by Jes

Ted Nolan is a great motivator, without a doubt. If I were hiring a coach and had a team of gritty, blue-collar players, Nolan would be near the top of my list of coaching hires.

That said, how should we evaluate his actual coaching ability?

Ignoring their late-season swoon, the Isles had no business being in or around the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference, as they were for most of the season. The Isles were clearly paying above their Pythagorean record for most of the season, so we know Ted's boys were getting bang for their buck.

For one thing, the Isles STILL don't have anyone with 50 or more points! Mike Comrie, he of the celeb girlfriend, leads the squad with 49 points in 74 games.

One reason why the Isles are screwed? Rick DiPietro, and his constant hip problems.

As highlighted over at FanHouse, DiPietro will be going into for his second straight summer of surgery, and you know his hip problems won't just *POOF* go away any day soon. The Isles are stuck with another decade+ of this ...

Now, on the negative side for Ted Nolan is how his star scorers seem to be underperforming. Sure, age plays a factor, but some of these players ought to be scoring much more than they are.

Name        Pos   GP   G   A  Pts  PIM   +/-
  
Mike Comrie  C    74  21  28  49   83    -22

Bill Guerin  R    73  22  18  40   56    -17

Trent Hunter R    74  10  28  38   39    -16

Miro Satan   L    72  14  23  37   30    -9

Now, I realize the Isles' roster sucks worse than Ron Paul,
but it's clear that some players are performing well below their career norms. Miro Satan with barely over a point every two games?

Does Ted Nolan deserve kudos for getting a decent record out of a crappy roster, or does he deserve to be knocked because he can't get anything out of his scorers?

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Another term we never hear anymore: "Put up your dukes!"

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How sad are our Canadian Armed Forces? So sad that they got beaten up by a bunch of retired NHL players.

*chuckle*

OK, so it was just a hockey game. Chill. Bible-thumping Mike Gartner and a bunch of the old boys won an exhibition game 9-2. Good on the alumni to go overseas and give a morale boost to the fighting forces.

The score indicated a defeat for Canadian soldiers, but their sweaty smiles said otherwise.

Hundreds of spectators turned out today to watch Canadian troops grapple with a team of visiting former NHLers in spirited game of ball hockey at Kandahar Airfield.

With the Stanley Cup on display, Team Canada routed the soldiers 9 to 2, but there were no long faces when it was over as the two teams exchanged back-slaps and autographs.

The team of NHL old-timers included former Toronto Maple Leafs Chris Hutchison and Mike Gartner, two-time Cup winner Mark Napier and notorious enforcer Bob Probert.

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Years ago, I always poo-pooed the idea that the police should get involved in violent incidents on the ice. Players, I thought, go into any hockey game knowing that it is a physical sport and that injuries, rough stuff, fights, hits, etc... happen during the course of the game. Don't play contact hockey if you value perfect health and a bruise-free body.

As time has gone on, I wonder why we allow special protection for hockey players. Does simply being in a sporting environment enable one to commit a gross act of violence?

Here's a comment from over at Hockey.com, from a fellow named 'henwood' that perpetrates the typical line of 'let them play'

Of course, a case could be made that the cowardly act is certainly vile enough for a ride downtown in the back seat of a squad car wearing silver bracelets, but the question is where do you draw the line when it comes to sports?

Case in point, if you took the time to review weekly tape of every game from the junior ranks right up to the NHL, you could certainly find more than a handful of instances, if you looked hard enough, that warrant a criminal charge.

But should Chris Pronger be charged? How about Steve Downie? Heck, should Chris Simon be thrown into the pokey with no chance for parole?

Quite simply, unless the offense is so flagrant that it crosses the bounds from sheer stupidity to an outright criminal act on the ice, the law should stay out of it. That is why league commissioners and similar suits earn a check.

When you think about it, every time a player commits an infraction on the ice, is he or she not risking a date before the judge? Try punching someone in the face down at the local watering hole. Rest assured, the cops will be showing up. May as well send your suit to the cleaners once you get home. You'll need it for your court date.

No, not every player committing an infraction would ever face a court date. Sheesh! Talk about overreacting.

If we had to accept law enforcement getting involved, perhaps all leagues need to draw up clear guidelines, with the collaboration of the police, on what is acceptable and what is not.

