Sports

Is This Vicious NHL Hit Worth 25 Playoff Games?

(The Blaze/AP)  A blindside hit, a history of violence and a league-wide crackdown on rough play has earned Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres one of the longest suspensions in NHL history.

Torres was suspended 25 games by the league Saturday and will miss the rest of the playoffs for a late hit that resulted in Chicago’s Marian Hossa being taken off the ice on a stretcher.

“I think it’s a precedent,” Chicago center Brendan Morrison said Saturday, a few hours before Phoenix tried to clinch its first-round series over the Blackhawks. “We’ve been talking about it for so long over the course of the last couple of years and there has been more suspensions, but the message isn’t getting through to guys. I don‘t know how it can’t get through after this.”Is This Vicious NHL Hit by Phoenix Coyotes Raffi Torres Worth 25 Playoff Games?

On Saturday, Torres said: “My main concern is for the healthy recovery of Marian Hossa, and I hope that he will be able to get back on the ice to compete again soon. I sincerely regret injuring Marian…Regarding the severity of the suspension issued, I will take the next few days to decide whether or not to appeal the decision.”

If the 25 games of his suspension aren’t exhausted during the playoffs– the Coyotes would need to play four straight seven-game series to complete the suspension– the ban carries over into the next regular season.

Moreover, as a repeat offender, Torres would forfeit $21,341 in salary for every regular-season game he sits out.

“The ruling is very severe for Raffi and our hockey club,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. “Raffi plays a hard, physical game yet this contact crossed the line on what is acceptable in our game today. We hope Marian Hossa makes a full and speedy recovery as we all enjoy watching him perform.”

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett remarked: “The league has made its decision and there is nothing we can do about it now…We deal with it as a club and Raffi has to deal with it, but our focus is solely on what we had to do tonight. It’s an unfortunate incident, but the league has had its say and we move on.”

Here is video of the hit, courtesy of CSN Chicago:

Torres’ hit seemingly violated three rules: interference, charging and illegal check to the head.  In determining the length of the suspension, league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan noted that Torres caused severe injury–Hossa lay on the ice for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher, and hasn’t appeared again in the series.

“Despite knowing that Hossa no longer has the puck, Torres decides to finish his check past the amount of time when Hossa is eligible to be body-checked,” league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said.

“While we acknowledge the circumstances of certain hits may cause a player’s skates to come off the ice… on this hit, Torres launches himself into the air before making contact.”  He continued, “The position of Hossa’s head does not change just prior to or simultaneous with this hit. The onus, therefore, is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, Torres makes Hossa’s head the principal point of contact.”

Shanahan has been criticized for being inconsistent in doling out punishment in what’s been the most penalty-filled playoffs since 1998 – 18 penalty minutes per game, according to STATS LLC.

“You never know what they’re calling,” Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris said. “You don‘t know what’s going to be a hard hit, what’s going to be a penalty. There’s been plays you look at and you think, well that one should have been more, that one should have been less. You just don‘t know how it’s going to be called so I don’t know how you can adjust the game.”

Comments (139)

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  • rickroland
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:01am

    25 games is not enough, the guy should be out all of next season.

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:11am

      With everything the United States is facing today… I don’t give a flying fv<k about ANY sports team!

      The main reason for Baseball, Football, Hockey, Basketball and all the other lame brained sports shows is to keep the US citizens so busy that they don't know what's happening in Government.

      Quit watching sports and start watching your elected representatives! My God, how stupid can you be? At least do something that provides food, shelter and/or clothing. None of these "shows" does that. Compare your wages with theirs. Who's the loser? It isn't them…

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • txn4justice
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:28am

      Well said @The Monk

      Sports can take your mind off your worries sometimes. However, are they over paid kids? YUP!

      Report Post »  
    • Quagmir
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:07am

      Hey Monk. I keep up with politics more then anyone I know. 9 hours of radio and 3 of TV along with GBTV. Is it ok with you if I watch a damn hockey game or a few hours of UFC. Get off your Pulpit. You want govt. out of your business, then stay out of mine. You are as bad as Mamma Obama telling me what I should eat. When you cut off all form of entertainment in your life….still dont come looking at me and what I do in mine.

      Report Post » Quagmir  
    • LIBSALWAYSLIE
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:28am

      Hockey is out of control, not the sport, its the fights that are ALLOWED! Those in control of hockey have allowed fights to happen, they have the ref’s stand around and watch when a fight breaks out. This could all be ended tomorrow, but they have no interest in ending the violence. MMA is safer than hockey.

      Report Post » LIBSALWAYSLIE  
    • GMP
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:59am

      @Quagmir, bingo.

