Busness Insider: Jeremy Roenick Describes Life After 13 Concussions

This is kind of scary.

Aaron Taube, Busness Insider-- Five years into his retirement, the nine-time NHL All-Star says that the brain damage inflicted by his hard-hitting career makes it so he can no longer remember many parts of his past — games he played in, trips he went on, and friends he spent time with.

"My wife will ask me, 'Hey, remember we did this? Remember we did that?' And I totally don't remember any of it," Roenick says. "My short-term memory is good, but there's a lot of times I'm asked questions that I couldn't remember for the life of me."

Now an analyst with NBC Sports, Roenick says the concussions also hinder his speech. Sometimes on television he will have trouble finding the right word, even if it's one he knows and uses frequently.

He's worried that his brain will continue to deteriorate as he gets older, and he fears that he could one day suffer from dementia.

NHL Hockey: If the Playoffs Started today (Western Conference)

If the playoffs were to start today here's what it would look like. #NHLonNBC pic.twitter.com/sqWrTTaF4p
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) March 10, 2014

After watching the Blue shred the Wild tonight, I hope they can move up.

Did Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick call out Sidney Crosby for taking a dive?

I might have to admit, that I agree with Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick on this one here. I thought it was a bad call. I also thought that Sidney Crosby went down really easy. The word embellishment was on the tip of my tongue as well, after I saw the play live.

If I am not mistaken, they're kind of accusing Sidney Crosby of taking a bit of a dive there... Is that what others are hearing too? I am hearing buzz words here. Pittsburgh was the beneficiaries of a somewhat sketchy call at the end. Crosby also goes down a little bit too easy there. Hum!

Love reading all the tweets about today's games. Even all the bitching and whining those certain classless penguin fans r doing. Comical
— Jeremy Roenick (@Jeremy_Roenick) May 5, 2013

Monday morning links



Fox Sport photo

 According to Todd D. Milewski of USCHO, there “could” be two NCAA championship games at the Frozen Four starting in 2014 if the NCAA committees signs off on the proposal.

This would mean that the men’s Division I and Division III “could” take place on the same weekend at the same arena. Let me just say – I am not a fan of this idea at all.

WCHA co-columnist for U.S. College Hockey Brian Halverson has resigned from USCHO and is going to be part of a new hockey web page known as Minnesota Hockey Magazine that is set to kick off this October. You can see their new Facebook page by [clicking on this link].

Here is an interesting article from the Toronto Sun, Unlike in 2004, there is no real threat that hockey is going away. Prepare to be bored. [Click to view]

From CBC Hockey Night in Canada, it seem that lockouts in the NHL have become a fact of life. [CBC.CA]

According to Sportnet.CA, Dynamo Moscow doesn't want Alex Ovechkin to play for them if there is an NHL lockout.

I know that this is a little old, but you've got to love J.R. for his brashness, Roenick says owners' proposal was 'bullying'.. [SportsNet.CA]

Ryan Durling of Stanley Cup of Chowder has given Tim Thomas a C+ grade for last season’s play. Just for the record, Tim Thomas played in 59 games recorded a GAA of 2.36 and a record of 35-19-1-5 and Save % of. 920 and in my opinion that is hardly worthy of a C+ ranking.

There had been a rumor in the media that Evander Kane has asked for a trade – Kane says that rumor is not true. [Click to view]

Apparently Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth caused a stir when he said that team captain Alex Ovechkin “isn’t what he used to be.” Michal Neuvirth has since tried to walk those comments back.

Paisley Hockey has his Monday Links and weekend links up on his blog

Tom Stivali from in Lou We Trust, profiles David Clarkson's 30 Goals during the 2011-12 season.

A "Dirty" Hit that wasn't (RW77)

Last night, I watched the Dallas vs. Pittsburgh game (unfortunately, Pittsburgh won in a shootout). However, during the game, there was a hit that got everyone talking.

I do not know how to embed but: Here is the video.

The Stars (and former Michigan star) Eric Nystrom hits Pens Defenseman Kris Letang high-ish.

Mike Milbury (aka the idiot in this post) and Jeremy Roenick (who usually is the idiot but in this case was right on) had an on air argument over this hit.

Here's the pros and cons on it being a dirty hit:

1. Pro: Nystrom makes no move to get the puck.
2. Con: If Nystrom made head contact, it was the brushing of his shoulder on Letang's chin.
3. Pro: Injury to the head occurred.
4. Con: Injury was more to the effect of the big hit rather than the shoulder.
5. Con: Main impact area is Letang's shoulder/collarbone. He got rocked and the impact alone would have knocked most guys out of the game anyways, imo.
6. Con: Letang was coming out of the corner and his head was down.
7. Con: Letang was away from the boards and his back was not turned to Nystrom at the time of impact.

