Showing posts with label Brendan Shanahan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brendan Shanahan. Show all posts

Friday, April 20, 2012

NHL's Bettman: Suspension criticism 'gamesmanship'

NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007.
NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this one. I mean seriously, you can’t make this stuff up; this is the ultimate display of buffoonery in action. Does Gary Bettman not get it? This is why many people, fans, coaches and players look at the NHL commissioner and the NHL League front office as a gong show.
 NEW YORK (AP) - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman calls teams' complaints about player suspensions during the postseason "gamesmanship."

Bettman said Friday that criticism of the league's disciplinary decisions as inconsistent simply reflected clubs disliking rulings that hurt them. He used the one-game suspension of Washington center Nicklas Backstrom for an illegal cross-check as an example. Bettman says of the Capitals' disagreement: "That doesn't mean anything; they didn't like it."
Bettman says he has confidence in league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. The commissioner spoke at an Associated Press Sports Editors meeting shortly before Shanahan was to hold a hearing with Phoenix forward Raffi Torres. Torres is suspended indefinitely for launching himself into Chicago's Marian Hossa on Tuesday.

Nine players were issued suspensions through the first eight days of the playoffs.
The reason the team’s management, the players and fans of various NHL teams are upset is that they see the current state of affairs in the NHL to be disgusting. I don't mind the rough stuff and the after the whistle stuff because it adds to the drama and the rancor, however, when a a player drive another players head into the glass and only get a $2,500.00 fine, you have to think that something is wrong here. Then other players get a random one game or a three game suspension, it's like the Wheel of Justice is back in the NHL.

Then we have star players getting off without even getting a fine for acts that would get other players a two to three game suspension.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Torres to meet with the Shanahammer

IMG_5555.jpg
IMG_5555.jpg (Photo credit: bridgetds)
Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has his day in court. The fact that the hearing is in person in the NHL's New York office does not bode well for Mr. Torres because the NHL is about to make an example out of him.
NEW YORK -- Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.
You can expect that Brendan Shanahan is going to take Raffi Torres to the woodshed and this one going to hurt and it’s going to be easy for Shanny, Torres did it to himself and he has no one to blame but himself.

Torres is a villain; he is also a poster boy of what is wrong with the NHL in the minds of many fans. Torres is also a Matt Cooke type player, and also a repeat offender that hasn’t changed his game when the game has started to evolve.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Hunter: Bruins targeting Backstrom's head

One of the dirtiest hockey players to ever play in the NHL is accusing the Boston Bruins of going after Nicklas Backstrom. I guess the former goon Hunter would be able to spot this type of behavior on the sight?

In case you’ve forgotten, this is the same Dale Hunter that delivered one of the direst cheap shots I have ever witnessed to former Islander former Pierre Turgeon in Game 6 of the Patrick Division Semifinals. [Click to refresh memory]
Chuck Gormley, Capitals Whining --- Capitals coach Dale Hunter accused the Boston Bruins of intentionally targeting the head of Nicklas Backstrom and says his star center was only protecting himself when he cross-checked Rich Peverely in the chin at the conclusion of Game 3 Monday night.

Backstrom received a match penalty for the cross-check which carries an automatic suspension, pending a review by NHL director of player safety Brendan Shanahan. A ruling is expected to be released by the league on Wednesday.

“I don’t think he’s going to be suspended,” Hunter said. “If you slow it down frame by frame, where was [Peverley’s] stick? It was up in his face first … and Nicky reacted to it.

“I think [Backstrom] was trying to protect his face. If you watch it, [Peverley’s] stick is right in his eyes and it’s a dangerous play on their part, especially for [Backstrom] because if you notice, every scrum Nicky comes out with no helmet on. He gets a blocker to the head by [Tim] Thomas the game before [in Game 2]. He’s protecting his head. He just came off of 40 games.”

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Does Brent Burns get the Shanahammer


Former Wild defenseman Brent Burns threw this elbow to the back of the head area of Blues forward Scott Nichol. Now the Vice President of Players Safety, Brendan Shanahan has a decision to make, does he suspend Burns who does have received supplemental discipline when he was suspended in November of 2010. Should Burns be suspended for this hit or does Shanny let this one slide?
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Friday, April 13, 2012

Todd Bertuzzi vs Shea Weber


How dare they! A fight in hockey, how unacceptable. As you can see from the reaction on the bench and in the stands, that no on approves of this thugish behavior. Seriously!!! I have never seen anyone get up during a fight and leave a hockey game. The fans love it.

