Official NHL Thread

[bigbear2face]

Well, after basically dominating every facet of the game for the entire time in game 1 the Blues stole a win in game 2. The Kings were pretty much the better team for the first two periods (some unbalanced reffing helped) then the Blues woke up and dominated the 3rd to steal it.

[Carmona25]

GOD.....I HATE the Ducks.

[Foxxy kyle]

Originally Posted by Carmona25

GOD.....I HATE the Ducks.

I kinda like them! They are mighty.

[Carmona25]

Originally Posted by Foxxy kyle

I kinda like them! They are mighty.

shut up....

[bigbear2face]

I think the Blues v. Kings series might set a playoff record for fewest goals scored. At least fewest goals scored per game.

[PyreBall]

I'm gonna cheer for Minnesota since they've got Pommers, I think.

[Foxxy kyle]

Originally Posted by PyreBall

I'm gonna cheer for Minnesota since they've got Pommers, I think.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO



And before anybody asks, No that was not necessary at all.

[Wildmn34]

Huge win for Minnesota today. That was a do or die game. 3-2 in OT. Game winner by a rookie.

Originally Posted by PyreBall

I'm gonna cheer for Minnesota since they've got Pommers, I think.

Yeah we do, sort of. He's been out with a concussion thanks to Dustin Brown of the Kings.

[PyreBall]

That OT between Detroit and Anaheim last night was pretty intense. The refs really let 'em play.

[Foxxy kyle]

This is not going well...cmon St Louis, cmon Minnesota!

At least Anaheim is doing well, and as long as Ottawa knocks out freaking Montreal I will be happy.

[H0p3sfalL]

Hoping the islanders can get past Pitt tonight. Would love nothing more then being up3-2 and going to home to hopefully close it out

[Wildmn34]

Originally Posted by Foxxy kyle

This is not going well...cmon St Louis, cmon Minnesota!

At least Anaheim is doing well, and as long as Ottawa knocks out freaking Montreal I will be happy.

Wild are done. They have emotionally checked out after the first period last game. There was nothing there. They just went through the motions.

If I was the GM of the Wild this off season I would do everything in my power to get Koivu off the team. Trade him for peanuts. Hell, I'd even consider buying him out. He's not an elite player, and does not make those around him better. And, he doesn't show up when the team needs him to.

The LA vs Stl series could very well be the series of the playoffs. What an intense series to watch. Good hockey there.

[Foxxy kyle]

Originally Posted by Wildmn34

Wild are done. They have emotionally checked out after the first period last game. There was nothing there. They just went through the motions.

I didnt expect them to do much, but it would have been nice.

Go Ottawa! Knock out the Habs!


EDIT: Only watching the 3rd period of this game. I can see Subban is being his usual douchebag self, so glad Ottawa won this series!

[Carmona25]

Well even though the Wings forced a game 7 they almost gave away that game last night. I really fucking hate the Ducks.

[PyreBall]

Yeah, series like Ottawa vs Montreal and Boston vs Toronto are the kind of series where I'd prefer to see the ice swallow both teams whole.

[bigbear2face]

Originally Posted by Wildmn34

The LA vs Stl series could very well be the series of the playoffs. What an intense series to watch. Good hockey there.

It was virtually the exact same as last year's series. Last year the Kings may have won in 4 straight but if you actually watched the games each one could have gone either way.

This year it was the same with the Kings coming out on top in 6.

I thought after game 1 or 2 that either team would be my post round 1 Cup choice as long as they didn't come out of the series to beat up.

So I'm going with LA to repeat.

[bigbear2face]

Derek Boogard's family is suing the NHL claiming they are responsible for his injuries and the depression that resulted from those injuries (and his suicide which resulted from that depression).

I said before that I've been expecting the NHL to start getting these lawsuits because of what we've seen in the NFL.

I've also said that I don't expect the NHL to survive if these suits become a trend. Unlike the NFL the NHL has looked inept in trying to protect its players over the last several years. This will make a huge difference if these suits ever make it to court. Like I've said before, the NHL doesn't have the financial stability of the NFL. They can't survive the same legal problems the NFL can.

Hopefully, the NHL smartens up as a result of this suit and finally takes the steps it needs to take to protect its players and protect itself. Maybe, future lawsuits won't be as successful if the NHL finally takes the steps it needs to take.

Creating Shanahan's office was a good first step but right now it's nothing more then lip service because of how inept it has shown itself to be at evenly distributing punishment. Right now the players have no idea what is and isn't legal. They have no idea what is and isn't going to get them fined or suspended. Some goons are taking advantage of this. Other players are playing timid which only puts them more at risk. As long as this continues the NHL's future is largely in jeopardy.

