Doggy

Lilja had an existing problem which went undiagnosed until the punch from Weber which caused it to become a real problem.

They were last year and the year before that. I already made that point if you read my post. I never asked for fights. I asked for them to stand up for themselves and not get pushed around. Like our last two postseasons. I dunno why everyone has assumed I'm referring to fights. Fights aren't necessary to show strength and solidarity.

One more thing, Jack. If you don't like the discussion in this thread, why do you take part in it? There are tonnes of threads I don't particularly like. The best way I can think of to deal with them is to not read them. I know you hate this stuff and you think it's a pointless conversation. A very fair POV. I just don't understand why you insert yourself into it, if that's the case.

I'm sick of seeing this s***. I don't care if we won last night. We probably shouldn't have. The Ducks just hack, whack and run Jimmy Howard whenever the puck is in or around the crease and nothing happens. This team isn't losing because of injuries. It's losing because it has no fire.

Heads are hanging low. The players are too timid to get in the face of an opponent that challenges them. You don't need to be a goon to stand up for your teammates. Not so long ago, a guy like Bertuzzi or Datsyuk would not just skate away after Corey Perry takes 3 or 4 whacks at his goalie while the puck is under his pads. You can't allow that to happen. Yet, it is allowed.

Losing free agents and getting injuries hurts. I'm not ignoring that. But it's not an excuse to allow other teams to push you around. It should be the opposite. The players should be MORE pissed and MORE driven to make sure their opponents know you cannot take liberties with the Detroit Red Wings. This was the hockey that was played in the '08 and '09 playoffs. It was energetic and inspired. Each player was in the game. Right now, you could count them on one hand in any given game. The worst thing about that is, in the past few weeks none of them have been our better players.

Injuries hurt. Indifference kills. Wake the f***, Red Wings and show some pride!!

You seem to have missed the times I've mentioned that I don't mind a hit like that at the NHL-level. They're all bigger, stronger and smarter. It's still not a legal IMO, but it's part of the game. They know (or at least should know) how to protect themselves. That video you posted has as much to do with my contention as a scene from 'Debbie Does Dallas'.

In my view, this stuff is completely unnecessary in a developmental league with 16 year olds skating around. It's a recipe for disaster when you've got these hulking, skill-less 20 year olds floating around with underagers that are still growing and learning the game. If these guys decide to flatten a player who isn't quite cagey enough to protect himself properly, that kid gets flattened. The results were made more unfortunate by the fact his helmet came off on impact but luckily, this is NOT the worst that could've happened. He could be dead right now.

Doc, you don't agree. That's fine. But try to absorb what I'm saying here because you're missing my point entirely. I'm aware that hockey's a dangerous sport. It always will be. It's the nature of the game and it's part of what makes it the best sport on Earth. But protecting players, in particular kids, should never be disregarded.

Well he went in there trying to demolish him. Mission accomplished. I'll ask the question again -- who benefitted from it?

Being strong and physical is an addition to a good young players other assets.

It can be the reason you are drafted in the first round and not the third. But it's never the reason you are drafted.

D#1fan sums up my feelings for this hit. And frankly, if a guy that appreciates the physical side of the game as much as he can says that, for me that's saying a lot. Liambas was not busting his arse. He wasn't finishing his check. He wasn't skating whistle to whistle. He put someone out, probably for life. How is that helping your team? It's sure not helping yourself.

Ask Liambas now if he still thinks he should've gone that hard at Fanelli. I'll bet he disagrees with you and wishes he had've let up a little.

I'm looking at it from strictly the league's POV. They certainly need to make sure their players, particularly the underage ones, are well-protected.

Now from a player's POV... I'll tell you one thing with certainty. No NHL club will sign nor draft a junior player for his hitting. If they want to sign a grinder they look for experienced players in the AHL. You don't add grit from the CHL. Finishing your checks is fine, but if you wanna get drafted I suggest you concentrate on your stick-handling, positioning, shooting, face-offs, pokechecking, shot-blocking, stick-lifting, play-reading, skating, passing, conditioning, size, strength, power, vision, poise, teamwork, leadership, etc. This is the s*** junior players should be learning.

Anyone can finish a check like that guy just did. Who can poke-check like Nick, dangle like Datsyuk, deflect like Homer, see the ice like Thornton, shoot like AO, protect the puck like Hank, backhand like Sundin, slap it like Chara, win a draw like Perrault, etc... ?

An 18 year old that thinks making a hit like that will get him on an NHL scouts shortlist is kidding himself. That's not what the CHL is about. At all.

Thanks for those posts. This is why I didn't like the hit. It's a 16 year old kid. These guys are trying to improve their game and become great hockey players. They don't need to be fighting or laying hits like this. It's the CHL, not the NHL. They can play tough, but not like this. Particularly when there are 16 year olds out there. The size difference between the average male at 20 and the average male at 16 is huge. Dangerously big, and this demonstrates that.

Furthermore, these guys are still learning and developing their hockey senses. They will make mistakes like Fanelli made. It's just incredibly sad the price he has to pay is so high. It shouldn't have to happen. If the CHL teaches its players to play tough without crossing the fine line into dirty, as well as encourages respect for your opponent it will translate to a new, better type of grit in the NHL.

I'm not saying there is no place for hitting in the game, because there most certainly is. I'm also not saying that the result of this incident was entirely Liambas fault. But the hit was unnecessary.

Let the kids play hockey. Let them learn and develop and become the Ovechkin's, Crosby's and Tavares' we love to watch now. Leave the fighting and huge hits for the mature leagues where they're (usually) fully developed and most importantly, know how to protect themselves.