This isn’t strictly Wings-related, but I had to point it out: all-around goon/punk Scott Hartnell (my fellow Central Division fans know what I’m talking about) has been suspended a mere two games for this vicious hit on Boston’s Andrew Alberts:
I’m sorry, but two games? What a joke. What is it going to take for the NHL to take this stuff seriously? Maybe when some minor league call-up forth-line three-minute-a-game Neanderthal destroys Sidney Crosby’s career. Maybe when Alexander Ovechkin gets decapitated on one of his high-speed rushes. Who knows? Let’s all pray no one gets killed one of these nights.
How long are we fans going to tolerate this crap? The League seems to think that just because a guy like Alberts isn’t an “A-list” superstar that it’s okay to give the perpetrator a slap on the wrist. Is it okay? I don’t think so. I love the game and I love the NHL, but if the League doesn’t take measures to more severely punish players who take liberties with their peers such as Hartnell did, I’ll have a hard time remaining a fan.
Colin Campbell: “It appears that Mr. Hartnell was attempting to let up on delivering a check to an opponent that was in a vulnerable position. However, at the point of contact, he did deliver a blow to the head of Mr. Alberts that resulted in an injury.”
I have to agree with Campbell on this one. Alberts fell to his knees while Hartnell was already coming in for a check at full speed. Hartnell did let up, but decided not to or was unable to swerve to the side. So he’s partly to blame, but Alberts got himself in a bad position by having his face on the dasher board while Hartnell was in mid-check. Note: I wouldn’t mind the NHL eliminating the dasher board and having the glass flush with the boards…what is the point of having that edge there for guys to get injured on?
“How long are we fans going to tolerate this crap?…I love the game and I love the NHL, but if the League doesn’t take measures to more severely punish players who take liberties with their peers such as Hartnell did, I’ll have a hard time remaining a fan.”
I think many hockey fans have been saying that for awhile, yet they continue to be fans through years and years of more dirty hits. Well, just think about if they had YouTube back 40-50 years ago…I’m sure you’d find similar/worse hits. Not saying it’s okay but the hockey community has let it go on for a long, long time, and I don’t see it changing for 10-15 years. At the Wings game last week, I saw some midget league players and they had a stop sign on the back of their jersey to show them when not to hit. Maybe other leagues can put that in too.
Wow, that’s preposterous. I completely agree; there’s no reason that he should have only gotten two games for such a dirty and potentially dangerous hit. Wow.
Brian,
Campbell must have had a better replay, because it didn’t look to me like Hartnell slowed at all. Regardless of whether or not he held off speed-wise, he still planted Alberts’ head into the boards with his elbow. I believe the League should throw the book at players whether or not they meant to injure and whether or not they held up at the last second. Then, maybe they’d think twice before entering such a situation in the first place.
As for the ledges, there is an argument for taking them out, but then what would the officials use to get out of the way of the play? That may seem like a minor thing, but recall how annoying it is even now when the puck gets caught in the feet of the ref or linesman. It’d disrupt the play even more if they didn’t have a ledge to prop them up as they bring up their feet. They’re also useful in helping players stay on their feet while grinding the puck out.
I don’t care about the past. What happened 50 years ago happened 50 years ago and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. The NHL today, however, needs to enter the 21st century and protect its players. The NFL does it. Why can’t the NHL?
I can’t see myself ever giving up watching hockey. I love the game too much. But this kind of crap disgusts me and even makes me ashamed to be a hockey fan. The League’s (and the sport’s) already-poor image is only further tarnished by guys like Hartnell and their idiotic decisions.
“The NHL today, however, needs to enter the 21st century and protect its players. The NFL does it. Why can’t the NHL?”
Because the NHL is run by old traditionalists who would rather preserve the image of “toughness” by sticking to decades-old methods than adapt to the 21st century. The unwillingness of the league to make visors mandatory speaks volumes.
I feel the same way as you do Matt. I love hockey but the way the NHL is run, especially when compared to other leagues, disgusts me.
Justin,
You’re exactly right. Your mention of the visor question makes me wonder what happened when the League made helmets mandatory for all new players. At the very least, visors should be grandfathered in, especially given the fact that many young players are already used to wearing some kind of facial protection.
Matt:
I agree with you. I am really having a hard time with hits like these and then the joke of a suspension that is handed out. He couldn’t skate to the side? I love the game but I am having a hard time this year with all the hits to the head. The league’s lack of concern for protecting the players is going to come back and bite it big time. I really hope I’m wrong on that, I really do.
If I remember correctly, helmets were grandfathered in. Craig MacTavish was the last player to go helmetless, and he was allowed to because of the grandfather clause. It only makes sense that they do the same with visors. And seemingly everyone in the media agrees with that idea too. If I’m not mistaken, facial protection (visors/cages) are mandatory in juniors now. Why is protecting the adults less important? Why can’t the NHL get a clue?
Justin,
I meant, I wonder if there was such resistance back when the change was made. If there was, they obviously found a way to satisfy people and that was grandfathering it in. I’d think a similar strategy would work today with visors.