If you think Canadiens rookie Brendan Gallagher is small now, you should have seen him in bantam hockey.
Gallagher was only 5-foot-3 in 2007 when the Vancouver Giants selected him in the ninth round of the Western Hockey League draft. His father, Ian, told The Gazette’s Brenda Branswell he was probably the smallest player in the draft.
Gallagher is now all grown up – at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds – and the 20-year-old has delighted Habs fans with his tenacious style of play and drive to the net after being a fifth-round pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft. In 19 games, Gallagher has 6-7-13 totals and is tied with Brandon Prust for the team lead in plus/minus at plus-10.
“The thing with Brendan, he’s played the same way at every level,” Don Hay, coach of the Vancouver Giants, the major-junior team that Gallagher played with for four years, told The Gazette’s Branswell.
“When he was a peewee, he played the same way and then people would say: ‘Well, he can’t do that in bantam,’ and then ‘he won’t be able to do that in midget,’ and then ‘I don’t think he can do that in juniors and then ‘can he do it in the NHL?’
“He’s just proved people wrong all the time.”
Gallagher and the Canadiens are back in action Thursday night when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m., RDS, TSN-HABS, TSN 690 Radio). Canadiens coach Michel Therrien skipped Thursday’s morning skate due to an intestine infection, but is expected to be behind the bench for the game.
(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Habs rookie Gallagher proves size isn’t everything, by Brenda Branswell
Price shows some emotion during optional workout, by Pat Hickey
Hurricanes a major surprise this season, by Pat Hickey
Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Hurricanes
Bell makes proposal to save TSN 690, by Steve Faguy of The Gazette
NHL players blind to eye injuries, by Cam Cole of Postmedia News
Legal look: mandatory visors in the NHL, by TSN.ca
Staal eye injury re-ignites visor debate, by Sportsnet.ca
Rangers claim former Hab Hamrlik off waivers, by The Associated Press
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Another measuring tape game tonight.
Price should be fired up, ready to put memories of last two games behind him.
Another measuring tape, but this time it’s metric.
I’m on the fence about the whole fighting thing.
There are always calls to ban it as soon as someone gets knocked out, but it happens so rarely that ‘fighting-related injuries’ cannot be the main reason to get rid of it in the sport.
My ‘anti-fighting’ side stems from two things:
1) Most fights are stupid staged things that have nothing to do with the game, and usually involve very very peripheral players. There are people who say that those fights ‘intimidate’ the other team.
I don’t see how it intimidates anyone.
Does Daniel Alfredsson think that McLaren is going to fight him? Or any other player on the team who isn’t on the fourth line and distinctly employed to fight? No, I didn’t think so. So Alfredsson is not intimidated, nor is anyone else. Not even Chris Neil, who is a fighter, and probably thought “I’m gonna knock that effer out myself.”
2) I have a little girl, and she always gets upset when they show fight highlights. That bothers me. Also, I played road-hockey with some kids in my neighbourhood recently, and the game stopped three times because they started play-fighting, grabbing each other’s jerseys and doing like the pros. Finally, one of them actually popped the other, and it turned into a real fight, and I had to wade in and pull them apart and the game ended. Not a good model for kids.
My ‘pro-fighting’ side says that:
1) It’s a good outlet for agression brought on by the nature of the game, and were it not there I believe that there would be more dirty, (and thus significantly more dangerous) play in the league.
2) It’s exciting when it’s done between players who really don’t like each other.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but I feel almost exactly the same way as you do.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
Two summers ago three enforcers, all under the age of 35, died. For at least two of them fighting related brain damage likely contributed to their deaths.
I think this trumps all the reasons, pro and con, that you listed.
That’s very sad, I agree.
But at the same time, they were products of the much more fighting-centric pre-lockout league. There are fewer ‘enforcers’ now than before, and fewer staged fights than before. The Oliwas and Twists are gone from the league, as they should be.
Fights these days are also more defensive than they used to be. Lots of ‘arm’s length’ stuff. While it is very sad, as I said, those deaths -especially coming so closely together- are not necessarily part of a trend.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
What happened two summers ago should have ended the argument right there. After those deaths, masses of evidence were produced to show that repeated concussions cause long-term brain damage; at least two former but still comparatively young players (Marc Savard and Chris Pronger) are suffering this damage now and will probably experience significant deterioration in their lives as they grow older. Neither the deaths nor the injuries have resulted in anything more than a bit of discussion. I think someone will have to actually die on the ice in front of thousands of fans for people to stop simply sweeping the problem under the rug.
Neither of those players were concussed during fights though. Pronger was from a high-stick, and Savard from a cheap check from Cooke.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Yes, but it’s the problem of concussions that is being ignored. Fights are one of the factors contributing to concussions and the one that would be the easiest to get rid of. Staged fights are not part of hockey and have no impact on the game. They should be banned and those players eliminated whose only role on a team is to fight.
What happened to Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz highlights the seriousness of the problem. Bourque literally does not know when he was concussed and played several games before feeling any symptoms. It is thought Diaz was concussed when he took an accidental knee to the chin as he and an Ottawa player fell along the boards, but he also did not feel symptoms right away. This means that a concussion can result from something other than an identifiable hit to the head, and that the NHL’s recent “quiet room” policy after contact with the head is only marginally useful in detecting the problem.
I don’t think you can ever get rid of fighting.
Banned or not banned, stuff will happen, emotions boil over and occassional fights will occur. There are fights in football, Baseball and basketball. All of those sports have banned fighting. So regardless of bans, fight will happen.
So: Kick a player out of a game who fights. Suspend for a game if they fight in the third period.
If fighting has a role (aside from being a sideshow) as some claim it does, it is to police out the dirty plays.
If a player (Chara) feels that a teammate has been attacked by another player (Emelin) to a degree that ‘frontier justice’ has to be meted out to discourage such behaviour, shouldn’t missing the rest of the game be a non-issue?
If you are standing up for what is right; If you are defending teammates; then missing the rest of the game really shouldn’t discourage you. Right?
I remember an NHL when the players did NOT wear helmets.
I know it seems ridiculous, but there was a ton of backlash from the players and teams that if the players were to put on helmets they would not be as “recognizable” to the fans and the players would be distancing themselves from the fans!!
So that is to say that every generation needs leadership to carry the day; to put an end to the foolishness that has been carried over from the previous generation.
I drove a car without seat belts, often with more than 1 drinks’ worth of alcohol in my system, back in the early eighties, when seat belts and drinking and driving were viewed completely differently than they are today. Smoking cigarettes was the cool thing to do back then as well.
Times change and scientific advancements bring new realities to our way of thinking.
Who would have thought that players were so vulnerable to concussions and permanent brain damage even 5 years ago?
The NHL is missing the leadership of a man of integrity to take charge; to argue against the prevailing “wisdom” that fighting brings in revenue, and an NHL without fighting would somehow suffer some financial consequences.
The NHL lacks leadership at the highest levels.
“The NHL is missing the leadership of a man of integrity.”
Indeed.
I nominate Moose Messier.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Good point Ed.
The league has had many opportunities to get on this. They presently lack the type of forward thinking leadership that could both make the game safer and increase their fan base.
The times they are a changin’.
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
Price showing some emotions, that’s what we’ve been waiting for. He’s too damn relaxed & comfortable. May be this will get him going. I hope.
Not to draw the talk away from hockey, but it`s just a matter of time before we see tragedy happening to UFC fighters similar to those late hockey-enforcers.
A shame that the NHL probably won`t do anything until someone or franchise player actually gets paralyzed on this side of the pond in the Playoffs.
One thing that may help the MMA guys (and I say may cause i still have serious doubts) is
1) If you get KO’d its a 1 month medical suspension… no training, nothing.
2) There are typically 3-4 months between fights.
