Blindside hits - NHL

[Dominato3r]

So anyone watching the NHL ( or any relevant sports network) probably knows about this issue plaguing the hockey world right now.

It all started with this hit by Mike Richards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSILVbnofZM

and then last sunday, Matt Cooke of the Pens did this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1vJrIAg-0

Marc Savard is now confined to a black room

And then these 2 in the past 3 days:
Hit by Ovechkin, caused Campbell to have broken ribs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oUVVTY05s

Crosby getting slew-footed by Downie (pretty messed up):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsJtvXPhqXE

But as usual the league has done nothing about this so far, and probably wont. So as of now its open season for these blindside hits, and you could possibly see more key players for many teams going down.

At this point im thinking, what parent would want to put their child into minor hockey with this kind of play? Granted the punishments in minor hockey are much harsher, there are still idiotic players. This is really ruining the growth of the sport.

 

[mugs]

What do you mean the league has done nothing? Ovechkin got his third game misconduct of the year and was suspended for two games. That's something.

There will be rule changes for next season.

 

[Homerboy]

When I go to games people cheer louder for the fights than the goals. Just seems to me that this is what people want to see?

 

[Dominato3r]

What do you mean the league has done nothing? Ovechkin got his third game misconduct of the year and was suspended for two games. That's something.

There will be rule changes for next season.

There is still no rule for hits to the head

 

[McWatt]

When I go to games people cheer louder for the fights than the goals. Just seems to me that this is what people want to see?

I see plenty of cheering for both, but don't confuse fights with hits from behind. Those don't get many cheers.

 

[mugs]

There is still no rule for hits to the head

There will be

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=314135

That decision, made last Wednesday, was made on the same day the leagues general managers voted unanimously to recommend both a minor and major penalty, plus the potential for supplemental discipline, for a blindside hit where a player targets the head.

While the definition of this rule recommendation is specific to an east-west hit, described as predatory, the purpose of the resulting penalty is to protect future players from injury.

The NHL is now seriously considering the possibility of expediting the approval process to implement the rule before the end of this season.

 

[Dominato3r]

Yes, when it happens

 

[kstu]

Cooke was head hunting and should have gotten 5+ games.

Ovechkin suspension was correct.

Downie is just a piece of shit, though he was supposed to be turning things around this year (and his points show it), but just couldn't get away from the despicable play (must be his Flyer roots ). He should have been suspended as well, especially with his past.

They WILL make a rule change this summer addressing hits to the head.

Thursday's PIT/BOS rematch could turn out interesting. Although, I think it's just as likely that the NHL says something to both teams beforehand and nothing too much ends up happening.

 

[mugs]

Yes, when it happens

So going back to the OP:

But as usual the league has done nothing about this so far, and probably wont

Both of those statements are false.

 

[AMDZen]

The league has done plenty and they are addressing it just as they should address it

 

[NesuD]

10 - 20 years ago you didn't see much of that in the NHL for 1 simple reason. Every team worth it's salt had an enforcer or 2 whose job it was to exact revenge in the form of a good old fashioned ass kickin for things like that. Everyone knew that if you cheapshot a defenseless player you would end up paying for the offense usually with blood. Unfortunately since the pussification of the NHL all the tough guys are mostly gone from the league leaving only the skilled players and the cheapshot artists. The day of the Proberts and Joey Kocurs is long gone. The day another player cheapshots someone and kills him is fast approaching.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i don't understand why hockey players don't have helmets similar to lacrosse or football players - full faced with a wire guard.


edit: headshots are dangerous and stupid. players aiming for the head should be punished severely.

 

[Nitemare]

Somebody go to a fight and have a hockey game break out?

 

[KK]

It all started with this hit by Mike Richards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSILVbnofZM

and then last sunday, Matt Cooke of the Pens did this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z1vJrIAg-0

Marc Savard is now confined to a black room

And then these 2 in the past 3 days:
Hit by Ovechkin, caused Campbell to have broken ribs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14oUVVTY05s

Crosby getting slew-footed by Downie (pretty messed up):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsJtvXPhqXE

Watching each of those, I would say the first one with richards was alot worse than matt cooke's. Richards actually launched off his skates to lay that hit. Where as savard has his head out there and cooke just happened to catch it.

