League Will Be Responsible If It Ignores the Players

The NHL Players Association wants a very stict rule about headshots.

The NHL (Bettman) disagrees. He won't act until a player dies or until Crosby has his career-ending consussion.

Now Suspend Him

The fine print says that Ovechkin doesn't get an automatic suspension, but the NHL is going to be serious about enforcing the rules on star players not named Pronger (see flowchart, h/t Max), then Ovechkin had to be suspended, or we'll see more of this.

One difference about this boarding game misconduct -- it wasn't against a Buffalo player. In the past, Ovechkin boarded Briere and Kaleta, both while they played for the Sabres.

Fans Will Demand the NHL Support The Olympics

The biggest problem with not participating in the Russian Olympics in 2014, as Bettman and Burke hope to, is that the NHL may never be able to return to the Olympics.

Of course, Bettman is intent on running the sport into the ground and bankrupting the league in the name of the short-term demands of owners and general managers, but anyone who cares about the long term future of the sport would set aside time for participation.

All the league has to do is run a shorter year, perhaps 4 division games + 2 conference games + 1 cross-conference game = 20 + 20 + 15 games = 55 games instead of 81 games.

Perhaps Bettman is upset that the Olympics are upstaging him -- they will have higher TV rankings than any hockey game he's associated with this year.

Suspend OKT from the Olympics permanently

This dirty headshot by Flyers defenseman Ole Kristian Tollefson should draw a ban from the next Olympics, in my opnion.

Crappy Olympics Broadcasts

The quality of the broadcast feed from the Olympics is shocking. There are stutters and lossed data. It's as bad or even worse than what we'd get if we were watching it over the internet.

I cannot understand why the olympics and the NHL would let this happen. If this continues during the Czech - Russia and USA - Canada games on Sunday, maybe some of the professional commentators will be forced to mention it.


Also, I think there should be a mercy rule. When one team is 10 goals ahead, the game is over. Let's institute it in the NHL too.

Gorges Hit By Slapshot, But Still Lucky

Montreal Defenceman Josh Gorges was hit by a slapshot but luckily was able to walk off the ice with assistance.

Can we do anything to prevent this?

Swedish Referee Dies During Game

A 62 year old referee in Sweden died while refereeing a game for 18 year old when he was hit on the back of the head by a puck.

I hope that North American referees are protected.

Selanne Returned Too Soon

This is one of the most unpleasant hockey videos I've ever seen.

He suffered a broken jaw on January 13. He returned to the ice on February 1.

That's wrong -- even for a player who is about to retire.

Sports medicine is bad.

Will the NHL Crack Down on Cornier?

When an 18 year old player goes into convulsions and the Premier of Quebec complains about it, maybe the NHL will do something.

NFL Concussion Story Just Won't Die

Kudos to the NY Times for keeping on the story. John Conyers recently questioned the NFL's concussion expert on the subject.

The NHL should get ready for this. The NHL needs to take concussions seriously.


For example, Phaneuf should have been suspended for the hit on Kopitar even though Kopitar was not hurt.

NHL Must Do Better on Concussions

The NFL has been making news by finally admitting it has a concussion problem. Now new research will shine the same spotlight on the NHL.

The New York Times today reported that researchers found that the corpse of fistfighter Reggie Fleming died in part from a neurogenetive disease caused by head trauma.

The news comes as nifty Congressman John Conyers held another hearing on head injuries in football.

In both sports, the ones who pay the nastiest price are the under-21 youth. Both leagues must act now out of common decency -- and to avoid overwhelming liability in the future.

Bring Back the Ties

I commented on this blog here.

I agree with Puck Daddy that the shootout is a cynical sideshow:

Comedy aside, the key phrase: "entertainment option." Which is what the shootout is, of course: A sideshow rather than an equitable and effective way to determine the winner of a professional team game. Hence the outrage.

Homophobia Has No Place in Hockey

Cheers to Brian Burke's son Brendan for stepping out of the closet.

Part of what I like in hockey is the diversity of nationalities represented. I am also upset when I hear that some people are discouraged from talking their native language.

Did NFL Concussion Experts Quit or Were They Fired?

The New York Times has a carefully written article that says that controversial head injury experts quit after extensive criticism of their lack of concern about head injuries.

The article says that Dr. Ira Casson and Dr. David Viano were members of the committee since 1994 and co-chairmen since 2007. The firing or quitting was announced on Tuesday and earlier, on Sunday, the NFL said it will work with the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) to identify independent neurologists to say whether or not players are fit to play.

I am glad that the NFL is taking the first steps in addressing sport medicine, where doctors are encouraged to get players back on the field at the expense of their long term health.

I hope that the NHL will follow their example -- but first the NHL Players' Association (NHLPLA) will have to clean itself up.

FIFA Should Ban France's Gallas For World Cup Cheat

The Frenchman put the put in the back of the net by using his hand, winning the game for France over Ireland in a very controversial game.

FIFA should respond by letting the result stand but banning Galas from World Cup 2010.

Shrink the league!

THN's Ryan Kennedy makes a very good case.

I would add this -- go to 78 games:

Two groups of 7 teams in each conference

6 teams x 6 games = 36

7 teams x 4 games = 28

14 teams x 1 game (cross conference) = 14 games

Total: 78 games.

Phoenix and one other team would go (Isles?).

Young Defencemen on the Rise

Great article here.

I would highlight Yandle and Myers as players who will excel.

Another Head Shot, Another Test for the NHL

This time it was Andrew Ladd, ejected three minutes into the game for a head shot on D'Agostini. Ladd should be suspended -- but Richards should be too.

NHL Fails the Mike Richards Test

Mike Richards clearly intended to injure David Booth (17 second video) and although he got 5 minutes for intent to injure and thrown out of the game, he was not suspended for that act.

Today, RotoWire.com commentator Janet Eagleson (available on Yahoo).

She wrote, "there’s a huge difference between a good, hard check in the heat of the action and a headshot when the opponent’s guard is down."

She's write, and the NHL needs to do something about it.

Does the NFL Think the Concussion Problem Will Go Away?

The NY Times is not dropping the story.

The NHL should be proactive on this issue and not wait until it gets shamed into action.