This is how they settle difference in the game of hockey, this is per the "Hockey Code" last game Shea Weber drove Henrik Zetterberg head into the glass at the end of game one, it was an unneeded and unnecessary and dirty hit. So Redwings hack Todd Bertuzzi did the right thing, he challenged Weber to a fight and they settled their difference like men, on the ice.

Lately, we have seen a few of the hockey pundits, most who have never played the game of hockey, call for an all out fighting ban, in all levels of hockey, due to an epidemic of head injuries suffered by players in the NHL.

Of course most if not a majority of these head injuries were the result of illegal and dirty hits. If you don't believe me take a look at this list [click to view list]. You know the dirty hits in question, there are the ones where a guy plants his opponent head long into the boards, the victim lays crumpled up on the ice and refs and linesmen then rush in to rescue the offending player, before the opposition's teammates can get a chance to answer for said hit. [Example of hit] Many of these dirty hits were never properly disciplined. 
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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Shanahan throws book at Bitz, suspends him for two games


So the Vice President of the Department of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan  was very busy the day after the first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

First Shanahan fined Nashville Predators defenseman Shew Weber the NHL maximum of $2,500.00 and then suspended Canucks forward Bryon Bitz for two games for boarding Kyle Clifford, Bitz was assessed a major penalty and given game misconduct for boarding. Personally, the play in question, looked more like a hit to the head and an elbow.

At this pace, this season could end up setting records for fines and suspensions during the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at this rate. Or not! At least Shanahan set a precedence that the league is not going to put up or tolerate dirty hits and questionable acts. 
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Shea Weber Fined for hit on Zetterberg

Nashville Predators forward Cody Franson prior...
Nashville Predators forward Cody Franson prior to a National Hockey League game against the Calgary Flames. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber will not be suspended for his hint on Redwings forward Henrik Zetterberg. There were many that called for Weber to have the book thrown at him for this hit.
NEW YORK -- Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber has been fined $2,500, the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for delivering a blow to the head of Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg in Game 1 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Nashville on Wednesday, April 11, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 20:00 of the third period. Weber was assessed a minor penalty for roughing.

"This was a reckless and reactionary play on which Weber threw a glancing punch and then shoved Zetterberg's head into the glass," said NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan. "As is customary whenever Supplemental Discipline is being considered, we contacted Detroit following the game and were informed that Zetterberg did not suffer an apparent injury and should be in the lineup for Game 2.
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

So does Shea Weber get suspended for slamming Zetterberg into the glass?


This play is the talk of the night. At the end of tonight's game between the Detroit Redwings and the Nashville Predators, Predators defenseman Shea Weber took Henrik Zetterberg's head and jammed it into the glass, I am not sure what led up to this play but this is not acceptable in any league.

Weber for his efforts was given a two minute minor for roughing, the length of the Weber's penalty is irrelevant, because the league can review played that didn't get penalized.

I imagine the NHL's Department of Players Safety will take a look at this play, but you never know with Brendan Shanahan, he has been so inconsistent this season, almost to the point of it being a joke in his ruling this season. Shannahan has let players off the hook with no fine or suspension and then has turned around and given a suspension for hits that were not as bad as hits where a player deserved a suspension and got nothing. So who knows in this situation?

Zetterberg did board Weber earlier in the game so this could be a retaliation for that earlier hit?

If your conspiracy theorist you would expect Weber to be given a lengthy suspension because Shannahan played for the Detroit Redwings from 1997-2006.
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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Jason Chimera blows up Adam McQuaid


Check out this hit by Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera on Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. Chimera was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for this hit. Don't expect any further discipline from the Vice President of Players Safety Brendan Shanahan because the hit happened to a Boston Bruins player Chimera doesn't have a history of being suspended or fined by the NHL.
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Malkin not disciplined


Another questionable hit on a Boston Bruins by a Pittsburgh Penguin and another Penguin escapes punishment by the NHL. So basically, don't expect a player to get suspended if they hit a Boston Bruin with a questionable hit.

I could see how Boston Bruins fans might question the NHL and their judgement. Also, I think that Brendan Shanahan is basically a fraud and no better than Colin Campbell, there are one set of rules for star players and there is another set of rules for tough guys and goons. One could also make the argument that, if Milan Lucic or Brad Marchand had hit Malkin or Sidney Crosby with a hit like this, they would've been suspended or at least fined by the NHL. 
Mike Cole, NESN --- The Bruins have been the victim of some suspect hits over the years in Pittsburgh, and once again, the league has allowed the Penguins to skate without punishment.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the league will not discipline Pens star Evgeni Malkin for his hit on Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk which came in the third period of the Penguins' 5-2 win over Boston on Sunday.