Bertuzzi on Moore? Clearly unacceptable, dangerous, premeditated, and an assault. A slash on the wrist or an elbow on a borderline hit? No, that's clearly within the realm of typical hockey roughness.

I don't expect the NHL would take such an initiative, but perhaps someone within the league's head office should look into setting up some guidelines for what would clearly constitute law enforcement getting involved.

Think about it. Hockey isn't populated by gross acts of violence, but those who commit such acts get away with very little in terms of punishment. Do you really think Chris Simon or Todd Bertuzzi paid a fair price for their actions? No. Give them some normal treatment under the law and they would certainly learn a real lesson.

Still, I'm still wary of (corrupt) law enforcement wading into the territory of hockey. It would be very hard to discern what is 'borderline and acceptable' and what is illegal. Hockey has always been a rough game, and players are willingly accepting of a face-wash or punch in the face over the course of their careers. The more law enforcement would get involved, the more players would be afraid to do much anything physical. It's a fine line to walk and I don't have confidence that any side can do it well.

Labels: Islanders, Mike Gartner, Ted Nolan, Violence

by Jes

Chris Simon is one of those 'puck-optional' players in the NHL. It doesn't matter what is happening with the puck, Simon's job is simply to inflict physical pain and suffering on the opposing team. Simon isn't out there to score goals, or do anything useful.

Last night, Chris Simon did a very dangerous thing and tried to scalp Jarkko Ruutu with his skate blade.


Let's not forget the vicious lumberjack chop on Ryan Hollweg after being hit, cleanly, by the Rangers winger.


... or this whack job on Sergei Fedorov ...



Given his past history, and what could have happened to Ruutu, Simon should get AT LEAST 20 games. Unfortunately, he'll get 1-2, at most, knowing how soft the NHL is.

Labels: Chris Simon, Violence

by Jes

After what happened between Flyers d-man Randy Jones and Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, you'd figure that the Philadelphia Flyers might exercise a little caution in last night's rematch

But, as we know, the goonish mentality is alive and well in the City of Brotherly Love. (Hat tip to Mirtle for the video link)

Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell was given a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct for hitting defenceman Andrew Alberts at 14:22 of the second period. Andrews left the game with an unspecified head injury and will be evaluated on Tuesday.

Boston's Zdeno Chara said that his team decided not to retaliate after Alberts was injured.

"It's something we talked about," Chara said. "We probably ended up with some bruises, but we have two points and that's the most important thing right now. It's up to the league to address things like that."

Hartnell said that the hit on Alberts was not deliberate.

"I did not try to hurt him," Hartnell explained. "There was no intent at all. I am not that type of player. If you look at all the games this year and past years, I finish my checks every time I have an opportunity."

Not deliberate? From the little highlight we do see (near the end), Hartnell was absolutely rocketing towards Alberts with the full intention of doing some damage. While I defended Jones' hit on Bergergon, I believe Hartnell's hit was fully intended to injure the Bruins' player, and a very lengthy suspension ought to be on the way.

Dark Knight Edit: Hartnell gets a two game suspension. The NHL's idiocy knows no end.

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Other goodies over at the NHL FanHouse ...

1. We have a new contributor in Kevin Schultz (from Barry Melrose Rocks). His debit column is a beauty, as he gives Gary Bettman some tips on how to run his new radio show.

2. Imagine winning a hard-to-come-by Nintendo Wii, and then dying on the way to pick up your prize. Well, that's what happened to one poor kid at a Providence Bruins game. Greg Wyshynski has all the gory details.

3. Rome continues to burn as rumours surface that JFJ wanted to fire Paul Maurice, but couldn't. More Steve Simmons bullshit or the real deal? We report, YOU DECIDE!! Muhahaha

Labels: flyers, Maple Leafs, musings, Scott Hartnell, Violence

by Jes

If you had guessed 25 games as the length of the suspension Colin Campbell would hand out to Jesse Boulerice, you'd be right.

The NHL Hand of Justice tapped three Icatian townsfolk and destroyed a good chunk of Boulerice's season.

National Hockey League disciplinarian Colin Campbell has handed Flyers forward Jesse Boulerice a 25-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler in the head Wednesday night.

It's the longest suspension handed out in NHL history for an on-ice incident. New York Islanders forward Chris Simon also got 25 games for his two-handed slash to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers last season.

Is it nearly enough? To me, it certainly is not. I don't care if the previous maximum was 25, why should the NHL continue to put a glass ceiling on suspensions?

