Wheel o' Stephanie (formerly Shanny)

i think the rest of the league figured that out 2 years ago.

 

that said, i dont think this play is indicative of that notion. Chara has rarely dropped the gloves at all and has always taken abuse. not sure why.

 

I hear ya, but there was always that intimidation factor when playing against chara, then you have marchand to worry about. I wonder if that debrusk kid is any tough, his dad was a good scrapper. The reason why chara could take these cheap shots is because he could handle it and wants to draw a penalty rather than get called on a retaliation cheapshot.

 

Ott was fined today, $2222.22

 

Why is that the max. penalty permitted for spearing?

As a Sabre fan I have a soft spot for Ott. He quickly ingratiated himself to Buffalo fans because he exudes a blue collar work ethic and is a real nice guy off the ice.

But he built a nice NHL career on being an agitator. When he was younger he had enough skills to be a bit dangerous. As he ages the only thing he can rely on anymore is his agitation. It's not pretty. I hope the Wings fire him and he retires.

 

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Tom Gilbert will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Thursday, the league announced Wednesday.

The hearing will address Gilbert?s boarding/charging infraction on Anaheim Ducks forward Nick Ritchie, which occurred during the second period of the Kings? eventual 4-0 loss Tuesday night.

Gilbert appears to have made contact with Ritchie's head on the play, though no penalty was assessed at the time.

Ritchie went to the dressing room after the hit, and did not return. The Ducks have yet to provide an update on his status, but said earlier Wednesday that the winger "continues to be under assessment." (SN)

 

Gilbert was just handed 3 games off...

 

It's a sad day in the Wheel o' Stephanie world.

Raffi Torres has retired.

 

sad day for the league offices, happy day for everyone that laces em up professionally.
adios Raffi, put an egg in your shoe and beat it.

 

guess they didn't see anything wrong with the series of hits and brawl in the vancouver game? ugh.

 

not sure if this should be on this thread, the Fights, scraps, etc...one or Ryan Murray injury one but Emelin and Martin doing Emelin and Martin things last night.

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/11...emsdyk-into-boards-with-nasty-hit-from-behind

 

Totally uncalled for on both hits.

 

They both need to sit out and pay the fine...

Is it just me or are cross-checks from behind cowardly? I couldn't even do that back in my street hoskey days.

 

i just think every play in hockey is so unique because the game is essentially controlled reaction. some penalties are vicious and some are not and its so hard to describe in words, you know it when you see it. sometimes i can see the aggressor's point of view on a hit form behind/crosscheck where the victim makes himself the victim w/ a bad judgement call or gets himslef off balance bear the boards.

 

We now have to start asking ourselves, are teams secretly condoning these acts? You get guys like brian burke that likes to play dumb when it comes to assaulting a ref, not sure the ref's even back yet. I wonder if a player like martin is expected to deliver these type of hits on occasion to show the top brass that he's worthy of a lineup spot, one of the reasons he's there, to show he plays with an edge. Until ownership/management/coaches take a tough stance on these hits, they'll just continue as the norm, or even get worse as players get quicker. I like how smart marner plays when avoiding these hits, he hugs the boards and avoids being within two feet at all costs.

 

good questions skinny. w/out those hits dont think the Martins of the league dress. if his team's management isnt sure that he'll play to the edge he's gotta be irrelevant.
you can see the real difference in play w/ these kids like Marner. the first pure breed post-'04/5 lockout babies play a different game.

 

Yeah, now that fighting's been limited, that's all players like martin have left really, make your presence felt, and it won't be scoring goals. Players like marner represent the new breed that are getting smarter, quicker and more skilled than ever before. Also shows less emphasis being put on weight and height than ever before, it could open up the game more seeing smaller players.

 

Like Danny Briere or Marty St. Louis?

 

some the same and some different from them still. i think the expectations from older generations was different for younger players than it currently is. they share the speed and hands component of Briere and St Louis but the way they play the game seems a bit different and their ability to play a 3 zone game at a younger age is different too. also the old days where the young Joe Thornton's were eating burgers, fries, & sodas daily are all gone. kids come in more physically mature and are used to playing chess-match style games.

 

I think the hands of the new generation is in a league of it's own, the stickhandling you see from mcdavid, matthews, mackinnon, marner etc. is something we're seeing for the first time.