The OAO NHL 2003-2004 Season Thread

[CanadianChris 0]

Oh, and by the by, the Tampa Bay Lightning are YOUR 2003-04 Southeast Division champions.

[lomasmoney 0]

Damn, I thought they clinched sometime in January. The Southeast is a joke the Lightning clinch with what 15 games to play

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

I'm curious about the Bertuzzi/Moore/Naslund incident......

 

Was Moore's hit on Naslund that put him out for a couple games legal?

 

Cause Bertuzzi needs to be severely suspended for that shit. Big 245 lb guy jumps a guy from behind and drives him face first into the ice? Let's see if this he takes the media attack that McSorely took.

[CanadianChris 0]

Todd Bertuzzi should be suspended until at least the start of the playoffs after basically assaulting Steve Moore last night, in retribution for Moore taking out Markus Naslund a couple weeks ago. Check out the highlights, it was absolutely disgusting.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Todd Bertuzzi should be suspended until at least the start of the playoffs after basically assaulting Steve Moore last night, in retribution for Moore taking out Markus Naslund a couple weeks ago. Check out the highlights, it was absolutely disgusting.

Been there, done that.

 

All I gotta say is, there is going to be a LOT of bad blood in the playoffs as everyone is trying to kill the other team.

 

I'm still hoping for a Calgary - Edmonton Semi-Final of the Playoffs. Big wish, I know, but as long as both teams stay near the bottom four seeds, they can face each other.

 

That would just be a kick ass semi-final in my opinion. Then again, I am bias.

[Red Baron 0]

Saw the hit.

 

 

I see five games easy, no more than 10.

 

 

Its the NHL, and suspensions are a joke, remember this hissy fit when McLaren "hit" Zednik two years ago, and got what? a possible 4 games for it.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The hit that Bertuzzi did on Moore was MUCH worse than the hit McLaren leveled Zednik with. McLaren's was illegal, yes, but close to borderline. The Bertuzzi assault is more comparable to the McSorley/Brashear love-tap (for which McSorley got a year) and the cheap shot that Johnson hit Beukeboom with (which got 12 games). The punishment that I've heard is 13 games (the rest of Vancouver's regular season) and, potentially, the beginning of the playoffs.

 

While I'm in favor of getting retribution on the ice (rather than through suspensions or fines) there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Attacking someone like that is uncalled for, and it's what gives hockey a bad name. (The US stations like espn ignore a game that's full of huge saves and gorgeous goals but will focus on shit like this). Plus, if you're going to out-and-out assault someone, why have a superstar do it? Call up someone from the minors, or use a goon like Brookbank, and have them do the dirty work. Bertuzzi is an important part of the Canucks team, and they can ill afford to lose him for the rest of the season. Plus, he already got a 10-gamer for leaving the bench to fight a year or two ago, so he's now a repeat offender.

 

If there's anyone that hasn't seen the clip yet, it's available at www.hockey-fights.com ... the page is WICKED slow today, though, because I think alot of the blood-marks are flocking there to see what happened.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Bertuzzi's "assault" is the same as any sucker punch - except it from from the side.

 

This is in NOW way worse than any bodychecks from behind (Lemieux on Draper), sticks to the head (McSorely), or even cross checks to the back of the head (Suter on Kariya). He'll get 8 games and it'll be done with. If the book gets thrown at hime, it'll be a miscarriage of justice. We seen people get bodychecked head first into the boards on a semi-regular basis - that can cause paralysis. A bunch to the head (while very stupid) would not have the same effect. Considering the position Bertuzzi was in while skating behind Moore - he could've done much worse. Just think about that before we start handing out McSorley comparisons.

 

And not to be callous, but I'm sure Moore has now learned not to take cheap shots at people. This is old time hockey - and Bertuzzi did what any of the broad Street Bullies would've done if Bobby Clarke was smoked into the head with an elbow. I don't see why people are calling this the worst thing they've seen in hockey.

[starvenger 0]

Looks like the Leafs just picked up Chad Kilger off of waivers, and they signed Calle Johansson as well.

 

I think by signing Johnasson the Leaf's average age is about 64 now. Gordie Howe is apparently sitting by the phone waiting for a call...

[Lightning Flik 0]

Ok... We just traded Tommi Salo and a 6th Round Draft Pick in 2005 for Tom Gilbert?