Boulerice is a pure thug, and he's almost killed people with his actions. Stick-swinging should never be tolerated, and 25-games, while severe in NHL terms, is not nearly sufficient to send a real message. Boulerice will be back, and will enjoy a nice vacation.

As a side topic, why do players named JESSE always suck? Jesse Boulerice, Jesse Belanger, Jesse Schultz...crap, crap, and more crap.

Labels: Colin Campbell, Jesse Boulerice, suspensions, Violence

by Jes

*SIGH*, how long is the NHL going to let this crap continue?

Head shots, in case you don't know, are the NHL's biggest problem that needs to be fixed NOW!

Workhorse Dean McAmmond is the latest victim of a cheap shot ...

Senators centre Dean McAmmond left Tuesday night's game against Philadelphia with a concussion after he was sent to the ice by a flying body check by Flyers prospect Steve Downie.

McAmmond had lost possession of the puck early and skated behind the Philadelphia net when he was checked hard by Downie at 2:39 of the second period. Downie's feet left the ice before the violent collision.

Senators team doctor Don Chow immediately went to McAmmond's aid even as players from both teams squared off in the aftermath.

Ottawa enforcer Brian McGrattan went after Downie, who was assessed a match penalty for the hit on McAmmond. McGrattan got a misconduct and a game misconduct in addition to his major for fighting with Philadelphia's Jesse Boulerice.

Watch the NHL totally soft-pedal the issue and give Downie a small suspension.

Why, why, why doesn't the NHL come down hard on idiots like this? Head shots are some of the most dangerous activities an NHL player can do to another, and it just seems to be getting worse these days.

Labels: Dean McAmmond, Steve Downie, Violence

by Jes

Simon says, "I'm a cheap-ass thug!"

Another vicious 'head shot event' in the NHL tonight as Chrissy Simon went nutso on Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers.

Hollweg drove Simon into the boards with a hard, clean check. Simon got up angrily and met Hollweg as they came together again. Hollweg fell to his back and rolled over onto his stomach by the boards. He was motionless for a few moments, and was bleeding from his chin when he got up.

Simon, who gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead in the second period, was ejected -- slapped with a match penalty for deliberate attempt to injure

Now, isn't Chris Simon supposed to be a tough guy? an enforcer?
Hmm, now what kind of tough guy can't take a clean hit? It reeks of big baby who couldn't stand being hit just a little. I'm always amazed at how so many NHL players get made after a clean hit, and act surprised as if it wasn't coming.

Now, the question is "How many games will Colon Cleansing Campbell give Simon?"

Based on the standards we've seen this year *cough*Janssen*cough*, probably 1-2 games.

It would be nice for the NHL to stop following poorly-established precedents and start nailing these idiots with some serious penalties. Simon's high-stick was an obvious intent to injure and could have caused something far more serious to Hollweg.

Let's start seeing some 10 game suspensions for this kind of crap. A match penalty isn't going to do anything in the long run.

Labels: Chris Simon, idiocy, Ryan Hollweg, Violence

From the "Strange, but True" files...

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From CBC.ca:

Being beaten up during a hockey game may have been the best thing to happen to Saskatchewan referee Dale Neudorf.

If a player hadn't cross-checked him in the face with a hockey stick on Sunday and sent him to hospital, doctors may never have discovered the large tumour in his brain.

Doctors spotted the growth while taking an X-ray and a CT scan of Neudorf's brain to make sure he wasn't seriously injured in the on-ice attack near the northern community of Meadow Lake.

From Canada.com:

The concussion has left Neudorf with no memory of the assault at a recreational tournament on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, a reserve about 350 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

The assault occurred during a game between Waterhen and Pelican Lake First Nations teams in a tournament that didn't allow contact.

According to a Pelican Lake player, who wishes to remain unnamed, Waterhen player Nolan Crighton, 21, was involved in several physical altercations and showed signs of inebriation throughout the game before Neudorf ejected him. Crighton responded with profanities and then used his hockey stick to cross-check Neudorf in the face with a force that drove his head into the boards, according to the player. Nolan is said to have then jumped on the unconscious referee and crosschecked him about four more times until other players pulled him away.

"I don't know if there's any part of me that's mad. People have to live with the consequences of the decisions they make," said Neudorf, who had refereed the player in minor hockey for almost a decade. "Holding a grudge doesn't do anyone any good."