While the hit was not nearly as bad as the hit Matt Cooke leveled Bruins center Marc Savard with two years ago, there were some that thought Malkin would be looking at least a fine.
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Sunday, March 11, 2012

Malkin hit on Boychuck

The powers that be in the NHL gives us lip service on how they want to take these types of dirty and unnecesarry hits out of the game of hockey.

In fact the powers that be want to take these types of hits out of all levels of hockey, but then the officials let a super star player off of the hook by only giving them a two minute minor.

I guess it's okay to make these types of dirty and dangerous hits that if your star player like Evgeni Malkin. It would appear that you're not going to the get the five minute major and the game misconduct, if you're a star player like Malkin.

After the game, the head coach of the Boston Bruins Claude Julien didn't seem to like the Malkin hit on defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

"My opinion doesn't matter," Julien said. "We'll have to wait to see what happens from that. But it was Malkin that hit, right? It wasn't [Matt] Cooke? It was Malkin. We'll see. The league will have to look at it. It was a hit from behind. They're the ones who make those decisions. We don't like those hits.

"My job is tough enough as it is. I don't want to do his, because his job is pretty tough as well," Julien added of NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. "I'm talking about Shanny. So we'll let Shanny do his job and I'll do mine and we'll just move on. You've just got to look at it that way. For different reasons they make their assessments and they decide. So we as coaches have to do our jobs and work with the guys we have." [NESN.COM]
More fuel for the fire is, why was Johnny Boychuk allowed to return to the game after he just got hit with a questionable check and it looked as if he was dazed after the hit. Boychuk had just returned to the Boston Bruins line up after being out a two games with a concussion. 
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Monday, February 27, 2012

Corvo expects Turris to answer the bell.

The @injuryninja visited the Boston Bruins again as both Joe Corvo and Johnny Boychuck left the game on Saturday night after big hits. The Chris Neil hit on Johnny Boychuck was clean, the Kyle Turris hit on Corvo was a dirty hit that warranted supplemental discipline from the NHL.

True to form the Senior VP of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan did nothing again and proved that he is no better than the guy that preceded him. Hell, let's bring back the Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice.

If we learned anything from Shanahan this season,  we have learned that if you're a player that plays for the Boston Bruins or the Minnesota Wild, don't expect the NHL to protect you, because your fair game and the NHL isn't going to do anything a player that takes a run at a player from either team. 

The Boston Bruins now have three to four players on the shelf with post concussion type syndrome. In my opinion, three of the four hits where of questionable and of the dirty variety, lets review the hits, there was the  Tom Sestito hit on Nathan Horton, the sneaky elbow by Hal Gill on  Richard Peverly and of course the elbow by Kyle Turris on Joe Corvo (video embedded above) all questionable hits that should have warranted some kind of supplemental discipline in my opinion., I mean the could have at least humored us and given the offenders the max fine.

This morning while I was reading my twitter feed today I saw this tweet come up today. Apparently, Joe Corvo is expecting Kyle Turris to answer the bell and fight him on Tuesday Night. That ought to be an entertaining slap feast that will be an instant non classic on Youtube.com
Personally, I would rather see Milan Lucic beat Kyle Turris to a pulp so the Boston Bruins can send a mess that it's not acceptable to run one of their players, especially if the League isn't going to protect them.

With all of the talk from the hand wringing puritans that want to  banning fighting in the NHL, lets point out to them, that none of the four players listed above suffered a head injury from a hockey fight, three of the four player were hit and concussed with questionable, dirty checks, that I would classify as bush league and hits that need to be eliminated from the game of hockey.

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Warren Peters suspended by the NHL


I don't have a problem with the suspension, it probably could have been a 2-4 game suspension in my opinion. This is the kind of hit that the NHL needs to do away with.

But I digress, I am still upset that serious infractions from the opposition players against the Minnesota Wild have gone unpunished, first hit that comes to mind is the Zach Bogosian hit on Pierre-Marc Bouchard. PMB has yet to return to the Wild because he is out with a concussion.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

(Video) Matt Cooke is at it again.


It will be interesting to see how long Matt Cooke gets for his latest act of of stupidity. For the most part Cooke had played it straight up this season, only drawing only 16 penalty minutes in 49 games and had for the most part stayed clear of the dirty play until his recent slew foot on Brad Richards on 1/19/2012.