 

...seriously, wtf?

[starvenger 0]

Off TSN's trade wire, Ottawa gets Greg DeVries, Rangers get Karel Rachunek and Alexandre Giroux...

[nl5xsk1 0]

And while I agree that many, many more horriffic attacks have happened in NHL history, it's a different world now. A lot of what the Bullies did, or the Bruins of the 70s, or Gordie Howe did, would be viewed differently now, what with more extended TV coverage and replays and whatnot. The other factors that will come back to haunt Bertuzzi:

 

- the fact that 'bounties' were discussed after the original hit on Naslund. This was quickly downplayed and denied, but it showed that people within Vancouver's locker room were talking about getting revenge.

 

- the way that Bertuzzi hounded Moore around the ice right before blasting him. It was so obvious that he was going to do something, unlike the Lemieux/Draper hit (which I still think was a mistake, as it appeared that Lemieux was looking to hit someone else and Draper just got in the way). Even the McSorley/Brashear hit looked less intentional than the Bertuzzi hit.

 

- Bertuzzi's already been hit with a long suspension, which makes him a repeat offender in they eyes of the league.

 

I'd have to say that I think this is worse than the McSorley hit or the Lemieux hit, both of which really seemed more accidental than this one.

[Der Kommissar 0]

So, with Salo traded, does this mean Markannen's the starter? I hope so, since I just signed him onto my fantasy team a few days ago.

[Der Kommissar 0]

Looks like Ron Francis is going to the Leafs. I guess their average age is going up some more.

[starvenger 0]

Looks like Ron Francis is going to the Leafs. I guess their average age is going up some more.

Beat me to it.

 

I used to make fun of the Wings for being old, but now, I have to poke fun at my own team for being able to collect an NHL salary and their CPP at the same time...

[starvenger 0]

...and (officially) there it is. Francis for a 4th in 2005...

[Der Kommissar 0]

I used to make fun of the Wings for being old

 

I credit the Wings for having staying power. I remember they used to be knocked for being old when I was still in high school. Considering I just finished university, I credit them for still sticking around and being successful.

 

I wonder what will happen with all these draft picks in the event of a lockout. Will there even be a draft in a 2004?

[Lightning Flik 0]

So, with Salo traded, does this mean Markannen's the starter? I hope so, since I just signed him onto my fantasy team a few days ago.

Um... No. It'll be Ty Conklin. He proved that with Salo out for good portion of the season, he was definitely our starter.

 

Otherwise, I could guess it is a toss up between the two, but I still think it would be Ty.

[starvenger 0]

Looks like we have a 3-way trade.

 

Buffalo gets Jeff Jillson from Boston

Boston gets Brad Boyes from San Jose

San Jose gets Curtis Brown from Buffalo

[starvenger 0]

From waymore(Toronto-centric)sports.com:

 

Report: Moore has broken neck

VANCOUVER (CP) — Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore remained in hospital Tuesday with reported fractured vertebra after crashing face first to the ice following a sucker punch by Canucks star forward Todd Bertuzzi.

 

An Avs spokesperson did not immediately provide an update, saying only that the Moore remained in hospital and a statement on his condition would be released later in the day.

 

Rogers Sportsnet, citing Moore's parents in Thornhill, Ont., said the 25-year-old forward had sustained two fractured vertebra.

 

Vancouver GM Brian Burke, speaking to radio station CKNW on Tuesday morning. said the Canucks had been told the Avs forward had concussion-like symptoms but was going to be OK.

 

Moore spent the night in a Vancouver hospital after he was slugged in the side of the head by Bertuzzi late in Monday night's game at GM Place. Moore landed face-first — with Bertuzzi on top of him — and lay in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was removed from the ice on a stretcher.

 

Bertuzzi has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing at the NHL's office in Toronto on Wednesday morning.

 

Burke said it was inappropriate for him to comment on the incident while the league conducts a review.

 

Bad blood between the two teams had been simmering since Moore's hit on Vancouver captain Markus Naslund during a game Feb. 16 in Denver. That resulted in Naslund suffering a concussion that cost him three games.

 

Moore wasn't penalized for the hit and the league took no action.

 

Vancouver coach Marc Crawford called Moore's hit "a cheap shot by a young kid on a captain, the leading scorer in the league."

