reportedly. So hopefully we see MacArthur and Abby settle it tonight

[Konnan511]

Fair enough. It's a play MacArthur didn't have to make. 2 game suspension seems to follow the pattern of the crack down. It's 2 regular season games, reportedly. So hopefully we see MacArthur and Abby settle it tonight

Wait, he's not out any preseason games, just regular season games?

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Wait, he's not out any preseason games, just regular season games?

TSN is reporting 2 regular season games. Many other suspensions have included the remainder of the preseason, so i'm a little puzzled by this, as well.

[Konnan511]

Paging Mr. Shanahan, Mr. Malone is here to see you.

[dteowner]

TSN is reporting 2 regular season games. Many other suspensions have included the remainder of the preseason, so i'm a little puzzled by this, as well.

The Shanny clip is up at NHL.com. The Leaf is out for the remainder of preseason plus 2 regular season games. TSN must have pooched their report.

[P. Marlowe]

Shanahan didn't suspend Ryan Malone for this hit on Chris Campoli:



NHL.com

“In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright. However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit.

(...)

A video explanation of the Malone decision will be available on NHL.com later Monday.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Paging Mr. Shanahan, Mr. Malone is here to see you.

I think the Habs player lowered his head. Hopefully Shanny recognizes that.

Edit: Just saw p.marlowe's link. Good non-call by Shanny

Edited by Bring Back The Bruise Bros, 03 October 2011 - 04:35 PM.

[sleepwalker]

"“In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright. However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit."

Uh..yeah I agree. But thats also the exact same thing that happened with the Brendan Smith/Ben Smith hit and you gave Brendan one of the longest suspensions thus far.

[Scott Stevens]

""In the end, we felt that Malone had committed to the hit when Campoli was upright. However, when the contact was made, Campoli's head position significantly changed just prior to the hit."

Uh..yeah I agree. But thats also the exact same thing that happened with the Brendan Smith/Ben Smith hit and you gave Brendan one of the longest suspensions thus far.

I agree. The Smith on Smith hit was going to be shoulder on shoulder and Ben Smith on his butt, but Ben Smith changed his position right at the last second to avoid getting planted. That should have been dealt with the same way.

[Barrie]

Wow I'm getting a lot of negative votes lately for my comments about head shots and fighting. Again, doesn't bother me, I think somethings need to be said. You all realize the league is trying to get the game cleaned up before Crosby comes back, so some idiot doesn't take a run at him.

Personally I've been disgusted with head shots since Game 2 of the 2008 Final, when Pittsburgh players were punching Franzen in the head his first game back after having a concussion.

I think this is similar to when the game came back after the lockout and all those penalties were being called. Everyone adjusted, and I think the same thing will happen with head shots and fighting. We'll all adjust, and the game will be better.

[haroldsnepsts]

I agree. The Smith on Smith hit was going to be shoulder on shoulder and Ben Smith on his butt, but Ben Smith changed his position right at the last second to avoid getting planted. That should have been dealt with the same way.

Shanny said in the ruling (and in my opinion the replay confirms) that the toe drag didn't significantly change the head position or direction he was skating.

Wow I'm getting a lot of negative votes lately for my comments about head shots and fighting. Again, doesn't bother me, I think somethings need to be said. You all realize the league is trying to get the game cleaned up before Crosby comes back, so some idiot doesn't take a run at him.

Personally I've been disgusted with head shots since Game 2 of the 2008 Final, when Pittsburgh players were punching Franzen in the head his first game back after having a concussion.

I think this is similar to when the game came back after the lockout and all those penalties were being called. Everyone adjusted, and I think the same thing will happen with head shots and fighting. We'll all adjust, and the game will be better.

Agreed. Right now it may seem like the sky is falling, but hockey is an evolving thing. There'll be a rough adjustment period but I think they'll figure out a level that keeps players safer without ruining hitting.

[Konnan511]

Wow I'm getting a lot of negative votes lately for my comments about head shots and fighting. Again, doesn't bother me, I think somethings need to be said. You all realize the league is trying to get the game cleaned up before Crosby comes back, so some idiot doesn't take a run at him.

Personally I've been disgusted with head shots since Game 2 of the 2008 Final, when Pittsburgh players were punching Franzen in the head his first game back after having a concussion.

I think this is similar to when the game came back after the lockout and all those penalties were being called. Everyone adjusted, and I think the same thing will happen with head shots and fighting. We'll all adjust, and the game will be better.

Exactly. Every year since the lockout the number of power-play opportunities per team has gone down. Last year was the lowest mark for Power play opportunities since the early 80s. Players adjust.

[Hockeytown0001]

I like the way that Shanny provides a video explanation for his decisions.

[e_prime]

You guys see Shanny's Good Decisions/Good Hits video?

[haroldsnepsts]

You guys see Shanny's Good Decisions/Good Hits video?

Great video.

That's the thing, it's not about removing hitting from the game. In the past players would almost always let up in those situations highlighted in the video. But over the years there's been a new breed of player. Guys like the Matt Cooke's, Raffi Torres, Tootoo's, who make their living running guys in vulnerable positions. Over time it became an acceptable part of the game.

You can get the headhunting out of the game and still leave plenty of opportunities for crushing hits.