If you need to have your memory refreshed on the type of hockey player that Matt Cooke is, take a look at this blog post Matt Cooke: A History of Violence; you will see that Matt Cooke's has a resume of being a dangerous, despicable hockey player, that has for the most part been one of the dirtiest players in the league during his NHL career.
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Monday, January 23, 2012

Alex Ovechkin suspended three games...


Nice to see that the NHL Senior VP Player Safety - Brendan Shanahan have the guts to suspend one of it's  star players like Alex Ovechkin for his actions on the ice, this is the right call and thank God Shanny didn't waiver and decided that Ovechkin needed to be suspended for this reckless hit.
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Sunday, January 22, 2012

The NHL Suspends Andrew Ference for three games


Brendan Shanahan the NHL's Senior VP Player Safety has suspended Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference for three games for a dangerous hit on former Wisconsin Badger Ryan McDonagh. I believe this is the right call and it will be interesting to see if Shanahan is consistent with his ruling in the future.

I always laugh when I see fans of other NHL teams saying that the Boston Bruins get all of the breaks from the NHL, they are now the most suspended team by the NHL. Apparently, the charge that Colin Campbell's son Greg Campbell plays for the Boston Bruins and because of that fact, they get away with bloody murder. That theory has had holes hot through and isn't holding up anymore.
NEW YORK -- Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference has been suspended for three games without pay for boarding New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh during NHL Game #699 in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 21, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Ference will forfeit $36,486.48. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 1:50 of overtime. A major penalty and game misconduct for charging were assessed on the play.
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Friday, January 20, 2012

P.K. Subban slewfoots Chris Kunitz


Hum! Another game, another P.K. Subban atrocity by the Habs defenseman, well maybe not, but I think this is the same thing that Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand got fined for when he slew footed Matt Niskanen. Last week the Habs punk Subban hit Boston Bruins forward David Krecji in the head with a questionable high hit . I am starting to see a pattern here, Subban is starting to turn into quite the goon.
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Friday, January 13, 2012

Time for the NHL to throw the book at P.K. Subban for his dirty elbow


First I want to preface this blog post with P.K. Subban is a great defensive talent, but he is a bit of a punk and this video just proves that point quite nicely. Subban is famous for skating around the ice and running his mouth and doing things like this and when he is challenged he turtles in a fashion that would make Claude the Fraud Lemieux blush.

From my vantage point, it appears that Subban leaves his feet to hit David Krecji in the head with a forearm shiver. That is a violation of rule 48 because the head is the principle point of contact.

This is a big test for Brendan Shanahan the NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety, he needs to suspend P.K. Subban for this bush league hit, these are the types of hits that the NHL is trying to eliminate from the game of hockey

That fact that Subban plays for the Montreal Canadians means more than likely Subban will get off with nothing in the way of a suspension. Subban needs to sit 2-5 games minimum.
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Monday, January 09, 2012

Shanny throws the book at Brad Marchand


So I wonder if there are still any conspiracy theorists out there that think that the Boston Bruins get all of the breaks because Colin Campbell's son Greg Campbell plays for the Boston Bruins. I think we can say that ship has sailed. This suspension should quite down those people who wrongly feel this way. We all knew that the NHL was going to suspend Brad Marchand, however, NHL Senior VP Player Safety - Brendan Shanahan has been very inconsistent with his rulings so far this year.

I have no problem per se, with Shanahan suspending Brad Marchand but  in the matter of  13 days  earlier in the season, Shanahan let very dangerous hits against the Minnesota Wild go unpunished, if you have forgotten already, Lennart Petrell's drove Marek Zidlicky into the boards, Zach Bogosian planted Pierre-Marc Bouchard into the board, followed up by ignoring Colorado Avalanche's talentless hack Cody McLeod try to put Wild Defenseman Jared Spurgeon through the end boards. Two of three Wild players on the receiving end of these dangers hits missed time after being slammed into the boards.

I still think if you're going to suspend one you have to suspend the others. Brendan Shanahan is no better than Colin Campbell's  "Wheel of Justice" and if someone like Steve Ott had done this to one of the Wild players I wonder if we would  be looking at the same punishment.

Apparently Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli is less than impressed with the suspension handed down from the NHL. Chiarelli said, “While we respect the process that the Department of Player Safety took to reach their decision regarding Brad’s hit on Sami Salo, we are very disappointed by their ruling."
NEW YORK -- Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games and will forfeit $152,439.02 for clipping Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo during NHL Game #598 in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 7, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Marchand, who received a two-game suspension in March 2011, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 18:47 of the second period. Marchand received a major penalty for clipping and a game misconduct.