      There’s no need to be political 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

      Report Post » GMP  
    • old white guy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:10am

      the nhl is becoming a league of wimps. those who want no hits and no action should watch or play another game. i am listening to the moron announcer with his visicous and stupid comments.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:55am

      You cannot be a Long Time Hockey fan! Sports are being taken over by MetroSexualPyssies!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • 000degrees
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:21am

      Well said Quag….

      Report Post »  
    • black9897
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:42am

      Yeah, this isn’t cool. Football on ice. Same as in Football when they hit a WR who’s not looking.

      Report Post » black9897  
    • Transmogrifier
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:53am

      Right on, Quagmir

      Report Post »  
    • dugbru
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:35am

      Duncan Kieth hit on Sedin was much , much worse.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M25I5rtFjiA

      It was a vicious deliberate elbow to the face, on a player that had NOT touched the puck. Unlike the Torres hit it wassn;’t a little late, it was a hit on a player that NEVER touched the puck.

      Keithe should be out of hockey.

      Report Post »  
    • El Paco
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:37am

      Dude, that was one wicked hit. Dude was obviously targeting the hawk’s star player and deserved what he got. I feel that this suspension was a response to the NHL’s lack of dishing out punishment for prior big hits during these playoffs.

      (Now to make a run at the other bozos who posted)

      @Monk – Seriously dude, thou needest not troll the sports threads.
      @old white guy – Seriously?? I would be up in arms if they suspended him for the hit if he didn’t A. didn’t leap, and B. didn’t target the dudes HEAD with his shoulders. If it was shoulder to shoulder, the hit wouldn‘t have been clean and a suspension wasn’t needed. The announcer said it best “He could have barreled through him if his SKATES DIDN’T LEAVE THE ICE.” Seriously man, there’s a line between beating the snot out of someone, and targeting them to try and incapacitate them. Torres crossed it, and he’s paying for it.

      Report Post » El Paco  
    • dogma
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:45am

      He and his coach should never see the ice again

      Report Post »  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:50am

      There are hits like this just about every game. No call on the ice at the time of the hit. Super slow mo and some zealous commentary along with ESPN crying about the hit made the NHL over react.
      Same thing in football with all the rule changes to “protect” players.

      HELLO? Why do they wear all the pads and a helmet? NEWSFLASH…ITS A CONTACT SPORT!
      The crybaby folks that could not take a hit when they were kids are now ruining sports for everyone else.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:59pm

      I’m not against playing sports but, watching sports? It’s like the difference between having sex and watching sex. I guess I just don’t understand it. I’d rather practice martial arts than watch someone else doing it. And the amount of money they make is also outrageous.

      When I watch football this is what I see;
      A 3 1/2 hour game only has about 14 to 16 minutes of actual play time. (Time it with a stopwatch if you don’t believe me) If a game last 16 minutes, that means about 8 minutes of play time for offence and defense each. Each team plays 16 regular season games. So, if a football player plays every game and never sits on the bench (offense or defense) that means he can only play 128 minutes during an entire season. How much does he make per hour? 1 hour and 8 minutes for how many millions of dollars?

      I played Rugby and enjoyed the non-stop action. I don’t watch news 24/7. When I was growing up hardly anyone was fat. Everyone played sports or ran or walked or rode bicycles for fun. When I look around now at how fat Americans are I can’t help but think watching sports is a Saul Alinsky plot to undermine the American people. Turn off the TV, news and sports and go outside and have some fun.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • cgnick
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:04pm

      Well said LIBSALWAYSLIE
      There is no sportsmanship in letting these players stand there and throw punches. It is all done for tv rating and to sell tickets. If these guys are such badasses they should go to MMA.

      Report Post »  
    • RBaerwalde
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:05pm

      @CGNICK
      They were fighting in hockey long before any of you saw it on TV.

      Nice try at placing your views on something of which you have no knowledge.

      /golfclap

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:34pm

      @Quagmir
      Yes, you are right. I went over the top on my first post. I was just upset over a job interview I had Tues with a pormised call back by Sat mid-day. They asked some sports questions and I couldn’t answer them.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • Rohawk
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:12pm

      They are way to inconsistent in how they call these suspentions. A league that wants to prevent concussions allows Shay Weber to smash someone’s head into the plexiglass after the game is over without suspention because he is a star but an open ice hit to a star during the game is 25 games? As a Wild fan I‘m still upset that a guy that broke Koivu’s leg with a 2-handed slash got 2 games a couple years ago while he’s got weeks to recover, that Bertuzzi‘s carreer didn’t end when he ended that Avs rookie’s carreer, and that Staubits got a 3 game suspention at the begining of the season for an arguably clean hit because the league wanted to send a message this year.

