Another great read on T.J. Oshie.

Imagine the possibilities if former Fighting Sioux hockey and current St Louis Blue hockey player T.J. Oshie had not been hurt and played the whole season. I suspect he would have been one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the year. Check this article from the Sporting News on T.J. Oshie.

This, from a kid who is 5-11, 181 pounds -- not a thug, but a well-round skilled player who knows how to hit and hit hard.

After missing more than 20 games with a high ankle sprain earlier in the season, Oshie exploded onto the scene with highlight goals and hits. He's leveled opponents with big-time hits, like this one against Nash.

The Blue Jackets were angered about the hit. Blues fans went bonkers for it. Blues broadcaster Bernie Federko noted correctly Oshie did exactly what he should do.

"A player coming out of the penalty box is told to go directly to the puck," Federko said during last Saturday's telecast. "He caught Nash flatfooted."

Argue it all you want, but Oshie did glide into the hit. Had it been charging, he would have been called for a penalty.

A typical comment from cyberspace: "That homer announcer is dead wrong. Nash is on the ice and is fair game. There is no written law you can't check a team's superstar legally. I am also sick and tired of hockey players wanting to fight after someone who lays a legal hit on one of their teammates. It is part of the game," according to a post on Goon's World. By the title, take it with a grain of salt. But take it as a statement of fact as well.

"Paging Mr. Nash, Mr. Rick Nash. Please come pick up your pride at the customer service counter," wrote old friend Kevin Wheeler of KMOX Radio in St. Louis.
(Read the whole article right here)