Marchand will miss games Jan. 10 vs. Winnipeg, Jan. 12 vs. Montreal, Jan. 14 at Carolina, Jan. 16 at Florida and Jan. 17 at Tampa Bay. He will be eligible to return Jan. 19 at New Jersey.
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Sunday, January 08, 2012

Canucks GM Mike Gillis is whining again.

Rose Bud Mag
Wow!!! In a way I am kind of sad that the Boston Bruins don’t get to play the Vancouver Canucks more.

That being said, I think it’s funny that Mike Gillis has the gall to say this when his teams has on it’s roster some of the biggest Rats hacks in the NHL; Alex Burrows aka Count Dracula, Maxim Lapierre who spends all game running his mouth on the ice until he is called out and then he “usually” turtles and won’t fight. Yesterday his fight with Greg Campbell was an enigma.

You have no moral ground to stand on anymore Mike. That ship has sailed, last summer after the hockey world saw your team's bag of tricks. There is so much material evidence and so little time. I am sure you called for Keith Ballard's suspension when he low bridged Jamie McGinn during the Stanley Cup playoffs. That is is far more violent than the one in question.
When the Vancouver Canucks defenceman was low-bridged by Brad Marchand late in the second period on Saturday, the Boston Bruins winger was assessed a clipping major and game misconduct and could face further supplemental discipline from NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan because it’s a hit the league is trying to eliminate.

[Marchand]“A dirty play by a dirty player,” said Gillis.

Salo went head over heels on the play and landed awkwardly and may have suffered a whiplash effect when his neck was stretched. He threw his stick aside in disgust as he exited the ice for good reason. The big Finn was having a solid season and arguably the most consistent blueliner for the Canucks. Having suffered 40 career injuries, Salo set up the opening goal Saturday in a big 4-3 win over the Bruins and has 16 points (7-9) in 37 games after agreeing to return this season on a one-year deal for a bargain $2 million to take another serious run at a Stanley Cup. He has never won a major championship outside the club level in Europe.

Bruins coach Claude Julien didn’t exactly let his player off the hook when asked if Marchand went too far with the hit and crossed a line. [The Providence]
Again like I said last summer, the Canucks are a bunch of cry babies, and they don’t like it when they are called out for their on ice antics. I guess they also forget that Alex Burrows hit Daniel Paille, then hits Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton in the throat with his stick, starting a line brawl, of course he won’t drop the gloves and fight Thornton. How did the Canucks expect the Boston Bruins to respond to Burrow's act of stupidity?  And then this gem from Kevin Bieksa, the guy that loves to beat up other teams skilled players that don't fight, then will turn around and avoid fights the tough guys who fight when he is asked, had this to say.
Bieksa on Brad Marchand's big hit: "We play hard, but we are a disciplined team. That’s what separates us from them. They obviously play hard, but they tend to do stupid things. The Marchand hit was a pretty stupid thing and I’m sure he’ll be getting a phone call for that one. There is no reason for that."
I wonder if the Canucks fans remember this hit or not. Is this not the  same as the Marchand hit? Here is the link to the video of that hit. [Click to view]

This is what Claude Julien had to say on the hit in question, when I saw the hit for the first time that is the first thing that comes to mind is that Marchand was trying to duck under a hit from Salo. My next question is; is a player required to let his opponent hit him? Shouldn't we want a player be allowed to duck under a hit and avoid contact if they want to? The size difference between the two players is pretty significant.
Matt Kalman, The Bruins Blog --- “We all have our opinions on what is going on with the game and the hits and everything else. All I’m going to tell you is that I always told my players that they need to protect themselves,” said Julien. “The last thing I want my players to do is get hit and then end up with a concussion, and they have to protect themselves. Whether it’s the right way or the wrong way, it’ll depend on how the league looks at it. I’d rather have a guy take a two-minute penalty than turn his back to the play, stand up straight, and then get his face knocked into the glass and be out for maybe the rest of the year with a concussion, or maybe end his career like [Marc] Savard.
Lastly, I expect that Marchand will get some form of punishment from the Brendan Shanahan based on the whining and complaining coming out of the Canucks front office. Like I mentioned before, there is more than enough video evidence to prove the Vancouver Canucks don't hold the moral high ground.Check out this hit by Mason Raymond on Brad Marchand. [Click to view]


The Classiest comment that I read today was from the Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault


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