Spin the Wheel: How Many Games for This One?

Everyone is talking right now about the NHL’s safety protocols. Or as people like to say—well, no, I’m not allowed to say that, this is a family blog. In all seriousness, I wonder what kind of statement the NHL is making lately with its latest game suspensions.

Radko Gudas

First of all, let me say this: I am a huge fan of Radko’s abilities. Every team in the NHL needs a solid physical defenceman who takes care of business in front of the net. But this was not good hockey. The hit was a deliberate knee-on-knee hit. Matthew’s season is over. Are you telling me that when all is said and done, Austin Matthews is only worth five games? This should have been more than a five-game suspension. The NHL needs to clean up its act.

AJ Greer

There is no room in the NHL for AJ Greep’s hit on Connor Zary. It was a malicious hit from behind. I am all for a good physical style of game; that’s part of the game. But that was not good hockey. Connor was defenseless; he had no chance to protect himself from that kind of attack. The NHL has to eliminate this kind of hit from the game. Sidelining Greep for three games does not make the statement that the NHL is trying hard to take these kinds of hits out of the game. If the NHL wants to attract new fans, they have to show people this isn’t a barbaric game.

Final word

There has to be a better way. Players have to respect each other and the rules of the game. There need to be stiffer regulations and penalties. They need to motivate the players not to commit homicidal acts. Let’s try to improve the game, shall we? I’m not saying I want a goody-two-shoes league; what I do want is a safer league for our players.

Randy

P.S. I could have picked from several incidents, but I chose these two because they were the most recent. 

Brain Farts and Broken Heads: Another Day in the NHL

Every year, I think this will be the year. Maybe this will be the year players will start respecting each other. I hate the fact that players lose their heads (not literally, of course), thinking we are in an armed conflict and not a hockey game. What has got me a snit? In the words of a famous wrestler, LA Knight, “Well, let me tell ya”. I’m not trying to hurt players’ feelings, but sometimes they have brain farts.

Head shots attempt to cause injury

I know there can be times when there is no attempt to injure. What makes the head explode (again, not literally, I would not be alive), brainless hits players jumping up before making a hit. Then, listening to the offender mumbling, trying to defend themselves, “I was trying to get some momentum with a big hit.” Oh, that’s fine, then jump as high as you can to hit him where? Oh, that’s right, to the cranium (word of the day—it means head).

The other excuse, “My intent was not to maim, mutilate, afflict, or damage the physical body in any way,” Has someone lawyered up? Exactly what was your intent? Was it some kind of male-bonding thing? Was it maybe a love tap? I really want to know what goes through the player’s mind right before they do the deed.

Coaches are trying to defend the player for his actions, saying, “He was trying to change direction, he was not trying to hurt the player.” Reminds me of the legal counsel for the defendant. The opposing coach is yelling foul and calling the player a scoundrel (is that a family word? I hope I didn’t offend anyone) for doing it. The prosecution has spoken. Let truth be known, this coach is a hypocrite. If the shoe were on the other foot, he would want his player to do the same.

Final word

Oh, you laugh, but you know it’s true. How many of you, if you were a General Manager, wouldn’t want to acquire a Matthew Tkachuk? My source, “Oh how I hate Tkachuck, but what I wouldn’t do to acquire his services.” Doesn’t this sound like hiring a hitman, assassin, cutthroat, or even an executioner? I didn’t know hockey was such a violent sport. 

Maybe we should play a game of Candy Land?