 

The two teams met in Denver on March 3 but there was little action. That changed Monday night with the game out of hand — Colorado won 9-2.

 

Bertuzzi received a 10-minute match penalty for his hit on the Avalanche centre Monday.

 

Colorado cancelled a planned skate Tuesday morning at GM Place. The team was to fly to Edmonton later in the day for a game Wednesday against the Oilers.

I guess Bertuzzi will be enjoying the playoffs from the comfort of his own home...

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

Bertuzzi's "assault" is the same as any sucker punch - except it from from the side.

 

.

It looked like Bertuzzi jumped up onto Moore's back and practically drove him face first into the ice almost like a bulldog maneuver. This was more than a sucker punch to the back of the head.

 

Yeah it could have been worse . We could have had another Bill Masterson.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Bertuzzi will be not only gone for this season, but also the next season as well.

 

If McSorley's love tap got him a season suspension, you better believe that Bertuzzi's breaking Moore's vertebre will definitely kiss his next season goodbye.

[Red Baron 0]

Not all of this is Bertuzzi fault.

 

Yes he did the sucker punch, and knocked him out, but seriously, with three other players including Bertuzzi is on Moore's neck, forcing the weight onto Moore.

[Red Baron 0]

Looks like the Leafs just picked up Chad Kilger off of waivers, and they signed Calle Johansson as well.

 

I think by signing Johnasson the Leaf's average age is about 64 now. Gordie Howe is apparently sitting by the phone waiting for a call...

Kilger was misused by Montreal, just like Tucker, and really putting him on waivers was a bad thing.

 

 

Now Kilger will be a 20 goal scorer, just like Tucker

[Lightning Flik 0]

Not all of this is Bertuzzi fault.

 

Yes he did the sucker punch, and knocked him out, but seriously, with three other players including Bertuzzi is on Moore's neck, forcing the weight onto Moore.

Instead of doing the what ifs like the above paragraph. Why don't we stick with facts.

 

Fact is, Bertuzzi suckered punched Moore and the end result is Moore has a broken neck.

 

Fact is, Bertuzzi is a repeat offender and this injury that was suffered is worse than what McSorley caused.

 

Fact is, the precident was set with McSorley and there will be backlash if Bertuzzi gets nothing less than McSorley did.

 

Fact is, Bertuzzi will not be returning for the 2004-05 season (assuming we have a season).

[CanadianChris 0]

I wouldn't be surprised if there were criminal charges laid, either. This is now officially WAY more serious than the McSorley incident.

 

EDIT: TSN is reporting that the Vancouver police ARE reviewing the incident.

[Red Baron 0]

Fact is, Bertuzzi suckered punched Moore and the end result is Moore has a broken neck.

 

Agreed with the sucker punch, but that would not cause some one to break their neck.

 

Fact is, Bertuzzi is a repeat offender and this injury that was suffered is worse than what McSorley caused.

 

No shit, really? and i didn't know that you put a puck in the net

 

Fact is, the precident was set with McSorley and there will be backlash if Bertuzzi gets nothing less than McSorley did.

 

I have to disagree. Its been blown apart by the media, while yes it was a dirty play, but the punch did not break his neck, you they think it was. You think that sending him to the ice broke his neck, and while sevre whiplash probably occured, and I'm not going to argue that. Its when the players from Colorado jumped on Bertuzzi's back, and this is the major cause, probably in the broken neck.

 

Fact is, Bertuzzi will not be returning for the 2004-05 season (assuming we have a season).

 

I'll still say he'll miss 10 games.

[Red Baron 0]

Brian Savage to St. Louis and Mike Grier to Buffalo

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

If Bertuzzi isn't at least suspended for the rest of this season,it's a farce.

 

The bounty talk.

 

He hunted him down.

 

He got him and Moore was severely injured as a result.

 

Looks like Todd Bertuzzi might be finding new ways to hurt his team in the playoffs. It seems like a couple years ago,he took a few bad penalties against the Wings. Wasn't he the one last year that talked shit in the playoffs and then the Nucks proceeded to blow a series lead? And now he may not even get to play.

 

Maybe with his track record,it'll help the Canucks Cup chances if he doesn't play.

[treble 0]

I think Bertuzzi should miss at least the rest of the season, if not some of the playoffs, but I don't think there's a precedent for him missing all of next year (assuming there is a next year, of course).