This was the hit that had the Internet buzzing last night before I went to bed. Being a Wild fan I have to admit it's really an unnecessary hit that Boogaard didn't need to make. According to Mike Russo the Boogieman has already had a conference call with league executive Mike Murphy this morning meaning we will probably be seeing a spin of the Colin Campbell wheel of justice. Since Boogaard is a one dimensional goon and a repeat offender the league will probably throw the book at him and they should. Edit: I want to go on record that I am a Boogaard fan but you have to play within the rules of the game. The NHL has stepped up and issued a two game suspension for the hit.
The Beat writer David Staples for the Edmonton Oilers isn't all that impressed with Derek Boogaard as well. Check out his thoughts about Boogaard in last night's blog post.
So it happened again, just as it's happened so many times with Derek Boogaard and an Edmonton Oiler, Boogaard -- the very definition of a goon hockey player -- making an illegal hit and almost crippling Edmonton winger Ryan Jones.Here is an reoccurring argument that I have seen before about players like Derek Boogaard they don’t play very good hockey and they are basically one dimensional players, one could call them fighters on skates, albeit not very good skaters either. I find these comments interesting since the Oiler have their own verision of Boogaard in Zack Stortini who is a little more talented and has 118 minutes in penalties and has been in 13 fights this season.
This wasn't a hockey play, this was a crime on ice, the kind Boogaard is known for, and the kind he will continue to commit in NHL rinks until some player gets badly injured and decides to sue Boogaard, his coach, his franchise and the NHL.
All of them are complicit in Boogaard's ongoing, illegal on-ice violence. Why do I say that?
Because each time Boogaard maims someone, or comes close to maiming them, he is not handed the kind of sentence that might stop him from maiming again. Last year he got five games for an atrocious elbow to the head of Brandon Prust. He should have been suspended for the season for that vicious late hit, another evident intent to injure
[Edmonton Journal]
There should be no place in hockey for the likes of Boogaard. In 243 career NHL games, he has two goals, 14 points and 527 penalty minutes. He is not a player who can fight, he's a fighter who can't play. He's so lame on the ice that in three years of major junior play he only scored two goals.
His only job is to intimidate, threaten, beat and maim.
Will the NHL review this kneeing of Jones and give Boogaard a good, long suspension? The rest of the season is certainly in order for such a blatant attempt to injure.
I'm certainly not holding my breath. If there's one thing that the NHL is, it's soft on crime.
P.S. Boogaard's explanation after the game to Joanne Ireland of the Journal: "I was just trying to make a hit and he slipped out of the way."
Don't agree with the extremism in the post, but I do agree with the main message of the message.
ReplyDeleteBoogaard isn't a hockey player. He's one of the best fighters in the game. He's a big guy, which SHOULD be an advantage, but he's not good enough with his stick to make it matter.
Some experts argue that there is a place for enforcers and fighters like Boogaard. I'm inclined to agree that there are places for instigators and enforcers in the NHL, but not for those who can only instigate or play the enforcer role. The "new" NHL, in my opinion, was meant to make players like Tie Domi (if he was still playing), Scott Parker, Derek Boogaard, etc. more difficult to give a roster spot to.
It was meant to foster players like Cal Clutterbuck, Philly's Carcillo (if he put his attitude away), Jerome Iginla (ok, I bring him up because he fights his own fights. He was darn good before the new NHL), Tomas Holmstrom, and yes, even that putz Avery. These guys may still instigate and fight the occasional fight too, but they do more.
Remember my stance is pretty consistent: If fighting were banned tomorrow, would player X still be in the NHL? If the answer is even MAYBE, then he's not the kind of player that is worth having on the roster, imo. I'd keep the maybes in the AHL to freshen up the non-fighting game. I'd dump the NO's straight out. Sorry Boogaard.
I think Boogaard is a worthless hockey player, but I think the Edmonton guy's post is a bit far fetched. Boogaard is not out there trying to hurt people, most because he is not a good enough skater to time a hit correctly. How many people has Boogaard hurt not in a fight? I bet Ovechkin has hurt just as many actually with his flying knees. That said, I wish Boogaard was not on the team, absolutely ridiculous he was getting more playing time over Sykora when he was still on the team but I digress.
ReplyDeleteGood point Charles.
ReplyDeleteBoogaard, looking at the replay, almost COMPLETELY misses Jones. He has to stick out his leg in order to "make his presence known." How about that? Turn an embarrassing whiff into a yup...
2 game suspension.
The NHL Came down pretty quick on this one.
Take the embarrassment of missing the guy completely. No need to injure the guy.
Now I am not against fighting and I find Boogie entertaining but that hit was rightfully punished. I also think Goon's serve a purpose but you're right Charles that post was over the top.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sykora I am not sure why the Wild ever brought him here? I would have rather seen Sheppard sent packing then have the Wild continue to play him and pay him.