3) Because the fights are shorter, and because there is wrestling/jujitsu and other ground work involved, they take less punches than a boxer.
A hockey player typically sits in the box for 5 minutes and comes right back out, despite taking punches in the head. Its only when we see a KO like last night that he goes to the quiet room.
Also the hockey players, even when concussed, rarely go 3 months to their next body check or hit. They rarely sit on the sidelines for a month.
So I don’t think MMA is perfect, there are certainly more precautions than the NHL.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
valid points
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
I don’t see it happening in UFC.
Fights are shorter, so they take less punishment, and KOs are not as frequent as the highlights would like to make it appear. There’s far more submission work than straight boxing.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Just reading some of the posts regarding size etc. One must remember that this team is a project in the works! Will always be in fact. Give it time…….we have prospects that will soon be on the team that will beef up the D…………players like Kab/Markov/Boulion will soon be replaced with faster and bigger players……..3 of them come to mind in Hamilton and 2 out west! Our D will be strong! If we draft right this year, along with the forwards we pick up at this years draft………..I hope we could improve our size and quality up front. We also would likely see of our D prospects traded for a quality forward.
I just signed the petition and encourage everyone to do the same
so that we can save TSN 690
“A game worth playing is a game worth winning”
I have as well, but do so with mixed emotions. Something feels wrong about putting my name on a petition to help a company like Bell. No company in my estimation in Canada has done more disservice to the term “customer service” than that corporation.
You probably just agreed to a 2-year long distance plan with mid-range internet service as well.
LOL, yah no doubt. Hey you were right the other day on who to call when I was MIA from the site.
More hidden charges on your monthly bill.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
The NHL is braindead and I apologize for that adjective considering the condoned violence which has resulted in so many brain injuries.
They “ban” hits to the head (aka occasionally and inconsistently suspend a player not wearing black and yellow) but they allow bare knuckle fighting involving professional fighters who are capable of killing someone with a single punch.
And the would be fans scream with approval as their heroes duke it out. These guys can make good money in this bloodsport so there is always a willing participant.
We suspect that the owners see fighting as a draw for fans and therefore they continue to sign the goons while at the same time ignoring possible rule changes to eliminate fighting.
The armchair fan, drawing on tremendous experience in beer leagues and peewee contests sees fighting as part of the game, a way to let off some steam and a natural way to solve on ice disputes.
I am none of these; I played junior and I have lost a few fights. I have been hit from behind and almost lost an eye from a deliberate high stick. And yet I continue to watch every HABS game and have often written here that we need to sign a tough guy enforcer. If we stopped watching and buying tickets the league would change wouldn’t it?
The best hockey is the NHL playoffs, and the Olympics. No fighting in either and players also play more disciplined avoiding penalties as much as possible.
But hey, no players have died this year…
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” (anon)
great post
Check out this great site which I do promotion work for!!
Kerry Goulet and Keith & Wayne Primeau
Stop Concussions.com—- Sports Brain Injury Prevention
stopconcussions.com
That hit in the Swiss League was sick. My heart goes out to the kid. The careless idiot who dished it out is going to have this on his conscience every day.
He should be sued and arrested for reckless endangerment.
I’m not a proponent of fighting, but they can’t take it out of the game until proper league discipline is in place. The NHL’s department for player safety is a prop with no depth or substance. The NHL remains a self-policing league.
There are some players in the league who play the game recklessly, and aren’t afraid to deal with the on-ice consequences – a fight, possibly with a heavyweight type. If they ban fighting several others will come out of the woodwork. The game will become more dangerous.
A start would be to ‘try’ to get rid of staged fights. Perhaps an ejection from the game – possibly a 1 game ban if the fight happens in the last 5 minutes. Good luck with that, though, given the culture of the league, attraction of fringe fans, etc…
I don’t agree that the game will be more dangerous as long as the refs follow the bleeping Rule Book. For the life of me, I can’t stand the bs refereeing that this league condones. They may have the best hockey players in the world, but they don’t give a rat’s ass about the players’ health and well-being. Neanderthals, including Shanahan, at the NHL office help make this league a big bleeping joke when it comes to assessing penalties and suspensions.
The refs aren’t the problem, it’s the lack of discipline after the fact. Kaleta got 5 games for his hit on Richards. This is for a repeat offender. He could have ended Richards’ career.
Players know they don’t have to answer for their actions off the ice, and will play more recklessly if they know they won’t have to answer for them on the ice either. They’ll play a chipier/dirtier game if they know they don’t have to fight. I like to call it the “Brad Marchand” effect.
I understand your perspective Oz, problem is that last nights tilt between McLaren and the young kid for Ottawa, is that the fight had zero to do with keeping the game clean. It was simply a fight for intimidation, not dissimilar from a dog urinating on a tree or fire hydrant so as to mark his territory.
There is no strategy in that fight that relates to how the game is played.
Very sad news in the Swiss League. A young player was hit into the boards and is now paralyzed.
http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/swiss-player-ronny-keller-paralyzed-after-hockey-hit
Enough to make you sick. Here’s hoping they can find solutions using stem cell technology to help them regain some semblance of normality.
I just want to scream or do something that will bring people to understand what they are doing is wrong and deadly.
What is it? in us humans that draws people to this impact stuff and blood. We are suppose to be watching and enjoying a fast and talented team game for crying out loud! Not a war!
I lost my neighbour over the Christmas break to a similar break, in her 40′s playing in the surf on vacation down in St. Maarten. Very tragic. Indeed hope they can make progress with stem cells.
It’s time to bring an offending player through the judicial system. That guy should be in jail. I do that on the street and they put me away. Besides that, I will be sued for my negligence. This SHIT (pardon my language) must stop.
http://calshabsongparodies.weebly.com
That is extremely sad, and I feel sorry for everyone involved… I also hate to ask, but how much of an impact did Keller have on the result?
As in, he clearly tries to stop and reverse quickly, in such a way to hit Schnyder, and so is thrown into the boards differently from if he had continued to pursue the puck first. Further to that, there is no guarantee Schnyder was going to hit Keller before Keller tried to hit him. It seems like a reactive hit to me, though I definitely don’t know for sure.
I’m not trying to be a huge ass or anything here, just a bit worried that a guy is being labelled as a villain to an extreme level that isn’t deserved (he should be jailed? really?). Obviously it ruins one guys career and damages his life, but that doesn’t mean we automatically have to do the same to the other guy.
Should always be a 5 minute major for hitting from behind. If they wanted it out of the game they would always call it this way. Instead it is usually a 2 minute boarding call. Hitting from behind is dangerous and by actually calling it correctly would change the culture on it.
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
FIGHTING HAS TO END!!
After the fight and concussion last night in the Toronto/Ottawa game, I had to put this article up again! These stupid head shots in our game, must come under the criminal code like in all of our society!
What is a concussion?, as comprehended and explained by myself.
I have been involved as a lay person with research pertaining to neurology at a major medical university. I have picked up a lot of information working first with veterinarian pathologists when I was doing research autopsies on my fox and mink ranch pertaining to calcium. And I have been involved lately with the neurology research dept. from a major medical university on the same subject. Only as the handler involved in the study and offering some of my former findings from my own autopsy’s. So I do not profess to be an expert on the subject pertaining to concussion, but I will try to explain, the best that I can, what happens to the brain cells that have been concussed inside the skull. And why one must stay completely resting after a concussion or suffer permanent brain damage.
The very soft brain cells, when violently thrown against the skull, are damaged and the neuron releases a potassium chemical out of the brain cell. Leaving a void.
Calcium that is already present around the outside of the cells, seeps into the cells replacing the potassium.
This calcium is what gives the chemical imbalance to the brain and is what causes the damage. Until all of this calcium leaves the brain cells completely, and it can take a long time, depending on how much calcium was taken on each cell. The patient is left extremely vulnerable to instant death upon a second bump, or at least permanent brain damage as the calcium solidifies upon second impact.
