Nightly Hockey Hits: Former player criticizes Ron Wilson, Team Canada goes green for WJC, Scuderi’s hip check sends Chimera skates over head, is hockey too violent?

My apologies for the lack of updates. IC will be back up and running smoothly this week. Here are some of the most recent stories circulating the blogs;

Cult of Hockey: JDD, Visnovsky shine as other Oilers fade (player grades, Vancouver 2 vs. Edmonton 0). Sounds like the best news for Edmonton was the play of the backup goalie.
Puck Daddy: Scuderi’s hip check sends Chimera skates over head. Doesn’t sound like Chimera is very happy with Scuderi.
The Hockey News: Avs should properly honor retired Nordiques numbers. Seems like Colorado is forgetting their roots.
Natural Hat Trick Productions: Why we root for the Phoenix Coyotes. …While I agree with the idea for those who are fans of the team, it’s time for folks in Arizona to start attending the games.
NHL Fanhouse: Former player criticizes Leafs coach Ron Wilson. Wow, couldn’t they have found someone whose played for him this decade? That’s a pretty funny headline in the context of having not played for the guy for 15 years.
Hub Hockey: Tim Thomas with the save of the year. Seems like every week we see a new “save of the year” but as John Davidson likes to say “oh baby”.
Greatest Hockey Legends: Hitting The Post With Habs Stamps. What’s a stamp? While I’m not of the generation who doesn’t know anything other than email and despite not mailing anything anymore, I like the idea of these commemorative stamps.
Brodeur is a Fraud: Are shootouts an indicator of skill? I will take Luongo and Brodeur and their slightly above average skill at the shootout to have them available for playoffs.
Deadspin: Is it time for the “Is Hockey Too Violent” debate already? I don’t think it is. IC readers?
From the Rink: Team Canada goes green for WJC. I’m all for going “green” but not a fan of that shade. Wasn’t neon green available?

Jarick

Probably in the minority, but they need to do away with head shots, heavily penalize slew foots, boardings, and knee hits, and probably tighten up the “finishing the check”. Stepped punishments with a mandatory 1-game suspension for first timers that escalates would do the trick.

I’d rather see a hockey team full of stars than a bunch of guys ending their careers early with bad knees, shoulders, a litany of concussion issues, etc. Shoulder-to-shoulder, hip checks, and even fights are part of hockey, but players need to be accountable on these dangerous plays, especially as they’ve gotten bigger and faster.
http://www.illegalcurve.com david

All very good points Jarick. Hard to disagree with the idea that we don’t want to see superstars or anyone for that matter ending a career with a concussion (eg. Lindros) or a cheap injury (eg. Neely).
http://www.illegalcurve.com Richard

Jarick is onto something. Every year we see these types of plays and every year they get a maximum of three to four games for discipline. In reality, if you want to shutdown those plays you give players harsh penalties which would make them think twice.
Bob Roberts

•Deadspin: Is it time for the “Is Hockey Too Violent” debate already? I don’t think it is. IC readers?

In the long, long time that I have followed hockey as a player and a fan there has always been an “Is Hockey Too Violent” debate going. IMO it’s the “Too” that’s the roadblock in the way of eliminating injuries, along with equipment issue.

Any activity conducted at that speed in an enclosed area by an increasingly larger, stronger and faster group is going to be violent. Even if collisions were not encouraged, they would be unavoidable.

As Grapes has pointed out many times, equipment like elbow and shoulder pads are significant contributors to injury.

There needs to be a rethink: the players are supposed to wear protective items and not armour on their elbows and shoulders.

I’d be very interested to see a study comparing shoulder injuries before the current getup and present day. I think the armoured shoulders are as much a contributor to those injuries as they are to concussions.

On the topic of concussions, what’s the deal on the Messier helmut?
Bob Roberts

Nightly Hockey Hits: Former player criticizes Ron Wilson,…

So, it’s not just me? Wow. I thought I was all alone on this.
Mt

Bob: What I meant about Tucker is that some players are in the league for their toughness, and those players aren’t going to hold back as often. Someone like Tucker (and here maybe Ruutu) commits to make a hit, and notices the other guy might be prone to injury, and just goes ahead anyway – because the odds are that they will not be injured.

There is a severity of suspension that basically eliminates the head hits. The league has to try to find it.

This league, however, doesn’t suspend stars, and it likes to look the other way during the playoffs. Like Malkin last year: earned an “automatic” suspension, yet it was rescinded (because the Queen likes the Penguins?). Now Richards.

Highly recommended reading for anyone interested: the Malcom Gladwell feature on concussions in the New Yorker entitled “Offensive Play”. Head injuries are a big deal.
http://www.illegalcurve.com david

MT: Malcom Gladwell was who I saw on PTI talking about concussions in the NFL. He had Tony + Mike stunned with his ‘NFL will go the way of boxing prediction’. Was an interesting segment. I wonder if any similar studies have been conducted of hockey players. Very interesting read.

Nightly Hockey Hits: Former player criticizes Ron Wilson, Team Canada goes green for WJC, Scuderi’s hip check sends Chimera skates over head, is hockey too violent?

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