NHL Preseason and Predictions - 2007-08

[treble 0]

I really hate Sportsnet. The Leafs are 'only' 1-2 so far in the fucking pre-season and the poll is 'What should Leafs fans be most worried about?'.

[Mike wanna be 0]

Is "A bad preseason record" one of the choices?

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Is there anywhere you can stream hockey games on your computer?

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I found this off a Kings Message Board:

https://www.nhl.tv/team/secure/loginform?product=SEASON

 

You can stream off of it but you have to pay.

[the max 0]

The Bruins dealt Mark Mowers to the Ducks for Nathan Saunders and Brett Skinner.

 

While it may not be big time league news, this speaks volumes about Chiarelli addressing his mistakes that he's made in the last year. Mowers wasn't the problem, but a lot of people close to the team wondered why he got the ice time that he got last season when it was clear that more talented players were sitting on the bench. Dave Lewis was the main problem and Chiarelli addressed that issue by giving ol' Hitlerstache the boot one year after signing him to a four year contract. I've railed on Dave Lewis before on this board, so I'll keep it simple. I do not understand his in-game decision making. I do not understand how he gets players who play with a lot of passion to quit on him in December. I do not understand how he was absolved of the blame that led to two good, young players being shipped out because he had no idea how to use them. At least Chiarelli understood that going long-term, Lewis was clearly not the coach for this team. He recognized that a good coach was out there (Julien) with a good amount of success playing the style of hockey that Chiarelli is trying to build the Bruins into. Mowers being moved simply puts a period at the end of the Dave Lewis era. While Mowers certainly wasn't the problem, he was the picture of the problem that was behind the Bruins bench.

 

The Bruins addressed a need with the return as well. While both guys are longshots to ever make an impact in the NHL, both address a need of tough defensemen at the AHL level that the Bruins had. Saunders in particular fits that bill. And the fact that Chiarelli managed to turn Mowers, who wasn't likely going to even make the NHL team into two young prospects with some limited upside is a very good sign. They're far away from being NHL ready, but to turn an aging forward into two young, talented defensemen isn't something to sneeze at.

 

Also, Cameron Neely was named VP of the Bruins today. He'll assist in hockey operations as well as other team functions. For the fans, this is something that the Bruins should have been doing a long time ago: Bringing in recognizable names from the past (Don Sweeney doesn't count) to be associated with the current team. You see it with other NHL teams and teams in other sports and it's high time that the Bruins finally jumped on board.

 

The Bruins Kool-Aid is looking tastier and tastier as we move forward.

[treble 0]

Is Dean McAmmond dead?

 

Ouch.

[Guest]

I hope Jack Johnson gives one of those to Downie when we play Philadelphia.

[the max 0]

The news is starting to trickle in:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-070926wi...i-elections-utl

 

The One Ring has been destroyed. Sauron has fallen.

[CanadianChris 0]

Is Dean McAmmond dead?

 

Ouch.

No, but Downie will be when he comes back to Ottawa. What the hell goes through a man's head when he makes a hit like that in the preseason??

[CanadianChris 0]

The news is starting to trickle in:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-070926wi...i-elections-utl

 

The One Ring has been destroyed. Sauron has fallen.

Czech's gonna party for weeks when he hears this.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Awesome about Neely, one of my all-time favourite players, and this is coming from a Habs fan.

 

Even fucking awesomer about Wirtz. Czech is going to have, I guarantee you, the post of the year, in a few hours.

[Darthtiki 0]

Is Dean McAmmond dead?

 

Ouch.

No, but Downie will be when he comes back to Ottawa. What the hell goes through a man's head when he makes a hit like that in the preseason??

 

This is unfortunate considering it's been 3 and a 1/2 months since McAmmond took the elbow from Pronger in Game 3, which took him out for the last two games. Maybe it's me but a hit like that in the preseason is absolutely uncalled for and I would hope the league at least gives Downie a game for that.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

Aw, CG, you can't hold me to those standards. Now I have performance anxiety. Best I can do is that admission to the funeral is free if you call Ticketmaster before noon tomorrow, but the service will be blacked out on local television to protect the rights of the paying ticketholders.

