Rant of the year; the double standards, instigator and the Penguins

by Brandt Corbin

                Before January 1, 2011 most NHL fans would say who the hell is David Steckel. Now the former Washington Capital and current New Jersey Devil center is best known for his hit on superstar Sidney Crosby at the 2011 Winter Classic. Some consider it dirty saying “Steckel knew what he was doing,” others say it was accidental contact.

                But nobody can dispute the fact that during the second intermission of the Classic, Crosby was scene telling teammates, trainers and coaches he did not remember anything about being hit. To me, not a professional trainer... that’s the biggest sign he might have a concussion. But no, the Penguins allowed him to return and play the third period, on top of that he was allowed to play the next game against Tampa Bay.  In that game, Crosby was smoked from behind by defenseman Victor Hedman, we all know since then he’s not played another game.

                Since then everyone has jumped on the bandwagon, calling for changes against head shots, concussions. Some have gone to extremes blaming the violence in hockey, wanting it completely removed. No one seemed to care that St. Louis Blues forward David Perron missed over 65 games with a concussion after being blindsided by Joe Thornton. With the exception of those in Montreal, not many seemed to care that Zdeno Chara slammed Max Paxcioretty’s head into the turn buckle (fracturing his 4^th cervical vertebra along with a severe concussion). Can you imagine if Chara did that to Crosby? A Holy War would have been started in the game of hockey, the NHL would have had no choice but to suspend Chara.

                If you to take out Thornton and Chara out of the equation and replace them with Sean Avery or Zenon Konopka, can imagine the length of suspension it would have been? I’d say 5-15 games minimum is what they would have gotten, despite Avery and Konopka having less suspensions or fines in their past. Am I suggested a double standard? Your dam rights I am. If Steve Ott would have elbowed Danny Heatley instead of the other way around, how many games would have the Dallas Star forward have gotten? Seven games maybe Ten? Not the two game joke that Danny got.

                For some reasons players like Heatley, Thornton, Chara have reputations of being clean players. That is itself is a complete joke. How does Chara have a positive reputation, after he jumped and rag dolled Mathias Timmander on March 24^th 2004? I don’t have enough time to get into why Heatley or Thornton have never been nominated for a Lady Byng trophy.

What needs to happen?

                Some will suggest we eliminate all violence. Take fighting out, what hits should be allowed what should not. Think about the 80’s and 90’s, look at the treatment Lemieux and Gretzky dealt with compared to a Cam Neely. You touched or looked at #66 or #99 the wrong way it was quickly dealt with by players like Marty McSorley, Jay Caufield or Tony Twist. Neely on the other hand had to fight his own battles and because of this his career was cut short. What do we need to do, to ensure this does not happen to a Crosby or a Stamkos?

                #1> Change the instigator rule. Take away the 10 minute misconduct away. That penalty deters players from standing up for their teammates after being hit legally or illegally. Let the players look after each other, this way the cheap shot artists, Maxim Lapierre, Jarko Ruttu, Patrick Kaleta might have second thoughts before acting recklessly.

                I was watching a game the other night, March 23, 2003, St. Louis @ Dallas. Late in the first period Philippe Boucher laid out Petr Cajanek (knocked him out of the game). The hit was declared legal, too most observers the hit was borderline at best. Early in the 2^nd period, St. Louis enforcer Reed Low instigated a fight with Boucher and was subsequently ejected from the game. Then Blues Captain Chris Pronger, visiting TSN’s play by  play team at the time, TSN’s Gord Miller asked him why does Boucher need to defend himself? Pronger replied back saying, “we can go over Dallas’s best player” similar to watch Boucher did to Cajanek.  Later on in the Blues-Stars game, Derain Hatcher jumped Blues star forward Pavol Demitra during a line brawl, forcing Blues de-man Jeff Finley to leave the penalty box to intervene.

                The mindset Pronger had has gone away, mainly because of the instigator penalty. You did not hit Gretzky, if you did your star player would get the same treatment or the player who hit #99 would be seeing stars all night in his head.

                #2> When it comes to league discipline have the same standard for first time offenders, whether it be a fourth line enforcer or a #1 line center. If the players a repeat offender, treat them the same as every other repeat offender would be treated. If Nicklas Lindstrom elbows Darryl Boyce, he should be suspended the same as if Boyce elbowed the Red Wing defenseman.

What goes around comes around

                For some reason I’ve got very little sympathy for the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans. Is it my wish for Crosby to be out with a concussion? Absolutely not, I like others wish he’d be 100%. But it’s their antics on the ice that piss me off.  People want us to believe they’re sweethearts and the last thing they want to do its hurt others. We all know by now they employee Matt Cooke, I was going to compare him to Dale Hunter, but even Hunter had the balls to fight his own battles when need be. But, it was others like former Penguin Max Talbot, current Penguin Chris Kunitz and Brooks Orpik that in my opinion are less than honest players.

But another Penguin pisses me off just as much as Cooke. Once in a blue moon we’ll come upon a defenseman like doesn’t like to be hit, and flips out when he does. Kris Letang’s stick work (slashes and cross-checks) is dangerous. He has little or no respect for his opposition, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets a broken ankle or ribs because of his stick work. Another thing that drives me nuts about him, is his tendency to embellish/dive, then again he is French Canadian... you give me a choice of players I’d like to sucker punch, Letang would be at the top of my list even more so than Cooke.