Even a hard coughing spell or light exercise can cause severe pain and damage. Complete rest is needed.
These damaged cells have to be cleared completely of this calcium before one can resume activity to avoid more serious consequences including death.
This is very acute in young people under the age of 24 as the brain is still growing and developing.
Please, coaches and parents know this, every severe contact to the head can cause permanent damage, and some cells to expel potassium and take on calcium. A second, even slight bump, with the cells still containing calcium, the calcium will solidify killing those neurons, which is permanent and possibly even killing the host as well.!
Ian Cobb
Stop Concussions – Sports Brain Injury Preventionstopconcussions.com
As a shrinking violet I agree with this post. Not only does it put young men at risk for serious injury it also delegitimizes the game. Ian, now we will hear from all those chest beating tough guys who hide behind their computer screens and tell us how soft the rest of us are because we don’t enjoy seeing people injured. My, how they would have loved the gladiator days, eh?
Any player dropping his gloves is automatically out of the game with a hearing to follow. Likewise for any contact to the head. Did you see the elbow to Chicago player Shaw last night. It knocked Shaw out but he made it to the bench with no call from the reffs. This should be a suspension for certain. But I have heard nothing so far this morning about it.
Very good Ian and let ,s not forget the damage in old age just a look at Ali or others boxers say it all
That’s right! Bernard!
I don’t want to see anyone get hurt – frankly – but it happens so rarely – lets not go overboard. Looked a lot like McLaren was pretty upset skating to the box.
Adam! Same in war my friend, not everyone gets killed! but one if not you, is one to many. I meant to say if the one were you, you might change your tune.
Adam I saw McLaren’s reaction as well and you are dead on. No need to blame that young man either. Not his fault. The only way he stays in the league is by doing these types of fights. His coaches knows it. He knows it. And we know it. It’s the culture of the game who is at fault here.
Sometimes I wonder…not trying to be a jerk or condone violence, but hockey is a very fast-paced emotional game. I almost think if there was no fighting the violence would be worse. When you get checked into the boards at those speeds by huge bodies, there is bound to be a reaction on occassion, and if it’s not a fight, it could be something worse.
The difference in other sports is once you are out of play, the hitting stops. In hockey there’s nowhere to run. You get checked into solid wood, not cardboard cutouts on the sideline.
Again, not a huge fan of fighting, but I wonder how taking it out would affect other violent tendencies.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
I know there are far fewer fights in the QMJHL now with the new more severe penalties, and the game is still being played the same way.
the players adapt.
if they swing their sticks they know they will be suspended already, so once fighting is taken out, all that’s left is body checking.
re: your post below
I believe it’s all about revenue – the NHL believes many fans would stop going to the games, or stop buying licensed products, and a non fighting league would lose revenue.
Ok…makes sense.
What do you think the issue is with doing the same in the NHL?
Could it be the NHLPA would be against it as there would be players losing their jobs? Are there reasons other than that for the NHL and/or the NHLPA to resist taking fighting out of the game? NHL resisting due to fans coming to see fights?
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
Olympics…..
Seems to be ok in the Olympics? I am ok with fights starting in a play over something that just boils over but staged fighting to me like the fight last night is senseless. It doesn’t bring anything to the game
“Keep your stick on the Ice”
Hawks win again with no Hossa last night and Sharp leaving game with shoulder injury. The depth they have this season is very impressive.
in 2010 the Hawks won the Cup and most people were extremely critical of Bowman and cie because they were “forced” to let assets go to get under the Cap.
1st: anytime you have a real chance to take a run at a championship you do it
2nd: the Hawks kept their “core” in tact – as Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith and Seabrook.
that core is so strong you could rip today’s lineup apart and re-build around those 6 guys again and again.
This is important information for us because Bergevin understands what happened in Chicago much better than most, and is extremely likely to try and replicate the Hawks’ strategies.
The Hawks will have a hard time raising their intensity come the playoffs.
Not sure they’ll have to
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
That’s what I was thinking, if they maintain this, not sure who beats them in a 7 game series.
I suspect like every team, the challenge will be to remain healthy. Hossa didn’t play with an Upper Body Injury, I hope this is not concussion/head related.
No one as it would only last four games.
Hossa is one of my favorite players in the league.
1000 NHL games and he has 427 goals and 495 assists which represents the “balance” in his offensive game; he is just as likely to snipe a key goal as he is to create a fantastic play with a superb pass.
what is remarkable about Hossa is his defensive game.
no one backchecks harder and more effectively, game in game out, year in year out. he plays hard, he wins battles, he retrieves pucks and plays great hockey in the defensive zone.
and he has played the same way for 13 years at the NHL level.
I wish the Habs would get to play them. I know…careful what you wish for, but it would be interesting just to see how they’d do against them.
I guess I’ll have to wait for the Cup Final.
Go Habs Go!!
“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock
It’s also impressive that they have never taken a night off yet. With Sharp and Hossa out, you have to think the streak must end soon.
In fairness Phil, they haven’t had to meet the Islanders though.
Apologies if this has already been posted.
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrhockey-buzzing-the-net/brett-cook-banned-oua-punching-linesman-214040533.html
All I can say Sherrie is, Wow. That young man should never see the ice again.
Sherrie, it has become second nature for some of these players to throw their fists and think that they can just apologize for their actions. Did you see the fight last night with the Ottawa player out cold on the ice. This crap has to stop!
Hi Ian, I watched it this morning and wish I hadn’t.
They should really ban staged fights. I don’t see the point of them. I don’t mind a spontaneous fight in the heat of the moment. This code crap makes it look like those cheap goon leagues where its part of the “show”. I’d say any staged fight off the whistle, out of the game for both players + added suspensions. I still think we need an enforcer to counter the Leafs-Bruins tactics. John Ferguson is my all time favorite player but I can’t imagine someone asking him to stage one, he could also play and in fact without him I don’t think the Habs would have won those Cups in the 60′s. They had been intimidated and pushed around after the Rocket retired in 1960. That kind of presence on the team makes a huge difference. Prust being a “Fergy light” has added some necessary toughness which has been a factor in the standings.
Morning Bruce. I like your idea. The only thing worse then a bare knuckle fight is a staged bare knuckle fight.
BJ, can you imagine what might have happened with Emilin as the giant Chara was pounding on his head that already contains a steel plate in it. This throwing of fists to the head or any contact to the head has to end!
A tragedy is waiting to happen. HabinBurlington has reposted an important link, another element that has to be taken out of the game. When this kind of crap happens it really takes the fun out of the game. It reminds me back in the mid 90′s I was taking photos of the Swiss Elite League. I remember doing photos of (cannot recall his name just now) in action, I returned later that year and he was in a wheel chair, paralyzed for life. A whole lifetime of challenges because of a brain dead
mindset to “hit & hurt”.
hahahahahahaha
Don’t knock the Leafs. It may come back to haunt you. They’re not too far behind us 2-points to be exact and a better regular game winning record. A couple losses from us and a couple of wins by the Leafs. Guess who switches place in the standings.
Haunt us or not knocking the leafs is what we do same for the Bruins
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
I’ll never miss an opportunity to knock the Laughs.
The Laughs fluky run is almost over and their AHL goaltending will let them down when it counts.
Better record than us? The Laffs have more more regulation losses than us and more games played.
They have some guys shooting at high percentages and getting lots of luck.
Their honeymoon won’t last. They probably will make the playoffs but won’t be at the top of the conference.
I hate the Laffs, and the Booins, GRRRR my blood is boiling just thinking about it.
Good news is they play each other tonight (Bruins Vs Leafs) so one of them will have to lose. I know most here wish they would both lose that game but since that is not possible who, if anyone, will you be hoping to see win?