In the end, Milbury ended up having a stroke on air (exaggeration) because even incidental or the brushing of the head should be a suspendable offense. Roenick correctly stated that if there is fault for the hit, it rests on Letang. Nystrom did not leave his skates nor made any distinguishable upward motion of the shoulders to attempt to headhunt.

Milbury went on to rant that hits like these should be eliminated from the game. This was NOT a head shot! It was whiplash due to the extreme and sudden change in direction of Letang's right shoulder exaggerated by the helmet hitting the ice.

This hit cannot be made illegal or the slippery slope will become a cliff.

J.R. on Kaberle; his stick made out of Jell-O

Image via WikipediaI just love the stuff that comes out of former NHL star Jeremy Roenick's mouth, he is always good for a one liner or a zinger, he could probably write a book full of zingers. I couldn't agree more, Tomas Kaberle has been an utter disappointment and a passenger during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and it's a shame that they gave up a first round draft pick to get this guy.

WEEI ---- Roenick said that he was sticking with his prediction, made before the Eastern Conference finals, that the Bruins would advance to the Stanley Cup finals in seven games. That said, he noted a couple of players whom he believes need to elevate their games in order for that outcome to reach fruition.

Roenick suggested that having Tomas Kaberle (who has no goals and 8 assists in the playoffs) anchoring the power play was a mistake, in part because he's not a threat to get the puck on net.

"He’s got a stick made of Jell-O. Kaberle doesn’t have a very good shot. He’s a playmaker and a very good playmaker. He shouldn’t be at the top putting shots on net," said Roenick. "You should have Dennis Seidenberg up at the top pounding the puck on net, Kaberle on the side positioning the puck to the net. I think Kaberle played his best game maybe of the playoffs his last game. But I don’t think he’s been very good in the playoffs at all, not to mention since he came over from Toronto. He’s got to up his game another level.

"He’s one of those guys who can make the difference if he just makes the simple play, the right play, like he has for many years, which has made him so good."

Related articles

• Would benching Tomas Kaberle be the right move for Boston to make? (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NHL Playoffs 2011: Boston Bruins Looking For More Production from Tomas Kaberle (bleacherreport.com)
• Bruins' Kaberle also carrying Leafs hopes on his stick tonight (thestar.com)

Kevin Bieksa vs Patrick Marleau

If I was the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, I am not so sure that I would encourage one of my top offensive players; that being Patrick Marleau to fight a tough hack guy like Kevin Bieksa, who has already fought three times during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I don't know, you would think that the Sharks wouldn't want to risk Patrick Marleau getting hurt by breaking a hand smashing Bieksa in the face. I understand that Marleau is trying to rally his team but there are others on the Sharks team that could have fought. Ben Eager would have been a better candidate based on the fact that his stupidity cost the Sharks a power play goal.

Incidentally, since Jeremy Roenick Called Patrick Marleau gutless on national television Marleau has picked up his game scoring three points in his last three games (3g-0a-3pts). So you do have to give Marleau credit for stepping up and challenging a player like Bieksa.

 

Jeremy Roenick tells it like it is.

Apparently these comments by Jeremy Roenick offended some that were watching the post game on Versus last night. Personally, I don't have a problem with them what-so-ever; I think that Jeremy Roenick's comments were an honest assessment of a player that he noticed not to be playing as good as he could. It is what it is; Jeremy Roenick challenged Patrick Marleau level of commitment and effort that’s all.

I mean think about this; according to Cap Geek, Patrick Marleau is paid 6.9 million dollars a year to play hockey for the San Jose Sharks. In your opinion are the San Jose Sharks getting Patrick Marleau's full potential with (2g-3a-5pts) in 11 games and has a grand total of "ZERO" points in the second round of the playoffs against the Redwings, personally in my opinion that's unacceptable for an elite player in the NHL.

I am going to break this down further. What's wrong with telling it like it is and straight talk? Jeremy Roenick is paid by Versus/NBC to give his opinion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and to break down the games that he is watching from the perspective of a former NHL hockey player. I mean seriously, what is wrong with that? Have we become so thin skinned that we can't listen to an honest critique of a particular player(s) and or of a hockey? I hope we are not going down that road to being a nation of whiny ninnies that are so afraid to listen to an honest but relevant opinion.