Hockey 2010-2011

[shadows]

Originally Posted by transjen

Don't laught i heard on the radio today coming home from work that Kanas City is talking to the NHL about getting a NHL franchise
so could this be the return of the Kanas city Scouts
for those new to hockey the Scouts become the Rockies who became the Devils

Flyersfan Jen

They better not get a team before Winnipeg.

[shadows]

What a horrifying hit by Chara. I think that he will probably be getting a suspension for it. I thought Pacioretty had broken his neck! Scary, scary indeed!

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

What a horrifying hit by Chara. I think that he will probably be getting a suspension for it. I thought Pacioretty had broken his neck! Scary, scary indeed!

You are absolutely correct to use the word "horrifying," and I have no problem calling out even a member of my beloved Bruins for a dirty hit. However, having looked at the replay several times now, I think that while horrifying this was not dirty. It was big, but it didn't come from behind Pacioretty. Chara was skating along the boards and at the side of Pacioretty, and to finish a check leaned on him very heavily. Pacioretty's head and neck snapped against the stanchion -- and that wa indeed horrifying and very, very scary.

Chara is not even remotely known as a dirty player. He does battle for position, and uses his size (he's a good 7 inches taller than Pacioretty).

While Habs coach Jacques Martin has been insisting it was a dirty hit and has called for the league to review the tape, I think the tape doesn't lie.

However, I think Chara will get a suspension anyway. Why? The league has been so inconsistent about this growing problem that it will see an opportunity to look tough -- an opportunity it cannot pass up. And this will be exacerbated by the size difference between Chara and Pacioretty, which will make it even easier to defend a suspension.

I hope Pacioretty is okay!

[smc]

^^^^^

Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin updated the media on Max Pacioretty’s status this morning:

"Max Pacioretty has a severe concussion, as well as a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae, but it’s not displaced. Max will remain at the hospital for further observation. There will be no other prognosis for the time being, but he will obviously be out indefinitely. The most important thing for our organization right now is Max’s recovery. We will continue following recommendations from the doctors and of course, Max and his immediate family would appreciate privacy in this matter."

The NHL review of the incident resulted in a ruling that Chara did not intend to injure Pacioretty. Mike Murphy, senior VP of hockey operations, released this statement on behalf of the league:

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous."

I am surprised by this, although it is clearly the correct call (as you can see from this video). Note that this is from the Bruins broadcast, so there is some bias -- although it turns out that Andy Brickley's assessment of Chara's hit is correct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPHHd6jmMo

It was clearly interference. The game misconduct and throwing Chara out of the game might have been an overreach, but understandable under the immediate circumstances. Regardless, though, I think Murphy's statement demonstrates that the NHL is thinking through how to avoid knee-jerk reactions to the roughness that is part and parcel of hockey while at the same time dealing with the growing number of dirty hits (which this was not). I don't think many of us who discuss hockey here have had occasion to say that the league got one right, but I hope we can agree this time.

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

^^^^^

Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin updated the media on Max Pacioretty’s status this morning:

"Max Pacioretty has a severe concussion, as well as a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae, but it’s not displaced. Max will remain at the hospital for further observation. There will be no other prognosis for the time being, but he will obviously be out indefinitely. The most important thing for our organization right now is Max’s recovery. We will continue following recommendations from the doctors and of course, Max and his immediate family would appreciate privacy in this matter."

The NHL review of the incident resulted in a ruling that Chara did not intend to injure Pacioretty. Mike Murphy, senior VP of hockey operations, released this statement on behalf of the league:

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous."

I am surprised by this, although it is clearly the correct call (as you can see from this video). Note that this is from the Bruins broadcast, so there is some bias -- although it turns out that Andy Brickley's assessment of Chara's hit is correct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPHHd6jmMo

It was clearly interference. The game misconduct and throwing Chara out of the game might have been an overreach, but understandable under the immediate circumstances. Regardless, though, I think Murphy's statement demonstrates that the NHL is thinking through how to avoid knee-jerk reactions to the roughness that is part and parcel of hockey while at the same time dealing with the growing number of dirty hits (which this was not). I don't think many of us who discuss hockey here have had occasion to say that the league got one right, but I hope we can agree this time.

At 10 seconds into the video Chara clearly has his right foot off the ice. This doesn't necessarily indicate a dirty hit, only that Chara was able to put more force behind his bodycheck.

[smc]

Originally Posted by ila

At 10 seconds into the video Chara clearly has his right foot off the ice. This doesn't necessarily indicate a dirty hit, only that Chara was able to put more force behind his bodycheck.

"Able to" -- yes, but the question is one of intent. As someone who skates and plays hockey, I know that there are lots of times when I have a foot off the ice. I think that plus the particular location of the bodycheck was a combination for disaster, but it still doesn't indicate intent. True, Pacioretty and Chara have some history, but Chara just has zero reputation for being a dirty player.

If I thought there was intent, I'd be screaming for a suspension -- not that my voice matters. But I have argued long and hard with my Bruins fans friends about how Andrew Ference was treated after his statement criticizing a teammate for a questionable hit, and I had an argument with Mike Milbury about it a few weeks ago at the store in my neighborhood he shops at!

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

"Able to" -- yes, but the question is one of intent. As someone who skates and plays hockey, I know that there are lots of times when I have a foot off the ice. I think that plus the particular location of the bodycheck was a combination for disaster, but it still doesn't indicate intent. True, Pacioretty and Chara have some history, but Chara just has zero reputation for being a dirty player.

If I thought there was intent, I'd be screaming for a suspension -- not that my voice matters. But I have argued long and hard with my Bruins fans friends about how Andrew Ference was treated after his statement criticizing a teammate for a questionable hit, and I had an argument with Mike Milbury about it a few weeks ago at the store in my neighborhood he shops at!

I agree that there it looks like there was no intent to injure. My comment was in response to Mike Murphy's comment that Chara's feet were not off the ice. I'm not convinced that interference should have been called against Chara, either.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by shadows

They better not get a team before Winnipeg.

There's a lots of other areas that deserve a NHL franchise more then KC but sadly Battman loves putting teams in areas that prefer nascar and WWE and monster truck rallies

Flyersfan Jen

[shadows]

Originally Posted by transjen

There's a lots of other areas that deserve a NHL franchise more then KC but sadly Battman loves putting teams in areas that prefer nascar and WWE and monster truck rallies

Flyersfan Jen

I can't think of a more deserving name for him than Buttman, as that is what his head is shoved up the majority of the time!