After close to 50 years you don`t look over you shoulder no more…
Happy for them though cause it wasn`t funny anymore. They have great fans to say the least cause to go and cheer for mediocre management for all these years is close to being blind !
Let`s hope for them that the Burke and friends era is really behind them. They tend to bounce back with another dinosaure when you least expect it…
They are a much improved team indeed, and cannot be taken lightly agree.
I thought they were there last season as well. Let’s see how the second half goes for both the Habs and Leafs. Right now I’d be shocked if both were not solidly in the playoffs.
I know somebody who works for the Blades and here is what he thinks of Dietz:
- A steal
- Best player on the Blades
- Even when he was -44 he was the best player on the Blades.
- Great teammate
- Great person off the ice
- Hard worker.
- Committed to making it as a professional
Rumour has it that washing your face with stale pizza gives you acne. I bet Josh Gorges is getting a kick out of these rumours.
…can You shove this comment up Your rectal organ please ?
As this article is about size I think this comment fits in here. The Habs lack size and toughness on the back end, and to a degree up front also. I’ve been saying this about the D for several years and i have to believe MB is a smart enough hockey guy to figure this one out. You can’t have a defense compliment of basically the same type of player, Markov, Diaz, Subban, Kaberle, Weber, are all pretty much the same quality of player based on size and style they play. Sure they each have some different characteristics but when all is said and done they fit into one category of D man, puck moving, light hitting, offensive upside type who rely on speed and passing. Gorges and Boullion sort of fit with them to a degree also, because neither is any giant and they each play similarly to the other five, skate hard and move the puck quickly. The only D man who is somewhat like what we actually need to add to our present D corps is Emelin. Rugged and likes to throw his weight around. So, MB decide which parts to keep, Subban and Diaz for starters can stay because of age and upside, and move Kaberle (who has played well and has some marketability right now) and Markov (who has played fair to poor and is too slow). Maybe even consider moving Gorges also, if we can get a player who is 5-6″ bigger than him in return. Sometimes you have to give away a player who is liked and competes hard, to get a better player in return. (ie the three i just mentioned). One other thing, you know it’s funny, 35 years ago when the avg NHL player was about 5″ shorter and 30 lbs lighter than today’s player we had a giant Defense; Robinson, Bouchard, Savard, Langway, Chartraw, Engblom, and Guy Lapointe was no slouch either. So, now when the players are monsters we have the smallest D corps in the NHL. Does anyone draw from History anymore, or have we all forgotten our past lessons learned? D wins championships and big tough D, and big tough forwards is what is required. Check out the LA Kings last year. Anaheim a couple of years ago, Chicago as well. Or, go back to your 76-79 Habs and check out their rosters. You’ll see we didn’t get beat in the corners, the front of the net, or in the fights back then.
“A cannonading blast from the wing, by Lafleur”
Good observations. You are correct re. our D. Bergevin has to tweek and if an opportunity presents itself to increase our size given equal talent, go for it.
Add Tinordi and Pateryn and you have just added 2 guys who are big and the defence looks more balanced. No arguement from me about the current balance on D. Great if they do not get bottled up in their zone. Vulnerable to opposition cycle.
I think the size on defence will come from within. Even Beaulieu is 6’3.
Right on!
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
This is after people’s tweeting of non emotion? Too late?
…for all Us fellow-ex Montrealers strewn around this amazing Earth, please take a moment in time to complete and sign the on-line petition for the CRTC to change it’s rules and save TSN 690
…like many of You, I have left My heart in Montreal, including for the sporting traditions We grew to love, like Our Habs
…politics and language has forced many of Us to have left the province of Our birth, but We still tenaciously hold-on to Our fanaticism for the teams of Montreal We came to love and support
…We have been able through the internet to maintain Our connection and involvement, as HIO, itself, is a prime example
…Team 690 is another of those internet streaming connections that from time to time is timeless to reconnect to the sports teams, city and province We came from
…it’s existence is now being threatened at this time by a CRTC rule of limitations resulting from Bell Medias’ purchase of Astral Media
…to all ex-Montrealers, I hope you take the time to sign Your good names to the petition to save TSN 690
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Bell+makes+CRTC+proposal+save/8058919/story.html
Signed!
Thanks for bringing it to our attention
…lonely as a Habs Fan in Calgary Matt ?
Nah Timo and myself keep him company
…
Soul Brothers
signed from hong kong!
…thatta boy Big James
…thanks Guys
Done!
I listen to TSN690 every afternoon. It’s my only line to the Habs.
Mitch, Rod and little Mitch are the Best!
Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
…thank You Shane
Chris, politics, language and Taxes!
Did the petition!
———————————————————————-
What does the Commissioner of the NHL do?
In short, a league commissioner is the action man for the Board of Governors.
They tell him what they want done and he works to make it happen through his subordinates while making sure that individual franchises play by the rules.
******** Translated if you haven’t won the Stanley Cup in 40 years your NHL team is becoming irrelevant in a sports mad city long behind MLB, NFL and NBA teams, you just tell the commissioner(who you gave a new contract at 7 plus million per) to make it happen and the rules are bent sufficiently to action the command.
…yes, HOW ??? could I forget about them thar taxes ?!?
I don’t listen but doing just cause you asked, HiS.
…luv Ya ! Tim … platonically, of course
Chris, you know where I am!
Did the petition but couldn’t resist taking a shot at Melnick for being the force behind the moronic twit PJ Stock!
=================================================
The cranial flatulence of PJ Stock:
“On peut play cette game tres simplement”
“Le game est tous de hard work”
” I have a pet peeve”
…everyOne disdains PJ …except the State of Massachusetts and his mother
…not quite sure where his father stands
you forgot Hogtown, Laffs Nation and the CBC!
=================================================
The cranial flatulence of PJ Stock:
“On peut play cette game tres simplement”
“Le game est tous de hard work”
” I have a pet peeve”
…yup, forgot about Loserville
Hows the weather on the leftcoast?
Been cool here 81degf the locals are breaking out the toques and gloves again!
Saw a motorcycle taxi with a LAFFS toque the other day on Rama 4 had to restrain myself!
=================================================
The cranial flatulence of PJ Stock:
“On peut play cette game tres simplement”
“Le game est tous de hard work”
” I have a pet peeve”
…not so bad last few days, but prior was a Pineapple Express that brought torrential rain for a bit
…hoping Spring will pop soon
…a tuktuk driver or scooter taxi driver with a Weeds tuque ? …either way a sign Bangkok is going downhill
…the GM at the Dusit Thani was a huge Habs Fan
Laffs Nation Its like a creeping fungus!
Never seen any hockey toques here in all my years, I just assumed it was in the trash where it belonged and the motorbike taxi guy liberated it!
=================================================
The cranial flatulence of PJ Stock:
“On peut play cette game tres simplement”
“Le game est tous de hard work”
” I have a pet peeve”
I live on the island still and I signed it although I’ll be leaving ina few years haha. BUT I signed it cause I support that station and always have since team 990 I hope this works we shouldn’t lose another network for nothing
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
…still is sad to hear of so many good people leaving Montreal
I’m not fluent in French, or well not as Fluent as I would like and the French I have would give me a smaller advantage in Ontario
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Signed.
…You living in Sydney reminds of Myself when I moved to Melbourne with intention to permanently emigrate to Australia
…it was before all the online connections We have today …I just could not adjust to being so far away from ice hockey and My Habs, as well Canada itself
…couldn’t fathom cricket or grass hockey …loved Australian Rules and surfing and the beach …yet, broke out in sweats not being able to turn on My Habs games when I wanted to
…stuck it out for almost a year, made easier by an Australian girlfriend to die for, then came ‘home’ to Canada
…though I spent most of subsequent years working and travelling throughout Asia, having Canada as My base gave Me a sense of security/being Australia could not
That must have been a while ago. Melbourne now has a huge 4-rink complex next to, of all things, a Costco nowadays.
