http://onthewingsblog.com/2006/11/22/johan-franzen-has-a-concussion/ by true Citizens of Hockeytown Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:37:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://onthewingsblog.com/2006/11/22/johan-franzen-has-a-concussion/#comment-1093 11/28 Notes at On the Wings Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:18:38 +0000 http://onthewingsblog.com/2006/11/22/johan-franzen-has-a-concussion/#comment-1093 [...] Update (12:37 PM): George Malik links to a Windsor Star piece that points out that the Wings’ miserable power play isn’t operating in a vacuum: teams know they won’t have to pay for cheap shots as long as they’re facing the league’s worst PP percentage. I can’t disagree, though only one of the three big injury-causing cheap shots so far this season (Wiliams 1, Franzen, Williams 2 below) has resulted in a Detroit power play. Kind of hard to use the man advantage for revenge when the officials aren’t calling penalties on the plays. - Matt [...] [...] Update (12:37 PM): George Malik links to a Windsor Star piece that points out that the Wings’ miserable power play isn’t operating in a vacuum: teams know they won’t have to pay for cheap shots as long as they’re facing the league’s worst PP percentage. I can’t disagree, though only one of the three big injury-causing cheap shots so far this season (Wiliams 1, Franzen, Williams 2 below) has resulted in a Detroit power play. Kind of hard to use the man advantage for revenge when the officials aren’t calling penalties on the plays. - Matt [...]

]]> http://onthewingsblog.com/2006/11/22/johan-franzen-has-a-concussion/#comment-1083 Sarah Baker Thu, 23 Nov 2006 05:13:50 +0000 http://onthewingsblog.com/2006/11/22/johan-franzen-has-a-concussion/#comment-1083 I was watching the game and to me the hit appeared to be quite similar to the Torres hit on Williams. Mickey Redmond kept talking about how that kind of thing wouldn't have happened in his day. They interviewed Schneider between periods and he said "You have to respect your opponent." Basically that's how I see it. While the hit is technically legal (though I don't see why you couldn't get a roughing penalty for taking a run at someone's head...), it's still something that shouldn't be happening. It's clearly dangerous and as the guy delivering the hit, you've got to make an effort to avoid head contact. Maybe they're not specifically gunning for the head, but they're not trying to avoid it either and that's hardly any better. Mickey suggested that the NHL should change the rules to make such a hit illegal. I would have to agree on that. It's only a matter of time before someone really gets hurt. At least there was a penalty given this time - interference - but only because the puck was already gone at the time of the hit. Hopefully the repeated occurrence will force the NHL to examine the issue further and make some changes before it happens again. I was watching the game and to me the hit appeared to be quite similar to the Torres hit on Williams. Mickey Redmond kept talking about how that kind of thing wouldn’t have happened in his day. They interviewed Schneider between periods and he said “You have to respect your opponent.” Basically that’s how I see it. While the hit is technically legal (though I don’t see why you couldn’t get a roughing penalty for taking a run at someone’s head…), it’s still something that shouldn’t be happening. It’s clearly dangerous and as the guy delivering the hit, you’ve got to make an effort to avoid head contact. Maybe they’re not specifically gunning for the head, but they’re not trying to avoid it either and that’s hardly any better. Mickey suggested that the NHL should change the rules to make such a hit illegal. I would have to agree on that. It’s only a matter of time before someone really gets hurt. At least there was a penalty given this time - interference - but only because the puck was already gone at the time of the hit. Hopefully the repeated occurrence will force the NHL to examine the issue further and make some changes before it happens again.

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