 

I suppose I am obligated to chime in, though. You really have to feel horrible for his family here, and how thousands of hockey fans rejoiced when they heard he got hit with a life misconduct. My conscience is aided just a tad here, as I never wanted to see the guy die, I just wanted him to divest himself of the hockey team for the greater good. But as bad as anyone may feel for his family, that doesn't change the fact that Bill Wirtz himself was a miserly, corrupt, booze-mongering bastard whose business practices ranged from counterintuitive to unconstitutional. (Look up the legislation he pushed through so that Illinois liquor stores had to use his distribution company; this was later stricken down.) He did so much to hurt NHL hockey--not just in Chicago, but the league as a whole has suffered by association and by the failure to have a ratings/gate draw in the #3 US market--that it's not hard to start thinking ahead to how bright the future can be for The Organization. I'm guessing for now that the children will be running things, but surely they see the writing on the wall here, and realize that now's the time to cash out. (It wouldn't be like they're losing a major revenue stream: Wirtz owned banks, a liquor distributorship, and a veritable fuckload of Chicago real estate.) Surely, potential buyers are putting together offers as we speak, and there's some serious money to be made off 50% of the United Center. If the Wirtz family doesn't see fit to part with the team, I can only hope that they swiftly reinstate everyone that the Blackhawks have alienated over the years: Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Wayne Messmer, Pat Foley, to name a few. A full televised schedule isn't a hope, that's a baseline expectation.

 

Meanwhile, the people have an obligation of their own now. You can't stay away from this team because of the owner. He's dead. (And with that, Jeff Loria finally ascends to the dubious throne of Worst Owner In Sports.) There's a real promising core of young talent on the ice, from Kane to Toews to Seabrook to Barker. They deserve to be carried by a Chicago hockey renaissance, to enjoy the same sort of home-ice insanity that the greats before them enjoyed. The fan embargo has to end now. No more supporting the Wolves in protest when the true home team needs support now more than ever. Let's just hope for a bold new era of Blackhawk hockey, without the smoke-filled room (Bob Pulford, take a hike), without the expression "winning is too expensive," and without the hard feelings from everyone from Chicago sports fans to team alumni. I really think we'll get this new era, and the Indian Head can instill some pride and fear once more.

[the pinjockey 0]

Is Dean McAmmond dead?

 

Ouch.

No, but Downie will be when he comes back to Ottawa. What the hell goes through a man's head when he makes a hit like that in the preseason??

 

A.) trying to prove his worth to stay on the team

and

B.) It is Steve Downie we are talking about here.

 

But I think some of the reaction around various boards is ridiculous. Yes it was not a clean hit, he definitely charged him (but the momentum of him flying after that his makes it look worse than it really was). He'll get a couple games which I won't argue, but you see people crying for a Chris Simon like penalty. Get the hell out of here with that, you can go back to last season and probably find 10 hits that would qualify if that is what the punishment is worth. Plus, how much of the reaction is due to the fact it was McAmmon who is dealing with concussion issues, if he levels Joe Schmoe do people care above saying anything more than it was dirty, give him a game and move on.

[Guest]

Steve Downie got a 20 game suspension.

 

Deservedly so, IMO.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/stor...&id=3039334

Here's a piece on the future Hawks. It gives me hope. I guess some scouts are comparing Patrick Kane to Martin St. Louis. I'll take it.

[the pinjockey 0]

I'm sorry, but that is horseshit. That is as many games as Bertuzzi got for breaking Steve Moore's neck. McSorley and Simon, guys with no less "history" than Downie, got 23 and 25 respectively for full baseball bat swings at someone's head. The next time Colby Armstrong or Chris Neil cheap shots someone, there better be a similar penalty.

 

"If you leave your feet, if you target an opponent's head, if you hit an unsuspecting, or target a player ... There is no doubt there was also intent here, as well. This hit contained all five criteria."

--Colin Campbell

 

points in order:

- keep your head up

- apparently no hitting someone unless you give an Indian whooping from Slap Shot

- do not look at the player you are going to hit

- and only hit someone accidently

 

Hockey is a violent sport. Again, Downie should be suspended. The usual couple of games for a hit like that, the rest is bullshit caving to media pressure because a rookie with a past hit a guy coming off concussion issues. Boo hoo, we went through that with Lindros. If this is going to be an issue, put McAammond in a pink jersey so people know not to hit him.