I love Melbourne, but really don’t see myself living there. Sydney has world-class beaches and a ‘relatively speaking’ thriving hockey scene. It’s one of the most expensive places to live in the world thanks to a red hot economy powered by the mining boom, but walking in boardies and thongs (flip flops) into the rink, playing with fellow Canucks and hockey loving folk from other Nordic countries can’t be beat (especially given the lower caliber of play).
No question I miss home, but thanks to the magic of the Internet I can see my folks every other day and watch the games on my big screen TV. They even have game at the local pub where Canucks and Leaf fans make every game almost unbearable.
…if that was available then I likely would have made a different decision
Done. I also enjoy the show from Germany. Just as an addendum, I do not entirely feel comfortable with fewer and fewer independent voices. When companies become too powerful with the big fish eating the small with a take overs you end up with corporatocracies.
Like in the good ol’ USA.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Signed from Barbados!
Done from Boston!
Love my afternoons with Mitch and Drive Show. Being able to listen on the TSN Radio app.. Then switch over to Felger and Mazz crying here..makes for tons of fun after a Sunday night win by our Boys eh.
Thanks for the link! Has my total support.
Chris:With apologies to Stevie Wonder: Signed,Sealed & Delivered!
done.
The notion that fighting is integral to hockey is ridiculous. The only reason there is fighting in hockey is for the entertainment value. If they got rid of fighting tomorrow, it would have zero effect on the game of hockey. I’m not sure what it would do to the business of hockey, but I like to think it would at least do no harm.
I am also of the opinion that as long as it is a part of the rules of the NHL, the Habs need to have an answer for teams who use fighting to intimidate. It’s one of the reasons Prust was a good signing. Getting another big, mean defenseman who can take a regular shift wouldn’t hurt either. I think they should teach every player how to fight if required, at least how to tie up the other guy and protect your chin, like self defense so that you don’t have to play scared.
Gotta get big John Erskine!
As frontenac would say
every player should do boxing lessons in the off season. good for protection, good for fitness…
PK should have. In Point St Charles.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
If for no other reason than to calm the waters…an unusual live video of one of the pivotal jazz groups of the early 70s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J6c0g2CyzM
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
In about another week the hawks will be able to stop playing games for the rest of the year if they wanted to and still make the playoffs. Incredible.
Hawks 3 Avs 2.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
I like fighting in hockey.Always have.Always will.What I don’t like is people insulting and disrespecting people that don’t share this view.Please show some respect for those posters that don’t like fighting in hockey amigos.
I am hoping the habs do something before the march27 game vs the Bruins. Bruins are talking like they did two years ago before the beatdown game. You just know they are going to go after PK. There dumb a$$ coach has given them the green light and you know the league will let the Bruins get away with anything. Our bozo management (Gautier and martin) were to stupid to do anything to protect our players 2 years ago, let’s hope this management team is not as dumb or else we might end up seeing PK have no choice but to fight lucic or mcquaid or thornton and that won’t end well.
Ezacamondo… nuthing wrong in beating bullies!
…I like fighting to counteract dangerous stick work and intent to injure not being adequately dealt with by the referees.
I do not like teams or the type of fans that are continually upping the ante. Signing players because of size and roid-rage potential rather than hockey skill.
…Fighting is getting to an extreme health risk for their victims and the fighter himself.
…many fans are more fans of the fights than they are fans of the game of hockey
…I don’t think you will ever bridge the difference between those that want to watch the incredible game of speed and skill, and those that like Nascar simply attend for the prospect of watching an out of control car flying into the stands at 200 mph
…there are those that love supersonic skilled hockey played with soaring passion, and those who’s only interest is as a blood-sport
…so, don’t expect the debate to be too polite and civilized Front
_________________________________________________________
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Campaign to Retire Toe Blake’s Number 6 !!!
…and, last, but not least: FREE PK !!!
The problem is that teams like the Bruins and the NHL offices give you no choice.. The Bruins don’t play using George laroques code. They are going to fight you whether you like it or not. Chara didn’t give Emelin any choice. In that beatdown game the Bruins. Didn’t give pyatt,space,hamerlik,etc any choice. It is really stupid management to do nothing and let your team be pushed around by bullies
UFC got weight class , u never see Chara again Emelin just saying
Prust should not have to fight lucic or thornton. He should be taking care of mcquaid or horton. We should have a heavy weight to deal with lucic or thornton. But because our management has had their heads in the sand the last 4 years the habs players have had to fight guys they shouldn’t have to (gorges vs mclaren, bourque vs orr)
Pat Hickey: ” After being beaten several times in succession during a shootout drill, Price took out his frustration on the goalposts, delivering three or four whacks before his stick broke. He then grabbed a new stick and, over the next five minutes, he surrendered only one goal.”
…
now if We can allow a few moments of ‘quiet-time’ fpr Carey with His goalposts during a game, without the refs and fans going ape, this can be Carey’s in-game adjustment technique after giving up a 114 foot shot from the other team’s blueline
Or on the break let him go into the hall and just smash stuff
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
…whatever works I say
Roy should be his goal-tending coach…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
He could show him what to do when the coach leaves him in nets after six or more goals
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
I think you’re all misunderstanding. It was obviously his stick that was causing him trouble. Break the stick, break the spell or whatnot?
Stage fighting is equal to arguing on a blog
Stompin’ Tom Connors; 1936-2013: R.I.P. Tom
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=417541
“I don’t know why I seem to be the only one, or almost the only one, writing about this country, …It just amazes me that I’ve been going so long I would think that somebody else (would have) picked up the torch a long time ago and started writing tons of songs about this country. This country is the most underwritten country in the world as far as songs are concerned. We starve, the people in this country are starving for songs about their homeland.”
Really? Sad news.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Leafs winning in Regulation is actually a good thing…OTT gets nothing and is one of teams trying to catch us..I know, the Leafs getting anything sucks, but like I said, at least it wasn’t a 3 pointer..
——————
Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
Those Laffs make me angry. Thinking they’re actually good!
Barbaric….Sorta.
What’s stopping a player from cracking his stick over the head of someone who’s coming after him to fight??
If you’re 5’8″ and Chara or Scott comes after your with fire coming out of their nose, what are you going to do??
1. Be a “manly warrior” and hope he doesn’t crush your skull?
2. Engage then turtle?
3. Skate away in fear to your bench?
Or perhaps take his knees out with your stick before he can take a punch…?? Granted, these composite sticks break with the slightest of pressure.
If you’re a mere mortal and some giant like Chara jumps you, you’ll need to be extremely quick and well versed in some kind of martial art/self-defence technique. I don’t see anyone giving away inches and pounds to a guy that can fight survive more than a couple of seconds unless they have something amazing in their bag of tricks.
Maybe a rapid strike to the adams apple or some kind of takedown move followed with top control ground and pound… I guess that’s where this headed. But still, the odds are not good…
Didn’t see the game, just saw a clip of the ‘fight’.
Dis-gust-ing.
What a jerk league. Jerks at the top, jerks in the middle, jerks on the ice.
Jerks in the stands. Jerks online.
Jerks.
Whwhoa!Sens coming back.5-4 1.30.-n to go.
I hope they beat those Laffs.
This is probably how most Sens fans feel with all the injuries!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HWmfPXFP6c
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Eventually, guys like McLaren get phased out simply because they run out of dance partners…He will be out of the league within a year or 2…
——————
Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
The Sens are tumbling back down to earth. It’s too bad they chose tonight, vs. the Laffs, to come back to reality.