      Report Post »  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:37am

      Clean hit. Hossa should have had his head up. There was no deliberate hit to the head. It’s the play-offs. They are ruining hockey just like they are trying to ruin football. It’s a violent game. Hossa would have thrown the same exact hit if he had the chance. Torres should appeal. It’s ridiculous. It’s unfortunate he got hurt. But, the hit was clean.

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on April 23, 2012 at 8:44am

      @ LIBSALWAYSLIE

      Please stay 1,000 feet away from any hockey game. You don’t know that you are talking about and have evidentally NEVER watched hockey. Fighting IS PART OF THE GAME! Any hockey fan knows this. THere is a reason the refs stay out of it. There are unspoken rules of fighting that you obviously don‘t know because you’re not a hockey fan. I played hockey. Most of the guys that fight do so because that is their “job”. Everyone on the ice knows this. Alot of them like eachother. It’s not personal, just part of the game. Without fighting, Wayne Gretzky‘s carrer wouldn’t have lasted more than 2 or 3 seasons because EVERY player knew if you hit Gretky like Hossa got, you were getting your @$$ kicked!

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
  • geonj
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 12:45am

    in hockey, you need enforcers to keep the other team honest. if the teams would play a clean game, there would be no need for certain players to charge cheap shot players. refs suck at policing the cheap shots. it is all about respect. hockey is not a game for *******.

    Report Post » geonj  
    • lukerw
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:24am

      “Sports” came to be… from Practice & Leader Selection… for WAR! And, in Real War… there are no Rules nor Laws… just Win or Lose!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • wdittgasn
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:40am

      I’m sorry but that hit was way over the top. that was just plain wrong, he should have his head bashed in.

      Report Post » wdittgasn  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:56am

      SO he should have his head bashed in for bashing in someone’s head? WOW…You should be a politician.

      Report Post »  
  • NorCalBlazer
    Posted on April 22, 2012 at 12:11am

    None of the clips showed it, but it looked like the bench started to clear right after that hit and Torres turned and ran like a little girl. I would have liked to watch that part.

    Report Post »  
  • sbenard
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:42pm

    I love hockey, but this is the reason why I am not a fan! I am not going to go, nor take my family, to an event where violence is part of the strategy!

    Report Post » sbenard  
    • lukerw
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:21am

      All this will look Calm… once people start Killing each other in the Streets this year! Better plan your hidding place now!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 6:27pm

      See you at the curling championships.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:35pm

    Yes it’s worth 25 games .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • KC1
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:11pm

    Clean hit, caught with his head down in the neutral zone. You don’t like it, switch on the basketball game. There wasn’t even a penalty on the play. You people will ruin hockey.

    Report Post »  
    • sbenard
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:45pm

      Actually, it’s attitudes like the one you expressed that have “ruined hockey”. It is because of this kind of behavior and attitudes that millions of us will never go to see hockey. It’s too violent, and good people won’t watch it. You have ruined hockey!

      Report Post » sbenard  
    • Electacon
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 12:43am

      The suspension is fine. Torres is a 5 time repeat offender for going at other players heads. The hit was not clean as Torres launched himself at Hossa. Just let Shanahan explain it to you. http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=60&id=173753

      Report Post » Electacon  
    • GdHUs
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:18am

      ELECTACON-
      You nailed it. Case closed!

      Report Post » GdHUs  
    • DakotaJoe
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:47am

      KC! You are stupidf you think that was a clean hit. Way to many careers have ended early because of cheap **** like that. Wake up thats the kind of hit that all sports are removing from their games. They never hit like that when players were alowed to police themselves. And just because there was no penalty called doen’t mean the hit was legal, Lokk at the NO Saints for example. There is such thing as unessesary.

      Report Post »  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:15am

      To me it looked like a hard hit but not dirty and not 25 game suspension worthy.
      Talk about setting a precedent! Wow.
      Yeah– hard hit. He left the ice with at least 1 foot (when contact was initially made, it looked like his left foot was still on the ice and only after contact did his other foot leave the ice because of the impact to his body).
      Again– this was a really hard hit and maybe a short suspension. But this didn’t look to be a dirty play. Just hard nose hockey. I’ve seen worse for sure.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • burnteye86
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:01am

      So that’s why they call em goons

      Report Post » burnteye86  
    • old white guy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:11am

      kc1, you are right there was nothing wrong with the hit

      Report Post »  
    • LIBSALWAYSLIE
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:42am

      KC1, if thats a clean and legal hit, hockey should be banned. Your an idiot.

