2021 NHL regular season thread

Hair-pulling (and spitting and a few others things) used to be called a "gross misconduct." NHL took the rule out.

 

When did they do that?

 

What I always wonder is whether the culture of the game allows someone on his own team (Chara seems like the obvious candidate) to pull Wilson aside and say "you have got to stop being such a jackass. We need you playing and we don't need all these headaches." Although it's possible that's been tried and didn't work.

 

I honestly don’t think his teammates mind this stuff at all.

 

That's actually another thing I wonder about. I would guess that's still true to a degree but not as much as it would have been 20 or 30 years ago.

 

For sure they love it.

 

NHL approves four rules changes for 2007-08

They didn't eliminate the penalty, just the name of the penalty. You knew that. You just posted to enhance your asshole status.

 

At least the Rangers were eliminated.

 

I actually didn’t. But you be you.

 

You have to think a guy like Nicklas Backstrom, who didn't grow up in the North American hockey culture, has never topped 54 PIM in a season, and theoretically might be someone who would be a retaliatory target when Wilson dials up the insanity in a game, has to have at least thought "why the hell does he keep doing that?", even if he doesn't say anything.

 

Right back at'cha.