Damn those Laffs. I hope that they and Boston destroy each other tomorrow night, and that no one wins – I guess since that’s impossible I am hoping for either one of them to lose in regulation.
I guess Dianne Phaneuf will pull his disappearing act in Boston tomorrow night…
I would not want to be Scott Thorton, who’s come back from a concussion, tomorrow.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
The hype is increasing.
Now that I look at the standings, I hope Boston beats the crap out of them tomorrow. If the Laffs win, they will have more wins than us! But so will Boston – what a situation! What matters is that we win tomorrow.
The earliest fight I’ve ever seen in a game that wasn’t in the warmup was Gord Donnelly and John Kordic. Three days earlier they fought 5 seconds into the game and then had this fight just before the puck dropped. Each got 5 games for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bok7r9guwfw
It was so staged they stopped and skated away WITHOUT the refs and linesmen getting involved at all. Unbelievable.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
I seem to remember that they were pretty good friends off the ice.
seems some of you folks want the game to be played like an all-star game,with figure skating 101 encouraged. Hockey has always been a violent sport with hitting and fighting, if that isn’t your cup of tea-go watch tennis
does the NFL need fighting?
in the NFL 3 hours is actually 20 min. of real playing time-time ticking away on running plays and in the huddle.
What has that got to do with anything?
The point is that fighting is not necessary in the NHL. It is an outdated practice that only hurts players. It has nothing to do with manliness or toughness or physicality.
each play in the NFL is a massive outburst of physical violence.
yet, the players rarely punch each other and if they do they are thrown out of the game and suspended or fined.
Have you ever been hit by a 300 lb guy? Oh wait…probably.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
If you don’t like seeing young men suffer brain damage watch something else?
You want fighting go watch boxing or many of the so called manly arts being staged these days in cages etc.
Most of us want hockey not idiotic staged goonery, talentless thugs whose only contribution to the sport is stoppages of play, pointless penalties, fines, suspensions and brain damage all in the name of “sending a message”, “protecting the stars” and, providing entertainment for the neanderthal element of humanity.
Grow up.
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
Let me guess other views you probably have:
- Smoking and cancer have always been part of restaurant and bars. If you don’t like it, stay at home!
- Alcohol and cars have been around since the prohibition. If you don’t like drunk driving, ride a bicycle!
- Teachers have always been beating kids. If you don’t like it, home school your kids!
Your views are as lucid as your grammar…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Man, you never even touched on his views of women, gays, abortion and gun control…you’re slipping.
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
What would be the sense of riding a bicycle in a city full of drunk drivers?
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
There are certain, and IMO limited, spots for fighting. Such as defending teammate or goalie against cheapshot. But to have a staged fight like the one tonight is absurd, dangerous and like the WWE. I was in Boston Sunday night and the fans there were more excited to see fights than hockey. They need to increase penalty for fighting or give more instigator penalties. On the other hand a team with small fast forwards has their hands forced into hiring a goon to protect their players from the other teams that routinely use goons. Last time habs played Toronto Colton Orr had 8 shifts in 1st period…he usually averages 8 per game.
the NFL has players that are much bigger, much stronger, and just as tough if not much tougher than the NHL.
the NFL plays a game where players are hitting each other, full force, every play, for 3 hours.
300+ lbs monsters banging into 300+ monsters on the other side.
there is no sport that comes close to this kind of physical contact, especially not hockey where a player like Kaberle can play 10 years and never really hit anyone, and barely ever get hit, yet remain an effective 4 million player.
to argue that somehow hockey is physical so it ‘requires” fighting, is just not logical, as proven by the fact that the NFL, a much more physical sport played by bigger and stronger men does not allow fighting.
fighting exists in the NHL to sell tickets. fighting exists in the NHL because there are too many fans that still want to see it.
the NHL, a league run by men with no integrity, a league run by a man who has never been in a fight in his life, keeps fighting in the game out of fear: fear that the NHL will lose fans and lose revenue if fighting was eliminated.
this league needs new leadership – 20 years is way too long and its time for a change at the very top.
Good post. You forgot one thing. The NHL is run by men with no foresight. The NFL knew lawsuits would be coming years ago so they started handing out punishments for dirty play. When they go to court, they will be able to argue that they did everything possible to protect their players. Will the NHL be able to do that? Don’t think so. If Max was paralyzed by Chara, I’m sure the game would be different today.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
if I was an owner I would be arguing tooth and nail to protect my players’ safety, because the players’ performance is what brings in the revenue.
the owners can’t see the forest for the trees.
Exactly. Same argument for rugby. Even boxing doesn’t allow no hold barred brawls.
The oldest and worst argument in the world is “we’ve always done it this way”. Probably the first caveman who suggested they use fire to keep themselves warm at night heard it.
“Fighting’s part of hockey”? It’s not even an argument.
Great post.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Again, I don’t believe we need a heavyweight-just someone who knows how to fight.
Someone,like Stan Jonathan of the Bruins in the late 70′s-man could he fight and take punches.Still remember the game in 78,when Pierre Bouchard and Jonathan had their fight, Pierre got killed,but at least we won the game if i remember correctly.
When we were winning Stanley Cups, we had big, strong players who could fight, but also had the skills.
http://i.imgur.com/8sTAw.gif
This is not hockey.
I get it, there are fights in the game, but some want hockey to be played like this, citing “oldtime hockey”
Pathetic.
____________________
DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=E4aL23itkmQ A tough Quebecer
A tough customer but I was hoping the Habs could have picked up McGrattan
This kids a home province fellow who at 27 can also play as well as Armstrong but takes out the Garbage…..It’s better to givith than too receivith and the Habs have been punching bags for WAY TOO LONG !
May he rest in peace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxIJPMVHBDk
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
He’s gonna drown out those harps …
Fighting has been a part of hockey from day one. As much as sticks, pucks, hits, and goals. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but that’s all it is. Players that choose not to fight don’t. Those that do, risk going down from a hit on the chin. They are paid well for what they do. Every year computer using office workers suffer from lifestyle diseases, anxiety, obesity, stress, ulcers… This guy gets his bell wrung but is living the dream, heart on his sleeve, adrenal flowing, playing for glory, babes, and bucks every day. I don’t feel sorry for him, I envy him. Modern day Spartans. Real men. Unlike some of the shrinking violets around here.
“Unlike some of the shrinking violets around here”…real men don’t need to insult others while hiding behind an anonymous identity to make their point of view.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
I am sure he is a giant amongst men.
A legend in his own mind…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Ya well, ya know that’s just, like, your opinion man.
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
Real men eh? Ahh too bad we can’t have legal fights in the office or warehouse, then at at least we would only have real men in the workplace.
Apparently when it comes to hockey only real men fight. Or maybe only real men are the only ones who believe that only real men fight in hockey.
Makes one wonder if all hockey players who don’t fight aren’t real men. They must also be shrinking violets.
But are they real shrinking violets or are they just faking and underneath they’re really real, real men?
***SUBBANGIN’ NOW BABY!!!***
We men all know what happens when you spend a lot of time around ice-cold water: shrinkage.
I just never heard ‘it’ called violet before.
Imagine, all out brawls around the water cooler.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
99 of 100 fights don’t end like the one in Toronto where the kid on the Senators was knocked cold tonight. That was as ugly as it gets.
However, seeing just one end like that is enough for me to take a step back for a second and wonder if it belongs in the game. It will be eventually taken out I’d imagine.
For the moment though, and probably for another several years if not a decade or even longer, there is or will be fighting in hockey. So I want the Montreal Canadiens to employ players that are more than capable in that department. We’re a player shy in that department IMO.
Interesting the only 2 team sports which encourage , reward and condone fighting are Canadian. I have come to accept and understand fighting in the game, but I have to wonder why, when I watch someone hurt like that.