[CanadianChris 0]

The usual couple of games for a hit like that

The whole point is that the usual suspension for a hit so vicious should never have been a game or two in the first place.

 

And as McAmmond said himself, he doesn't have a concussion issue, he has a "guys trying to take his head off" issue.

[the pinjockey 0]

I think 5-8 would be acceptable. Wouldn't be thrilled with it, but wouldn't argue it. To jump from 1-2 to 20 is ridiculous. And I severely doubt they hold to this precedent either.

[Guest]

The problem is that it was absolutely unnecessary. It's a freakin' preseason game.

[the pinjockey 0]

So what is the proper proportion for suspension for a hit happening in a preseason game compared to regular season or post season? 2 to 1, 3 to 1?

 

When you have players playing for a job, it is the real season to them. If you don't want your players out there for it bench them. Otherwise, be aware.

 

More from Campbell:

He told me, “This boy left his feet, targeted the head and stalked the player. [McAmmond] had no expectation of this hit and [Downie] drilled him. We felt we saw retribution in the cards once [Downie] was hit himself.

 

“We’re not saying shoulder hits to the head are illegal. Only if all the other criteria come into play. We don’t want to take shoulder hits to the head out of the game.”

 

Again, he is basically saying that if you see a player in advance of the hit and the player doesn't see you; don't hit him. And no hitting someone if you've been hit. I mean come on now, just outlaw hitting and be done with it.

[CanadianChris 0]

I'm sure Downie's reputation as an immature and dirty player didn't help him any with the league office.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

More from Campbell:

He told me, “This boy left his feet, targeted the head and stalked the player. [McAmmond] had no expectation of this hit and [Downie] drilled him. We felt we saw retribution in the cards once [Downie] was hit himself.

 

“We’re not saying shoulder hits to the head are illegal. Only if all the other criteria come into play. We don’t want to take shoulder hits to the head out of the game.”

 

This is the real problem here, and I can see where Pinjockey is coming from. The various hits laid out on Lindros over the years were "clean". 20 years from now, if he has dementia from his brain being rattled around, the NHL is partially at fault. They should just outlaw hits to the head, like how the NFL has a penalty for helmet to helmet hits.

[Mike wanna be 0]

Agreed. There's room in the game for hitting and there's room in the game for fighting, but they need to stay hits and fights and stop becoming hospital trips and concussions.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

The various hits laid out on Lindros over the years were "clean". 20 years from now, if he has dementia from his brain being rattled around, the NHL is partially at fault.

Hey, if you don't want your brain to be porridge by age 50, I suggest you don't go into hockey. Try sales. I don't think the league could be found liable of anything in court. Like you said, those were clean hits on Lindros. What else can you do? Just like when they tried to crack down on fighting, enforcers just employed new and better ways to fuck you up.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

The various hits laid out on Lindros over the years were "clean". 20 years from now, if he has dementia from his brain being rattled around, the NHL is partially at fault.

 

Like you said, those were clean hits on Lindros. What else can you do?

 

Make that type of hit (shoulder to the face) a penalty. Say, a five minute game misconduct. If that happens, it will at the very least bring down the number of concussions.

 

I'm not saying that the game needs to be pussied up or that hitting should be eliminated. Once specific kind of hit can be removed while still allowing for a physical game.

[Darthtiki 0]

OC Register series on the rise of hockey concussions, Pt. 1

 

Pt 2

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I don't think the NHL should suspended Downie. When the Sens play the Flyers, it will be his last game.

[Guest]

Chicago signed Brent Sopel. Have fun with that.

[Red Baron 0]

Two comments:

 

One. From the highlights I've seen from the Montreal preseason, I'm stoked. Even if its preseason, they are showing lots of intensity, which they haven't done so in a long time.

 

Two:

 

Downie is a dumbass. He was like this in the OHL, and has a reputation for a dirty player throughout his career. Besides, I don't think a flying shoulder block a legal hit. 20 Games is enough, because of Downie past, and its preseason. I understand you want to be gritty and stay on the team, but he could have hit McAmmond a more logical way.