Puck Daddy - NHL

Puck Daddy

Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:43 pm EDT

Puck Headlines: Calling for zero tolerance for hits from behind

By Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Evening Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Icing calls have been in the news this week, from David Lee's reporting on the new TV timeout regulations to The Hockey News columnist Rory Boylen's dissection of the NHL's new icing rule which states that "unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player." Boylen, however, takes this zero tolerance to its next level: "Whether it's incidental or not, whether they mean to or not, whether they think they are playing the puck or not and whether a guy gets injured or not...let's have zero tolerance on, are you ready for it...checking from behind!" [THN]

• Alex Tanguay, Alex Kovalev, Georges Laraque, Roman Hamrlik and Patrice Brisebois all have problems with their groins. Injury problems, not poor body image problems. [Habs Inside/Out]

• Ten million Canadian dollar coins will carry Montreal Canadiens logos in celebration of the team's centennial. The Latendresse Loonie, ladies and gents. [AP]

• NCAA's Hockey East reaches a two-year deal with ESPNU for eight games this season. [Warrior Rink Rat]

• Speaking of television, a fantastic blog by Shane Giroux that covers the NHL's television deals in Asia and Europe, the League's online renovations for video content and some talk about illegal hockey streams. [Avs Talk]

• Todd Bertuzzi was quite underwhelmed with Todd Bertuzzi's debut as Jarome Iginla's linemate. [Calgary Herald, via Puck Update]

• Ambassador of Fun Brett Hull calls Sean Avery's dancing monkey routine in front of Marty Brodeur "not the way you play hockey" ... and Hull's a guy who knows his way around a goalie crease. He also says he has asked Avery not to embarrass the Dallas Stars organization this year. Good times. [Andrew's Stars Page]

• Lil Wayne is a Boston Bruins fan? Better question: Does this set up a multi-coastal hip-hop/hockey battle between Wayne's B's and Snoop's Ducks? [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

• Winnipeg once again states its case for the return of NHL hockey. [National Post]

• Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, calls the notion of an "unfeeling" corporate attitude towards Toronto Maple Leafs fans "B.S.," and claims that Leafs fans would rather see sustained success than a Florida Marlins-esque plan to win a Stanley Cup and then flop for several years. Hey, either way, those tickets aren't getting any cheaper. [Toronto Sun]

• Is it wise for the Leafs to build around defenseman Tomas Kaberle? [THN]

• Defenseman Mattias Ohlund's days with the Vancouver Canucks could be numbered, especially if he's asking for $6-8 million a season. Because the Canucks need cap room to offer another $20 million to the next Swedish veteran C-tease that wastes their time. [Waiting for Stanley]

• Ah, here's a wonderful old topic bubbling back into the conversation: Should bloggers be allowed in the press box? [Illegal Curve]

• Ottawa fans rejoice at the end of Sens TV. [Sens Army]

• Finally, here's a commercial for Versus's new "Talk Soup" style comedy show. Mexican wrestling inspires hope.