So go ahead some of you and tell me to watch tennis. But when any of you first teach your child how to hold a stick while skating is fighting part of what you are teaching and hope they incorporate into their game?
These staged fights are just B.S. the two fighters tonight have zero history, but 18 seconds into a game they have a hate on for each other?
McLaren has a hate on for everyone. He tried to do the same to Prust last week. I just hope its not Prust they’re picking of the ice next time.
RIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xzl2qq3Vi8
Stompin’ Tom died. He was 77
RIP
———————————————————————-
Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
Thats awful .I loved the guy. Saw him live in 1971. RIP Tom.
Sorry to hear that. He will be missed.
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
May he RIP. A real Canadian.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
reading these comments about fighting,just makes me laugh. Hockey is a violent sport-not tennis folks. when we were winning Stanley Cups,we had fighters on our team, with skill and that’s what we need now. go watch tapes of Canadiens/ Bruins and Flyers during the 70′s.
We took care of business when called for.
If you don’t like fighting go watch tennis!!
I will say it again,yes speed kills, but we were lucky none of our skilled players were injured Sunday night- will we survive a playoff series with the Bruins? Not unless we get someone to take care of business.
You know what makes me laugh? “Fans” who say they love the game but do not care about the health and safety of the players.
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Hey Marc! Give my buddy Kip Brennan a call. He is down with the Arizona Sundogs after dispensing some justice in Russia, He is a good Lad, just sometimes misunderstood.Chara,Artyukin? Doesn”t matter,He will Dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV-3o1hFU9I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peo_8iEvjSA
Here is Kipper vs Chara.Enjoy amigos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY6vhcAN0RM
A Kip Brennan or Big Mac type along with a d man like Erskine would make the rest of the team a lot more comfortable doing what they do.
You d-man has to be a regular that can play but the winger can be used only when needed. Thats how I see it anyway.
Thats the man I want on left wing vs Boston and Toronto. What a beast. I looked at various videos, no worries going to war with this guy. Its amazing that we never find these heavyweights, it should be a priority, at least until the NHL decides to ban fights.
what should we give up for a chance to draft Johnathan drouin or maybe it would be too much to give up for him
That Mclaren Dziurzynski fight was criminal. How in the world is the NHL allowed to get away with this? Every combat sport is heavily regulated but the NHL is allowed to have bare-knuckle fighting on skates on top of a hard sheet of ice. Unbelievable. It is amazing the family of an ex-goon has not sued the league yet…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Bare knuckle fighting is rather barberic, and should not be legal in the sport.
It is pretty outrageous and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Hockey is a game of skill and this nonsense needs to be wiped out. It won’t be until someone dies and then they’ll be forced to by the courts. It’s only a matter of time.
Hockey should be a game of skill not a demolition derby
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
I don’t recall seeing games start like that in the regular season even in the mid 70′s…. perhaps I don’t recall well.
I’m positive the Broad Street Bullies had a game or two like that.
First 18 seconds of a regular season game?
Saleski,Schultz,Clarke.
I’m sure.
I vividly remember the team, but sort of thought they let the game start and go with other players of their ilk.
Either way I am disgusted that the League has players of no hockey talent who only fight.
Buddy of mine played for a season or two on that Flyers team, they all knew how to skate backwards at least.
There was a bench clearing brawl before the game between the Flyers and Canadiens in the mid 80s. Ask Knuckles.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
I remember it was worse back in the 70s. Add in the stick swinging and it was brutal. The difference is now the guys are so much bigger and in tremendous shape that the damage is more severe.
Yeah, leave demolition derby to the good ol’ boys in NASCAR.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
I cringed just watching the replay of Staal’s injury. The interesting thing of watching it in slo-mo was that,there was very little recoil of Staal’s face after puck hit him. I wonder if that would mean anything re:severity of injury?
On a related note,has Carey Price given any reason,other than discomfort,for not wearing a protective,moving plastic shield at the base of his mask? It seems to me that there is an opening between what little protection he wears around his neck and the base of the mask which would seem to be courting danger.
The “dangler” can make it difficult to see around your feet as a goalie. Also it can get caught on your shoulder as you turn your head so some guys find it annoying. Me, I find getting a shot in throat to much more uncomfortable so I use the neck protector. Especially in beer league with a bunch of almost good players with brand new composite sticks and they have no idea where their shots are going!
It takes getting used to but the alternative is worse tahn discomfort
“man, I love winnin’; you know, it’s like better than losin’?”-
Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh
What a difference a year makes. Habs and Leafs both having amazing first halves and looking for real doing it.
I wonder which would be a more fun first round: Leafs or Bruins? Have to get to the playoffs first, I guess.
Said it before, and I’ll say it again, the Leafs are for real. Scrivens and Reimer are both good goalies, and the Leaf shooters are having an incredibly lucky year. So many guys scoring way above what they should. If they can make that run last … look out.
I think the Habs take a series against the Leafs based on their depth. The Leafs will be rolling three lines in the playoffs, with Orr, McLaren, and whomever on the bench being useless. Habs will need their power-play clicking in the post-season, but I like the match-up if it can happen.
Full Breezer 4 Life
I think we’d have a better chance against the Leafs than against the Bruins. The Leafs try to play like the Bruins, but they’re not as good. And I’m still not convinced by their goaltending, although Reimer and Scrivens have both done well so far. But neither has good rebound control, and Reimer seems a little slow.
However, I agree that the Leafs are for real. Their main strengths are their balanced scoring and their aggressive style. I almost feel sorry for Brian Burke these days; that team is the one he put together, and JVR seems to have been his master-stroke.
Their defense and goaltending aren’t as great as it appears to be. Scrivens leaks out a ton of rebounds. Reimer is pretty good, but against NJ and the Islanders, his posts saved him.
As for the Leafs’ aggressiveness/”toughness”, I think that stems from the 6-0 game they won. Other than that, their “toughness” (i.e. taking runs at players when the game is out of hand) is largely overrated. Last week, their gameplan was basically to take as many dangerous runs as possible, “scare” the Habs by threatening to injure them instead of wearing them down.
Better chances beating the leafs IMO, but for me, nothing tops a Bruins Vs Habs playoff matchup.
So why do i get the impression the League will conveniently have McLaren miss one game so that he can’t hurt any Bruins.
Oddly enough, you can get suspended for boarding, but not for punching someone in the face so hard you cause brain damage!
Full Breezer 4 Life
The good old code of the NHL, Toronto starts its biggest neandrathal goon and someone from Ottawa has to respond, if he doesn’t team is called a chicken.
Yup that is hockey today
Randy Carlyle: once a dirtbag, always a dirtbag.
Full Breezer 4 Life
I am torn on that, because I seem to recall him as a solid player for the Jets in my younger years. But as a coach, yah he loves the fights, funny don’t remember him fighting a great deal for the Jets.
Sadly on ESPN and all other US sports news programs tonight the only hockey highlight most will see is this stupid fight. Marc is right when he posted below that the day will come when a large lawsuit will come. The good news is most of the franchises won’t be able to pay for the damages. The bad news is Montreal will be among the handful of teams footing the bill.
BTW, after the fight I gave the remote to the wife. That’s enough hockey for me tonight.
I actually switched to Survivor, something I haven’t watched in years……
And so Dzuirzinsky was KO’d 34 seconds into the game in that staged fight. Whats the point of those again?
Go Habs Go!
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To scare the crap out of the opposition just like the Flyers did 40 years ago.
And that’s a good thing?
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
No, It’s brutal but it”s the way it is.
Dzuirzinsky suffered a concussion and will not return
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
Gary Bettman calling Dana White saying “Look at what we got!”