Also, and I hate to say this, but it might be time to legislate fighting completely out of the game. I like hockey fights. I understand the use they have in the game. I also understand that the modern game has largely eliminated that use. There are still moments where a fight is necessary to send a message to a team taking advantage of your teammates physically. However, if the NHL takes the steps it needs to take to protect itself from lawsuits those fights will become 100% unnecessary.

I hate to be the doomsayer and I know I might be taking an extreme line on this issue. However, the way I see things right now, if the NHL doesn't make extreme changes and if these lawsuits keep coming I really don't think the league will exist in 10 years.

[freshflock]

I think you are being a bit excessive with your assessment of the league folding after one lawsuit comes forward. I think that they have done enough in the past couple of years to protect themselves against litigation with disciplining the players who cross the line. The difficulty I have with this litigation against a league (whether it be NHL, NFL, etc.) is at what point does something stop being a league's responsibility? I understand that Boogaard received a concussion playing the game but a player understands the risks when they decide to play the game (within the rules). If someone is injured fighting or on a body check, I don't think it is fair that you can sue a league because they become depressed. Honestly I believe that this case will be thrown out or settled out of court before much else happens. Also, removing fighting is not going to happen in my opinion. It has been a part of the game for so long that they are not going to just remove it until a substantial legal battle is won against the league that would make them remove it. Again, in my opinion, I don't think this lawsuit is going to hold water in the courts.

[PyreBall]

Originally Posted by bigbear2face

Derek Boogard's family is suing the NHL claiming they are responsible for his injuries and the depression that resulted from those injuries (and his suicide which resulted from that depression).

I said before that I've been expecting the NHL to start getting these lawsuits because of what we've seen in the NFL.

I've also said that I don't expect the NHL to survive if these suits become a trend. Unlike the NFL the NHL has looked inept in trying to protect its players over the last several years. This will make a huge difference if these suits ever make it to court. Like I've said before, the NHL doesn't have the financial stability of the NFL. They can't survive the same legal problems the NFL can.

Hopefully, the NHL smartens up as a result of this suit and finally takes the steps it needs to take to protect its players and protect itself. Maybe, future lawsuits won't be as successful if the NHL finally takes the steps it needs to take.

Creating Shanahan's office was a good first step but right now it's nothing more then lip service because of how inept it has shown itself to be at evenly distributing punishment. Right now the players have no idea what is and isn't legal. They have no idea what is and isn't going to get them fined or suspended. Some goons are taking advantage of this. Other players are playing timid which only puts them more at risk. As long as this continues the NHL's future is largely in jeopardy.

Also, and I hate to say this, but it might be time to legislate fighting completely out of the game. I like hockey fights. I understand the use they have in the game. I also understand that the modern game has largely eliminated that use. There are still moments where a fight is necessary to send a message to a team taking advantage of your teammates physically. However, if the NHL takes the steps it needs to take to protect itself from lawsuits those fights will become 100% unnecessary.

I hate to be the doomsayer and I know I might be taking an extreme line on this issue. However, the way I see things right now, if the NHL doesn't make extreme changes and if these lawsuits keep coming I really don't think the league will exist in 10 years.

That whole situation is a mess. I don't expect Bettman to handle it well so this probably means bad things for my beloved hockey.

[bigbear2face]

Originally Posted by freshflock

I think you are being a bit excessive with your assessment of the league folding after one lawsuit comes forward. I think that they have done enough in the past couple of years to protect themselves against litigation with disciplining the players who cross the line. The difficulty I have with this litigation against a league (whether it be NHL, NFL, etc.) is at what point does something stop being a league's responsibility? I understand that Boogaard received a concussion playing the game but a player understands the risks when they decide to play the game (within the rules). If someone is injured fighting or on a body check, I don't think it is fair that you can sue a league because they become depressed. Honestly I believe that this case will be thrown out or settled out of court before much else happens. Also, removing fighting is not going to happen in my opinion. It has been a part of the game for so long that they are not going to just remove it until a substantial legal battle is won against the league that would make them remove it. Again, in my opinion, I don't think this lawsuit is going to hold water in the courts.

You are probably right. My problem with the whole situation is that the NFL clearly has taken serious and effective steps to try to make the game more safe for its players. They have done some things to try to take better care of players after careers end. Those steps will protect in court.

The NHL hasn't taken very much action and the action it has taken has shown itself to be virtually ineffective. If more lawsuits come they will have a strong chance of succeeding because I believe that the NHL can be found to be negligent for not doing more under the mounting evidence about the dangers of certain situations on the ice.