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Official 2010-2011 NHL Season Thread; 3rd Period
- Thread starter warwick.hoy
- Start date
The Chara hit was pretty bad. My first thought when I saw it was a flashback to the Chelios hit on Brian Propp years ago that was similar. Say what you want about his height, the same thing was argued about height for Pronger when he was in Anaheim (though I don't think Chara is the dirty player Pronger is, and since leaving Anaheim Prongs has been better).
I fully agree if the hit was on the penalty box side it's a nothing play. However, players know full well where the stanchion is, and I think Chara was out to blast Pacioretty, but not to injure that badly (much like Bertuzzi was out to kick the crap out of Steve Moore, but not to break his neck). With the recent focus on concussions, and this one has got to be a doozy, and with Colin Campbell recused from this case due to having a son on the Bruins, and the media circus that is likely, I have no idea how the NHL is going to come down. They have been so inconsistent, and I'm sure MTL fans will want the book thrown at him and then some, and BOS fans will say the penalties already assessed are enough. Bob McKenzie on TSN makes a case for 2 games but concedes nobody would be satisfied with it. Chara is a star player, more so than Bertuzzi was at the time of the Moore incident, and that's gonna come in to play, like it or not. My gut tells me that it should be a 10-20 game suspension but I honestly have no idea how the poison dwarf's officiating minions will rule.
I fully agree if the hit was on the penalty box side it's a nothing play. However, players know full well where the stanchion is, and I think Chara was out to blast Pacioretty, but not to injure that badly (much like Bertuzzi was out to kick the crap out of Steve Moore, but not to break his neck). With the recent focus on concussions, and this one has got to be a doozy, and with Colin Campbell recused from this case due to having a son on the Bruins, and the media circus that is likely, I have no idea how the NHL is going to come down. They have been so inconsistent, and I'm sure MTL fans will want the book thrown at him and then some, and BOS fans will say the penalties already assessed are enough. Bob McKenzie on TSN makes a case for 2 games but concedes nobody would be satisfied with it. Chara is a star player, more so than Bertuzzi was at the time of the Moore incident, and that's gonna come in to play, like it or not. My gut tells me that it should be a 10-20 game suspension but I honestly have no idea how the poison dwarf's officiating minions will rule.
jp58 said:
I'm fully aware that Chicago is one of the original six, but from a marketing standpoint rekindling more of the O6 rivalries makes more sense, and the time zone issue with Detroit was present long before the Predators came into existence. Also, proximity to ATL is a marginal argument at best since they're a good possibility for relocation. The strongest argument against Detroit moving to the East is that they're a huge road draw for the Western teams (some would also say that they would just run roughshod over the East but I wouldn't go that far, as more familiarity allows for easier adjustment to an opponent's game and anyone can beat anyone on a given night, which is why they play the games in the first place).
You can't judge intentions, be it a superstar or a crook, but you can judge of what happened, and honestly, players know that place very well, I don't bite on the "Didn't saw" or w.e.
I'd really like to say 20 games but giving him the benefice of the doubt I'd have to say 5-10 games, more likely 5 just because it happened...
Some of you might remember Brisebois getting 20games (I think) for saying he smoked weed as a junior, this league is non-sense.
edit: Let's just do a parallel with actual "real-world" law, when you commit a crime (hurt somebody, w.e.), if it's unintentional or that the intention can't be proved, you still get served, just less.
I'd really like to say 20 games but giving him the benefice of the doubt I'd have to say 5-10 games, more likely 5 just because it happened...
Some of you might remember Brisebois getting 20games (I think) for saying he smoked weed as a junior, this league is non-sense.
edit: Let's just do a parallel with actual "real-world" law, when you commit a crime (hurt somebody, w.e.), if it's unintentional or that the intention can't be proved, you still get served, just less.
:scowl:No, you misunderstood me. Nashville is much closer to the SE than anyone else, and if Atlanta moved, they would be in the perfect spot to take their place.
Otherwise, you leave the Central division and SE division both looking at teams that are a long way away from them location wise or a lo more restructuring.
"This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards," Murphy said in the statement. "I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous."---- NHL VP of Hockey Operations; Mike Murphy
Invalid Link Removed
Me Mongo,...me hit little man in glass. Me no sure what big deal is.
It was a talentless play,..but Chara doesn't strike me as having a high hockey IQ unless it's stand in front of the crease and let forwards bounce off of you. That said I haven't seen a whole lot of Chara in my hockey watching.
Chara Smash!
Seriously though, it was an overly aggressive hit that I really wish didn't happen (especially where it did).
jp58 said:
If there are any teams switching conferences it will be some significant restructuring IMHO. I understand your rationale regarding the SE conference but due to the long time desire if an original six team to return to the East and the marketing dollars available will preclude that. Besides, if the Wings leave the Central, I'd have ZERO problem with the Preds racking up Central Division championships.
arbitrary said:
Chara smash indeed. If this hit happens elsewhere in the rink it's a nothing hit. Chara didn't mean to break his neck by ramming his head into the stanchion with an arm extension at the last second just like Todd Bertuzzi didn't mean to break Moore's neck with the punch and tackle from behind when the punk wouldn't answer the bell for his hit on Naslund. Similar injury, similar stature of player giving the hit (back then Bertuzzi was one of the top power forwards in the league), markedly different response from the NHL. Neither player intended to cause such an egregious injury, though an argument can be made that Moore's injury was actually caused or exacerbated by the pile on afterwards. I've watched that play numerous times and I can see why that argument is made but it by no means is it conclusive. I wholeheartedly agreed with the Bertuzzi suspension and think Chara should have been nailed with a suspension in this case. If Gillies from the NYI had performed the same hit Chara did then he'd have been thrown out for at least a year. I recognize that Chara has pretty much been a stand up guy for most of his lengthy career, but he got off way too easy IMHO. This sends the message that ramming someone into the stanchion like that is fair game, and I'm fearful for the next player on the receiving end. The next MTL-BOS game could get ugly with retaliation.
Besides, if the Wings leave the Central, I'd have ZERO problem with the Preds racking up Central Division championships.
ZING!!!!
I don't like the message the league sent. Chara should have at least gotten 3-5 games if not more.
Did he intend to hurt the guy? No,...but you are right,...Gilles or Cooke makes the same boneheaded play you bet you arse it's a suspension.
This is a potentially career ending injury to Paciorety (sp?) and Chara get's a measly game misconduct; which they probably only did in order to keep the game from getting out of hand on the brawl front.
If there are any teams switching conferences it will be some significant restructuring IMHO. I understand your rationale regarding the SE conference but due to the long time desire if an original six team to return to the East and the marketing dollars available will preclude that. Besides, if the Wings leave the Central, I'd have ZERO problem with the Preds racking up Central Division championships.
Man alive. I could've seen that happening a few years back. We were on pace to lead the league at the end of the regular season, and still didn't top you guys, It was really frustrating to have the second best record in the NHL to "Big Brother."