Notice TSN showed no replay until intermission and even then a brief replay? Can’t make the Leafs look bad…. Oh yah they own that team
Sens David Dziurzynski KO’d by Leafs Frazer Mclaren tonight
Really bad:
http://kuklaskorner.com/hockey/comments/video-david-dziurzynski-kod-by-frazer-mclaren-tonight
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
http://dennis-kane.com/
Some were upset with the way he handled Gorges BUT McLaren could have seriously hurt Josh if he had wanted to that game. He was a sport not a goon.
That’s just ugly. He let him fall flat on his face too. Someone is going to get killed and then the lawsuits will rain down. Idiots…
I predict the Leafs will finish first in conference
Doubtful.
Not really. They’re getting good steady goalkeeping, average defence, balanced scoring, and they won’t be intimidated by anybody. Pretty good mix if you ask me.
Reimer has been saved by his posts these last two games.
Their scoring is indeed balanced, but they have Kadri going at a PPG pace, which is rather high and they have Frattin shooting at 38%.
All that aside, the Habs haven’t been as lucky as the Leafs, and the Sens that the Leafs are facing tonight aren’t the Sens that faced the Habs or Bruins. And, of course, I can’t see them being better than the Bruins.
If anyone will beat the Bruins, i think it will be the Leafs. They can push back when it gets ugly and you know it will.
I think you’re blinded by Orr and McLaren. What are they going to do if the Bruins get as emotional as they do when they play against the Habs? Kessel, Van Riemsdyk, Bozak, Kadri, etc, etc. None of them are going to fight. None of them are tough. Will Phaneuf do anything? Maybe Mark Fraser will. But the Leafs being able to push back is based only on the 6-0 win over the Habs.
I’m not blinded by anything. Thats obviously how the league wants it so you have to push back.
Troll.
Not with the Bruins and the Pens around… Oh, and a little team called the Canadiens. They’ll be mid pack at best. They just don’t have a mobile D.
Wrong spot. Sorry.
That’s what she said.
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8N4s3pat0
We need somebody on the team to do some “dirty deeds”.
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
Who’s she? The one in your dream I hope?
You got it, Buddy!
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
http://www.hiyoooo.com/
____________________
DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
Back from La La land..apparently I thought drugs were as good as back in the 60′s and Princess Leia has donuts on the side of her head..
You missed the big Habs trade while you were in the chair!
Another fluke goal by the Leafs…
The leafs are a fluke
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Big time KO for McLaren over Dziurzynski in the Leaf-Sens game…
Ugly….
Also ugly that they allowed him to skate off the ice. He should have been taken out on a stretcher. He was presenting brain issues. The jerks probably didn’t want to delay the game and put that young man under more risk. Just plain dumb.
NHL “We don’t care” the need to start putting safety as a much bigger concern than they actually do now.
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Why what’s wrong with having him skate off the ice? If it was a neck or back scare I would understand the stretcher. But what worries you about being KO’d that you would need a stretcher?
You’re right of course the most common issue is to protect the neck and spine but there could be a bleed or skull fracture that may cause more damage if the patient isn’t immobiluzed. I’m guessing the protocols there are to immobilize him and they probably did in the hallway off the ice. I hope he’s OK.
Sounds like he might be ok. I didn’t really consider the damage to his skull, I just thought he took a huge punch to the chin and passed out.
saw that…wow..that looked bad
Brian. The way I see it, If properly coached at the house league level, a good coach will be able to pick out those kids who are 10-12 and teach them contact. That’s what I do with our three minors who are just about ready to play AA hockey.
I am going lead the way in this city. I want a no contact house league hockey system. No man should have to go through what I am now because of a brain injury.
As all these kids in house league in a 6 or so years will be playing rec anyway, there is no hitting there, why is that? Because if there was hitting in rec hockey no one would play.
No player will get caught in the wind like your son. These kids who play rep are taught early and never see house league (exception of one this year in Brandon).
I have 8 teams in Peewee B House league hockey. Next year they jump to Bantam B and the league is 5! Why is that? Because 24 kids who leave hockey never play in organized minor hockey again. Why? Because it’s too dangerous. Too many savages out there thinking they are in the NHL.
I understand that the AA, and AAA coaches don’t want this. But I will explain to them that the odds on missing out on that next Great One are pretty low.
If there’s a kid out there in house league that’s scoring 300 points a year than trust me, people know.
OK back to work. Practice tonight.
Our Canadiens are playing for the City Championships tomorrow night, and Provincials on the weekend!
Go Habs Go
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Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
I wholeheartedly agree.
I coached Mat among others for a long time, and even in house league, it was always “keep your head up”.
Learn to handle the puck by feel and the occasional glance, not by looking at it.
Mat? You coached my son?
Nice! Our boys have the same name.
Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
I’m glad to hear that Staal will be OK.
In Prices defense, wonder if the wedding planning could be affecting him…sure scared the crap out of me
How much planning did you really do…tell the truth. The bill at the end is what scared you right?
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Truth be known? The whole thing scared me! The 18 hour sleep after should have been enough warning.
On the other hand wouldn’t want it any other way… 4 kids and now 4 grand kids make it worth while.
Chris? Are you paying attention? Habfab is tryin to learn ya somethin.
“maybe in two years…” LOL! Chucky’s hilarious…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
Can anyone here identify this pretty lady?
https://twitter.com/maggsmo/status/306903466465443842/photo/1
My ex.
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
Sorry to hear that.
She never told me, zep.
Yeah, I liked her sister better anyway.
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
You dog!
First clue, one of the Habs girlfriends called her a home wrecker after the story of a certain Hab player “coming out” came out.
I take it she isn’t gay and for sure doesn’t look like a he!
My hero!
Did I mention it was all just a dream?
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Ka is a wheel.
For Your Life
Gallagher and Prustie rock !
Habs, OLE !
Doctors say Staal expected to make a full recovery. Out indefinitely.
Hamrlik picked up by Rangers off waivers.
I can’t look at the video is it bad or a puck to the eye?
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Yes Nick he took a puck to the face. Not sure if it was direct to the eye. Good news today though.
Ouch that really sucks hope he’s okay, I once had a friend get a line drive to the face really scary to watch
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
“Price shows some emotion during optional workout”.
Mr. Spock, take note.
That’s highly illogical.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.
Oh really… http://i.imgur.com/KBDS1.gif
____________________
DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!
LOL.
Couldn’t tell if that was Spock or Price during today’s workout.
The ears gave it away,though.
“Does first place really mean anything”…ask the LA Kings…
“You’re always, always, always looking to make your team better. Always.”- Marc Bergevin
I knew the Hawks were good but this good O.o Chicago must be loving it haha lucky guys
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
Traded JVR for Schenn!
Full Breezer 4 Life
They also added the guy who is afraid of Bears haha Bryz was great in Pheonix cause there was no pressure in philly there’s a lot and they lost great players. If they chucked there players cause they didn’t listen to there coach well I’d porbably have kicked him out instead (I don’t like him) Think the GM job in Philly is on the line?
http://nickolaisblog.wordpress.com/
…all the best Michel …stay safe Mon Ami
I agree. You need 2 D in the top 8.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I also believe the physical contact has changed somewhat, todays hits seem and probably are far more violent. With the better conditioned athletes, the body armour they wear, the speed with which they skate, the hits are now more to punish/hurt the other team.
Perhaps it has always been this way, but for us grizzly veterans we remember the minute and a half shifts of yesteryear when the hit were only occassionaly so violent. Today, every shift has a thunderous hit.
The game while faster and higher skilled is far more violent.
New soft equipment…Thatd be half the battle right there.
More ejections as opposed to on ice penalties, cause too many PPs will kill the game. None of this 2mins for this, 5 mins for that.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
In that case you need to reverse the rule that ends the penalty when a PP goal is scored, too. Make an infraction count for the entire time.
“thoroughbred”
Vasko was 6’3″
Like the good old days.
Richard R
Price is an oyster. Unfortunately not all oysters produce pearls.