Related: Hockey Fans, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

digg delicious
more

21 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. hockeytown blood
    1. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That's quite a Canuck slant to the news tonight - but I have to say the Habs $10 coin is pretty wicked.
    Also let me be the first to say that Downey's hit from behind on Filppula should result in expulsion. =P
  2. hockeytown blood
    2. Posted by hockeytown blood Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    (err, minus a decimal place)
  3. Wrap Around Curl
    3. Posted by Wrap Around Curl Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The Sports Soup needs Joel Mchale.
  4. Bubbabanjo
    4. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Its way over due...........I have watched the no class creeps run the D from behind and call it finishing their checks. Its no class creepism. Way way over due. Put them in a jewel kickin line for that crap.
    Wyshynski cowardly creeps runnin guys from behind dont just stink.............they are the highest level of douchebagarry.
  5. Z's B's
    5. Posted by Z's B's Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Boston's Patrice Bergeron - Out for the season (a very young season.)
    Philly's Randy Jones - Suspended for two games.
    Something just doesn't add up here.
    There is no room in professional sports for quite possibly ending a guy's career, just to 'finish off a check.'
  6. Bubbabanjo
    6. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think the same thing happened to Gonchar the other night. Thought I read it here. I think Brooks Orpik did one the other year to one of the Canes.
    Was just a hack makin a run on a guy fishing the puck off the boards.....too many of these happen.
    Wyshynski cheap shot slugs stink! Kick them out of the game...plenty of room for good clean hits and tough play. No need for this. Make them be suspended the duration of the guy they injured...and forfeit the salary to pay the guy thats out. Watch how fast it quits.
  7. Billkamm
    7. Posted by Billkamm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sports Soup? Can't be any worse than that short lived Dennis Miller sports show they had on for a few episodes. I can't even remember what it was called. I don't understand why people keep employing Dennis Miller to do sports shows anyway. He is not a sports show kind of guy. He should stick to political jokes.
  8. knucklehead
    8. Posted by knucklehead Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Amen Bubba, but I do think you have to consider, (and I know NHL refs will) whether or not the hitter is a repeat offender. Don't tell me there aren't reputations that will draw penalties, even at the highest level.
    They say they will crack down on this, but they will flush it all down the pooper when the playoffs start.
  9. Fact Finder
    9. Posted by Fact Finder Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Wysh - Clearly you are a Leafs hater, which is fine. But stop posting your crap about them. First, there is nothing wrong with building a franchise around a league top defenseman such as Kaberle (although there are a number of other players they are building around as well (Toskala, Antropov, Steen, Stajan and Tlusty now - and players like Pogge, Hagman, Schenn, Earl and Kulemin in the very near future. Don't be surprised if you see Stajan with the "C" as the season progresses. Second, The tickets have actually gotten cheaper and more accessible if you know how to go about getting them. And Tanenbaum is right, I mean how many people in the Hockey world actually care that Carolina, Tampa Bay and Anaheim won cups? GO LEAFS GO!!!
  10. suiycfui
    10. Posted by suiycfui Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:47 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Bubba -
    It's spelled "douchebaggarry." Get it right, okay?
  11. Matt J
    11. Posted by Matt J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @Fact Finder - Ummm... I care that the Hurricanes won the Cup, being a fan and all. Face it, dude, your Leafs suck!
  12. brian d
    12. Posted by brian d Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I thought they already had a rule against checking from behind. I'd vote for no-touch icing.
    Make the NHL players wear the stop sign that they force youth players to wear on the backs of their sweaters.
    I find Talk Soup to be very funny. Maybe their new show'll keep me form switching from the game on Versus to the West coast game on Center Ice right away.
  13. Fact Finder
    13. Posted by Fact Finder Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    MATT J, you should be proud that your team won, but that doesn't change the fact that most people in the hockey world are not interested if a team from a warm weather climate wins the Stanley cup. As for your other comment, without the Leafs and the other original six teams, the league would cease to exist and places like carolina would have no idea what hockey is. Although they haven't won in many years, the Leafs still rank second in Stanly cups won - a feat carolina will never attain.
  14. carl_vs_mastershake
    14. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I thought Avery's throw your hands in the air like you just don't care was brilliant.
    Two egos like Hull and Avery in the same room, there is a story line worth following.
  15. Michigander21
    15. Posted by Michigander21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I am very conflicted about the hitting from behind issue. No player should ever line a player up and hit them from behind, period. However, I have been witnessing a new issue. As a player is about to another legally, the player on the recieving end has been turning their back to draw penalties. I saw it work a number of times last year. If there is a true "no tolerence" policy, I am afraid we will see players recieving a blank check to draw penalties. I am not saying that it washes out. I am just saying, something must be done about these players turning their back at the last second. "No tolerence" creates quite a problem. Like the kid who got kicked out of school for bringing his GI Joe, the action figure had a 1 inch long plastic gun that violated the "no tolerence" policy. "No tolerence" often sounds like a very strong move, but all it does is remove logic.
  16. hooksorpik
    16. Posted by hooksorpik Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "Calling for zero tolerance for hits from behind"
    I invite Rory Boylen to skate out to Gary Roberts and propose that idea to him.
  17. Matt J
    17. Posted by Matt J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @Fact Finder - I fully agree with your statement about people in the warm weather climates... and being from Connecticut, I wholeheartedly say "Bring the Canes back to Hartford.". And get rid of the other Southeast teams, or at least, move them further north. And while the Canes will never equal the number of Cups Toronto has won, at least I can say that although it took 20 years of my being a die-hard Whalers/Hurricanes fan, they finally won the Cup. Don't get me wrong, I fully support more Canadian teams... to hell with Kansas City and Las Vegas, But let's face it... the Leafs need to start over. Such a shame Sundin didn't let himself be traded last year. They could've used the draft picks.
  18. Wyshynski
    18. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @ Fact Finder --
    Yes, I'm a Leafs basher. So that puts me, what, in line with 99% of all hockey fans?
    What's next? "Hey, stop being so mean to the Yankees, jerkwad..."
  19. Mateo P
    19. Posted by Mateo P Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    In the world of hockey, there are Leafs fans, and there are Leafs bashers. I have yet to witness an in-between.
    And if you ever want to confirm that Leafs fans are douchebags, go to a Leafs @ Habs game (also called Blue Moronism).
  20. Z's B's
    20. Posted by Z's B's Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    As far as I'm concerned, the Leafs suck, but the Habs REALLY suck.
    Heh heh! Fire away!!
  21. Bubbabanjo
    21. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    My bad...........Im a drinkin as Im typin............it shows.
    I stink!

Puck Daddy

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Greg Wyshynski

Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Sean Leahy, Ross McKeon, Matt Romig, Dmitry Chesnokov, Ryan Lambert, Dobber, Scott Pianowski,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More NHL Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Puck Daddy Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)

Watch Live Hockey Online with GameCenter Live™