2008/09 NHL Thread

This always happens for some reason when TSN or another network grabs a hold of a similar issue, all of a sudden there is a rash of incidents.

A few years ago it was the visor issue. They went huge on it and boom there was a rash of eye injuries like there hadn't been before. Haven't seen one in the nhl for a couple of years now, true there are more guys wearing visors but there are still many who do not.

Then they get on the head hitting trail and boom there's a bunch of ugly hits to the head all of a sudden, there is still a the odd one, but not like what sprung up during the big push.

Now the big thing is fighting because of an extremely unfortunate incident involving a senior league player dying in a fight -- does anyone else know of anyone dying in a hockey fight? All of a sudden there are injuries happening in fighting that don't happen very often -- Carcillo in Phoenix gets his head slammed into the ice, says it is the first time it has happened to him and he fights more than just about anyone. Then there was another similar incident within a day of that, and now this freak incident in the AHL. Not saying injuries don't happen in fighting, but they don't normally happen on this level and at this volume.

And of course it always adds fuel to the fire.

It is freaking uncanny.

 

Don't know, St. Louis was added to the roster in his stead.

I'm guessing they promote Ovechkin since he wasn't voted into the starting line-up.

 

Lord, you're a boring old guy.

 

Hmm, apparently St. Louis is starting in place of Crosby, according to the Sporting News, for whatever reason. I just assumed they'd move Ovechkin into Crosby's spot also.

 

Mentioned on Twitter that I loathe the all-star game. Got some peeps pissy at me.

 

The All-star game is a gong show, like all all-star games. Even baseball's has lost it's lustre. The only decent part of the NHL All-star weekend is the skills competition, but I remember it being better than what I was able to catch tonight. didn't see the shootout deal heard it was a complete bust . . . again. Even Sheldon Souray couldn't give Chara a good run for his money as the co-headliner in the hardest shot competition, even though he picked a hell of a dark horse to win it.

 

Rooks beat sophs, though.
Mr. Price gave up a couple of easy ones, I hear.

 

I suppose I should give them some room. These are people who have an emotional attachment to the game. They're probably the ones who cheer for another team just because it's Canadian.

(oh, hai!)

 

Is Stamkos being shopped around?

Must be fun, the Tampa circus.

 

A fight is a fight. To suggest that this is only justified when passion and reaction are involved is foolish.

 

Kinda defeats the arguments of those of us who argue that fighting is a necessary release valve in a sport where guys are in repeated physical contact with each other at 20 mph, and that if fighting were outlawed it would lead to more stickwork.

Violence and intimidation as a tactic in hockey is fine and dandy - it's as old as the game itself - but when you've got two slugs dropping the gloves at the opening face-off because they think they're the main event at a UFC card, I'm sorry, that's just dumbassery.

 

Honestly, if you had any clue about the game you'd know the difference.