The third one, all I can say is I hope Ovechkin has a career ended injury soon. Either that or maybe a bus will hit him.

The fourth one, didn't look that bad. Looked like both got tied up and crosby happened to be on the losing side.

 

[imported_Champ]

NHL hockey has gone down hill for the last couple of years with player protection. It is necessary for them to give these player suspensions to ensure that goon hockey does not take over again, the new NHL is about a game based on skill and finesse not brutality. 2 game suspensions for 1st hit to head 5 games for 2nd 10 for 3rd and the season for the 4th...and that it over the players entire career. It will give players a reason to believe that the NHL will protect them and that they will not need another on their team to stand up in those situations.

Parents should not be afraid to put their kids in hockey because these rules are already in place and it is mostly safe

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Holy shit, was David Booth ok after that hit? That looked really serious.

 

[Squisher]

And, yet after every clean good hit, everybody wants to fight. What is up with that? If you're skating with your head down and someone lays you out with a shoulder to your chest, maybe you shouldn't skate with your head down next time.

 

[Dominato3r]

And, yet after every clean good hit, everybody wants to fight. What is up with that? If you're skating with you head down and someone lays you out with a shoulder to your chest, maybe you shouldn't skate with your head down next time.

But throwing a shoulder towards someones head and concussing them is fine

 

[Dominato3r]

So going back to the OP:


Both of those statements are false.

League has done nothing so far, and probably wont for the remainder of this season.

 

[Squisher]

But throwing a shoulder towards someones head and concussing them is fine

 

[coloumb]

10 - 20 years ago you didn't see much of that in the NHL for 1 simple reason. Every team worth it's salt had an enforcer or 2 whose job it was to exact revenge in the form of a good old fashioned ass kickin for things like that. Everyone knew that if you cheapshot a defenseless player you would end up paying for the offense usually with blood. Unfortunately since the pussification of the NHL all the tough guys are mostly gone from the league leaving only the skilled players and the cheapshot artists. The day of the Proberts and Joey Kocurs is long gone. The day another player cheapshots someone and kills him is fast approaching.

The crap the players are getting away with today wouldn't fly back then - you'd get a nasty wake up call from players called "enforcers" who were hired specifically to keep the bad boys in check.

Back then - they actually PLAYED the damn game rather than see how many stupid body checks/hits you could get in one game. Teams won on skill rather than "let's see who we can put in a body cast tonight". Alas due to this crap - various teams won't be making the playoffs this year...

Typically - fighting will happen to stir up the crowd... rarely will you see a fight break out after a clean hit [if it does happen - it's really nothing more than to stir up the crowd]. Hockey players know when a bad hit/cheapshot happens and that's when the crap hits the fan. That's when the player needs to be suspended/fined...

 

[sdifox]

They really only needs one rule. Hit them in the pocket. If you injure a player intentionally, and they cannot play, you pay their salary for as long as it takes for them to recover.

 

[Key West]

Not too into hockey. As an outsider, I think the punishment system is fucking retarded.

Out of personal vengeance, if I rapeface a key player into oblivion netting him broken ribs, head concussion and spine injury, he's done for the season- if lucky. He could be crippled for life.

OH NOES I MAY/MAY NOT GET SUSPENDED FOR 1-3 GAMES. Hai, I'm back in a week. I hope you're enjoying your time in the ICU with all your family worried sick for you.

 

[Jodell88]

Not too into hockey. As an outsider, I think the punishment system is fucking retarded.

I agree with you. I don't know anything about hockey but I play another sport one might consider dangerous (Rugby) and that shit wouldn't fly on a Rugby field because punishment would be severe.

A player recently got a 70 week ban for gouging another player earlier this year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8474557.stm

 

[Dominato3r]

Well push and shoving in hockey is normal, its when you put full force and throw a guy into the boards from behind you cross the line.