                I could throw up every time I hear the Penguins refer to themselves as victims. I wonder how many New York Islanders suffered concussions because of Talbot and Cooke. Marc Savard he’s a victim, I can never and will never join the Pittsburgh Penguin Pity Party.

The low down on Ales Hemsky

by Brandt Corbin

    Not to sure if you’ve heard, but according to some Edmonton Oiler experts.... sorry I take that back bloggers, the Oilers anytime they’d want could trade Ales Hemsky for a huge package. According to some, they could acquire Kris Letang from Pittsburgh or Nick Kronwall and a top draft pick from Detroit for of all people Hemsky. Then again its the same bloggers who also said the Kings were to acquire Hemsky for Brayden Schenn and/or Wayne Simmonds at the trade deadline. When and if that trade was mentioned, the Kings quickly hung up the phone

    The fact of the matter is this, the eight year veteran is an overrated, undersized often injured winger. Hemsky is also set to become a UFA in 2012-13. The 28-year-old has never been a point a game player, has a career high 23 goals and has missed 95 games in the last two seasons.

    Lets sit back think about it for a minute, and calmly. What is Czech native’s market value really at right now?  I personally believe he will be this years Tomas Kaberle, unfortunately they won’t get half of what the Leafs got in return. I see the Oilers making a mistake and playing the waiting game. But when its all said and done, when Hemsky moves on, they’ll get a good prospect or a mid first rounder for the forward. They won’t be getting much more than that. I’d move him sooner rather than later, because knowing him he’ll get injured.

Who might want him now?

    One team that has the cap space, and could use a top six forward would be the defending champs in the Boston Bruins. If Oilers GM Steve Tambellini was a thinking man, he’d find a way to get goaltender Tukka Rask out of Boston (who will be a RFA in 2012-13. Even though Oiler fans might deny it, they’d need to give up a little more (3rd or 4th rounder) to make it happen. Only thing holding this deal back is Hemsky is likely the opposite of what Boston is looking for.

    The Carolina Hurricanes sometime during the season might take a gamble on his. They’re top six as it stands right now is limited, if the two teams come together something potentially could get done.

When its all said and done

    Penguins GM Ray Shero and Detroit GM Ken Holland did not go dumb overnight. They can never and will never trade a top 3 defenseman is Letang or Kronwall for someone like Hemsky. Tambellini has to decide at some point what’s the most he can get in return for this asset. The Oilers eventually need a player or players that can help now whether they ever find that deal remains to be seen.

 

 

 

Biggest WTF moments of the 2011 NHL off-season

    Darcy Hordichuk gets a one  year, one way deal for 750k with the Edmonton Oilers. They finally get rid of one unwilling scrapper in Zach Stortini and they bring in another. Hordichuk’s agent deserves 25% of the salary just for convincing a team to take his client. I love rough and tumble hockey more than anyone else, but the Kamsack native is past his prime, unless he plays like he did in Nashville.

    Scott Howson and the Columbus Blue Jackets deserve major kudos for getting Jeff Carter, while not having to trade Ryan Johansen. While the price was high the signing of James Wishniewski was an upgrade. But the teams philosophy in net is mystifying at best. Their goaltending last year was below average. When or if Steve Mason, lays another egg, their backup plan is Mark Dekanich. Who the f**k is Mark Dekanich? If you follow the AHL you’d have an idea. Reason being he’s had three great seasons in the AHL, but tell me the last 25 year old AHL goalie to be a proven NHLer? Last one that comes to mind is Jason Labarbera, and the last time I checked he’s been an ok backup. They better pray this risk pays off, if not this could be another nail in the coffin for hockey in Columbus.

   

    One year after signing Derek Boogaard (god rest his soul) to a four year 1.65 million contract, the Rangers do almost do the exact same type of a deal for Mike Rupp. While the Cleveland Ohio native is more of a useful player, is he really worth 3 years @ 1.5 million per year? He’s been around a while, and has a career high 13 goals, 49 goals in 497 NHL games. Again good for the player, but what was the team thinking.

   

    Andrew Brunette is one of those underappreciated veterans who’s been around forever. He signed with the Blackhawks, one year @ 2 million. This could be the bargain of the decade, a top six forward who will play with a Sharp or Hossa, his numbers will only get better. Brunette had 18 goals and 46 points with the talentless Minnesota Wild last year.

    

    Have you ever heard of Aaron Gagnon, Andrew Gordon? Both smaller, AHL forwards were given two year deals by Winnipeg and Anaheim, the second year of the deals gives both one-way money. Other teams are doing the same thing, Joey Macdonald and Matt Ellis have the same types of deals with their respective clubs.

   

    Similar to 2010, the Vancouver Canucks have given minor leaguers one way contracts. Last year it was Joel Perrault and Jonas Anderson, both spent the majority of the season in Manitoba. This year they’ve given Andrew Ebbett and Mark Mancari one-way contracts, if they’re not in the AHL, they’ll be fourth liners at best in Vancouver.

    

    Kudos to Tim Brent and Anthony Stewart, both guys had career years last year and both earned themselves a two-year guaranteed contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. As a Leaf and a Jet fan, I was disappointed to see both guys move elsewhere.