Nolan's father Alan Crighton said his son is a known scrapper, but going after a referee is out of his character.

Crighton remains at-large despite an RCMP arrest warrant that includes charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

So, was Todd Bertuzzi doing Steve Moore a favour by assaulting him from behind? 0_o

It's nice to see this story has a happy ending of sorts, but perhaps there should be steps in place to stop players from playing DRUNK.

Labels: human interest, referees, Violence

Anyone familiar with the Mortal Kombat series of games is well aware of the BRUTALITY finishing move.

A similar nasty experience occurred (minus an actual death) in last night's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins.

A record regular-season crowd of 19,620 crowded the Air Canada Centre to see Sidney Crosby perform his magic, but he was hardly the star of the show.

Maple Leafs center Kris Newbury was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in the third period after a fight with Pittsburgh's Ronald Petrovicky. The Toronto forward took several punches to the head before falling to the ice. He stayed motionless for several minutes before taken being off.

The two dropped gloves 33 seconds after Pittsburgh tied it at 5, and the game was delayed for about 6 minutes.

"He's alert and he was on the ice when he left," Toronto coach Paul Maurice said. "He's conscious and talking. We'll test him out tonight and tomorrow."

Maurice said it reminds him how violent the game can be.

"It doesn't matter how tough you are or how many punches you've taken if you get hit in the right spot you're going down," Maurice said. "It's a pretty serious business when they drop those gloves."

Thanks to the magic of YouTube, here's the video clip of the fight.


Ronald Petrovicky has always been a fiesty guy and willing combatant, but never one to associate with knockout power. I'm kind of surprised he could pull something like this off.

Kris Newbury? I don't know much about him, but his minor-league stats and size suggest he's a very similar player to Petro. A good middle-weight tilt that ended badly for one guy. Let's hope Newbury's young NHL isn't cut short. D00d's played only 15 NHL games so far.

Labels: Fight, Maple Leafs, Newbury, Penguins, Petrovicky, video, Violence

Yeah, so we all know Canucks winger/monster/moron Todd Bertuzzi has now been formally charged with assault by the Powers That Be. Excuse me while I try and express some shock at that news...nope, my face is still as wooden as Chuck Norris'.

Looking at similar cases in the past, we can see that Todd Bertuzzi won�t get more than a small fine and some community service.

"Take it from me, kids, it�s not a good idea to punch someone in the head from behind, no matter how much of a punk they are!"

Honestly, if Todd Bertuzzi suffers more punishment at the hands or the law, I�m not going to shed a single teardrop. While it doesn�t matter much to me if he gets jail time or less ice cream, it would certainly serve him right for his malicious act.

Free Bertuzzi?? - Yeah, I said my piece before, but these idiots really piss me off. These are the lemmings that hang �Free Bertuzzi� signs on their lawn, and give the ape a standing ovation. Yeah, the guy costs his team a legitimate shot at the Stanley Cup and assaulted a player from behind, unprovoked.

As we saw in the Orenthal James Simpson case, you can basically get away with murder if you are a beloved star athlete. At this rate, Trevor Linden could drop a nuclear bomb on France and come out as a folk hero.

The mediots will play this as a �black eye� for hockey, but the damage was done in the US media back when the incident took place. This court case won�t go far, and won�t have any lasting impact on the game itself. If Steve Moore had been killed or crippled, then maybe it would lead to some changes in the game. (But how would you stop an unprovoked assault?)

Todd�s real fear would be that Moore would proceed to file a civil claim for damages. Still, what could Moore claim? Moore didn�t miss any salary, he�s not permanently damaged, and couldn�t look his macho team-mates in the eye if he claimed �psychological� trauma.

Bertuzzi has already lost over $500,000 (US$) in salary, his shot at the World Cup, and his (and his team�s) chance at the Stanley Cup. If you believe the NHL can police itself, then Bertuzzi has already been punished severely.

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Not a lot of draft buzz as we prepare for tomorrow�s �Meat Lottery�. Don�t expect the Capitals to trade their pick unless they can pull off a ream job like the Bonsignore/Hamrlik deal. If Ovechkin and Malkin are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, it makes much more sense to take the �sure-fire� picks, rather than take a chance on a lower prospect.

Labels: Bertuzzi, mainstream mediots, Todd Bertuzzi, Violence