Official NHL thread?

[Spank_Me_Hard]

I knew once the Oil got Quinn that any sense of entitlement due to talent or complacency was gone.

Sure enough, Gagner was demoted down to the fourth line and has earned his way back up the lines. Penner has shown up in the best shape that he's ever been in.

It's about time that the Oil have started to play up to their talent level.

It's early in the season, but maybe the Philly players have stopped responding to Stevens the way that the Oilers did to MacTavish. Maybe it's time for Stevens to go. Coaching changes in the NHL can actually work out quite well mid or even at the start of the season. Pens, and Hawks coaches come to mind.

[r'aggro]

Exactly, like you mentioned the Pens went from a slumping underachiever to, well the champs (puke) when they ditched Michelle and brought Bylsma up. And it was even towards the end of the season! Great move, and one I'd like to see from Philly.

Stevens is a decent player developer, good with the young guys. The core of Richards, Carter etc. won a Calder under the guy when they were all on the Phantoms...he'd be fine to keep around as an asst. Hear he's on thin ice and Laviolette might be hired to replace him.

I tried to watch your Oil against the Nucks last night, but the Rogers feed was so bad that I switched to the Kings/Stars game instead. Non-hd games are really hard to watch on a 50".

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Oiler-'Nucks game was a bit of a sleeper. Didn't see a whole lot of passion between the two teams. 2-1 Eddy... right team won. You didn't miss much.

[r'aggro]

Alright, learned hockey fans of Sharky Forums: I want to hear your opinion on whether or not this was an illegal hit, or even just a dirty one.

Mike Richards with a huge open ice hit

[fastitocalon]

Alright, learned hockey fans of Sharky Forums: I want to hear your opinion on whether or not this was an illegal hit, or even just a dirty one.

Mike Richards with a huge open ice hit

I would say yes it was cheap, he went straight for the head which is malicious. Though whoever had the puck needs to get some peripheral vision.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Alright, learned hockey fans of Sharky Forums: I want to hear your opinion on whether or not this was an illegal hit, or even just a dirty one.

Mike Richards with a huge open ice hit

Saw that last night... that was one of the hardest hits that I've seen in a LONG time! That dude was the definition of KO'd.

I don't think that the shoulder to the head was intentional.

I think that in a sport like football or hockey that things happen so fast that it's just unfortunate more than anything. He definitely meaned to cream the guy... but I don't see how it can be said that he targeted his head with his shoulder.

It happens. And all the penalties, beatdowns, suspensions, and fines in the world aren't going to keep it from happening again.

I actually like the fighting in hockey quite a bit. And I think that there is definitely a time and place for it in the game. But one of the devcelopments as of recent that I don't like is that some players feel compelled to fight when they see one of their teamates get crushed legally. I think that's pretty retarded.

[r'aggro]

I wanted to post that question since Richards got penalized for what appeared to be a legal hit: he kept his elbow tucked in and didn't leave his skates. Hell, Ovechkin always launches himself when he hits people. Obviously the hit gave way to a 1000 post thread at HFboards in short order.

Anyway, iirc Richards got a 5 minute Charging penalty and a game misconduct. The hit was reviewed for a possible suspension but none was given, since he didn't break any rules. That being the case, he shouldn't have even been given a penalty to be honest. I tend to agree that split second decisions by the players can lead to bad situations like that...but dammit, you gotta keep your head up!

[Snakespy]

I didn't even know the NHL has a charging penalty. lame. Calls like that and the different style of play since the lockout is exactly why I don't watch hockey anymore. It's like a part of me died but without the hitting and fighting its not fun to watch anymore. Except for the playoffs. They let them play a bit more then.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Gawd Edmonton is annoying! Same damned inconsistency as last year!

The hit was reviewed for a possible suspension but none was given, since he didn't break any rules. That being the case, he shouldn't have even been given a penalty to be honest.

Exactly. Seems like a total contradication to me.

I tend to agree that split second decisions by the players can lead to bad situations like that...but dammit, you gotta keep your head up!

In fact, one of the "factors" that they weigh is if they consider the other player "helpless" when they got hit.

In this case, the league actually said that before he made the pass that he took a moment to look around him and see where the other players were. He *should* have known, and as such was not "helpless".

I think that the hit was largely of Booth's own doing being careless.

[r'aggro]

I didn't even know the NHL has a charging penalty. lame. Calls like that and the different style of play since the lockout is exactly why I don't watch hockey anymore. It's like a part of me died but without the hitting and fighting its not fun to watch anymore. Except for the playoffs. They let them play a bit more then.

Here's the official description of charging:

Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A "Charge" may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame or in open ice.

1. A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player who skates or jumps into, or charges an opponent in any manner.

So I would guess they mean to "stride" into the other guy...but Richards was merely coasting at speed. I see "violent" hits ALL THE TIME that don't get a charge. It's one of those ambiguous rules that is called under a certain set of circumstances but not others...it drives me batty.

You could see a hit that includes an elbow (making it dirtier, and illegal) but if the other guy skates away from it, the offender merely gets a 2 minute minor.

I will say that hitting and fighting are as prolific as ever; it's just that extra rules these days see to it that more penalties result. This is a result of the league's quest to bring more scoring to the game, and try to lure more American viewers. More power plays should = more scoring. Mostly it just pisses off the fans they already had though.

[r'aggro]

In fact, one of the "factors" that they weigh is if they consider the other player "helpless" when they got hit.

In this case, the league actually said that before he made the pass that he took a moment to look around him and see where the other players were. He *should* have known, and as such was not "helpless".

I think that the hit was largely of Booth's own doing being careless.

I hope to gawd that Booth is okay and will recover soon, but yeah...as strong and fast as players are these days, all it takes is that extra half-second of admiring your pass and you can get wrecked.

Or skating the puck across the blueline with your head down; just ask Eric Lindros.

[Snakespy]

The video was removed. wish I had watched it in time!

[r'aggro]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSILVbnofZM

This one works, and is a longer video with some slo-mo from multiple angles.

[Snakespy]

I think the only reason it looks like a dirty hit is because he went a bit too high. I would have to say I would have given him a penalty too. If he had gone a foot lower on him there would be no problem with the hit I bet.

[Spank_Me_Hard]

Then there was the hit with Ladd on D'Agostini:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzdnAmeT-cU