      Report Post » LIBSALWAYSLIE  
    • Buck Shane
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:49am

      Hockey is more popular now than it’s ever been. You rarely see players miss games due to injuries. These guys came up playing hockey – they are case hardened tough guys. Hits intended to end someone’s career need to be dealt with, but otherwise let them play.
      If you don’t have the stomach for hockey, don’t watch it, but don’t tell someone who loves playing the game to be a wimp, too. Turn the channel. Don’t go to the game. Shut up and let the real men play.

      Report Post » Buck Shane  
  • rickbob
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:41pm

    I went to a fight one day and a hockey game broke out. This guy needs to be banned from sports and institutionalized. . .

    Report Post » rickbob  
  • calebgs83
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:41pm

    There is no call for hits like that. It is a sport…there is no reason to decapitate someone. Because of the physicality allowed, we miss out on the athleticism and finess players such as Hossa possess.

    Report Post » calebgs83  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:27pm

    It is worth 25 games, especially when you consider that Torres has a long history of airborne blind-side hits that target opponents’ heads. If this was only the first or second time, 25 would be a little much, but this guy is an assassin!

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • unrealistic
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:34pm

    lol …. that is all.

    Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:47pm

      Awesome…when do they start wearing the skirts like the NFL

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 5:24am

      The EPA and IRS should look into this…….. a big tax on the tickets too

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:15pm

    Its why i don’t watch the NHL. Their all a bunch of thugs and i don’t wanna witness someone getting mamed or killed

    Report Post »  
    • Biff Marupis
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:32pm

      Your mangina hurts doesn’t it?

      Report Post » Biff Marupis  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:37pm

      Its a mans game. if you cant hang with the big boys dont play….oops you probably dont “hang” at all do you?

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Zach Halverson
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 12:32am

      “Thugs” shoot themselves in the leg. “Thugs” bring a gun into the locker room. “Thugs” go on a sex cruises. “Thugs” take steroids then lie about it. Hockey players have more class than all athletes in other sports COMBINED and it‘s ignorant comments from people like you who haven’t watched a hockey game in their life that make me hate TheBlaze comments on hockey stories. I don’t like basketball, but I don’t say things like all basketball players go into the stands and fight fans who throw stuff at them. You need a reality check (pardon the pun, which because you have no idea what hockey is probably don’t even know how “check” is a pun) on hockey, it is the fastest, most exciting sport in the world and it is a shame the ignorant folks, the majority who grew up in the south, never give hockey a chance on the account of seeing hits like this.

      Report Post » Zach Halverson  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:17am

      Thugs?
      Ehhhhhhh………… Wrong.
      You’re thinking of the NBA, not the NHL.
      In the NHL, they play a full contact sport and sometimes lose teeth.
      In the NBA the get sleeve length tattoos and beat up on fans and carry guns into locker rooms.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:07pm

    …
    Here’s better video of this vicious attack.

    http://www.csnchicago.com/hockey-chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-talk/VIDEO-Raffi-Torres-launches-into-Marian-?blockID=691464

    Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:03pm

    Raffi Torres gives real Coyotes a bad rap!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • JaketheDog
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:01pm

    Raffi is a repeat offender and he left his feet. 25 Sends a good message in a playoffs that have included many mixed messages. Example: See Webber / Zetterberg.

    Report Post » JaketheDog  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:58pm

    …
    This player is an over paid sack of slime. He’s going to kill someone.
    Guys like this need to be thrown out of the sport permanently.

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:56pm

    Yes it is worth it. The New Orleans Saints has bountygate, I would not put it past several other teams and sports have the same thing. More so in Hockey. When some players only play 5 minutes per game and part of their job is to wreak the other team when the high value players rest. One needed to look deeper for a conspiracy on why this year it is more “vicious” than others years but that will need a whistleblower.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:56pm

    He‘s lucky if he isn’t prosecuted for assault with intent to harm…I don’t care what sport it is,this is disgusting behavior when the intent of the hit is to injure…

    Report Post » IndyGuy  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:20am

      Do you watch hockey?

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • IndyGuy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 8:09am

      Yes I do and have been to a game..The fact that the league allows players to purposely injure each other is why we have idiots like this that go too far…

      Report Post » IndyGuy  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 11:54am

      Assault? Really? ATTENTION ATTENTION…REAL HOCKEY FAN HERE. INDYGUY PLAYS A LAWYER TOO

      Report Post »  
    • IndyGuy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:03pm

      Hell…Why don’t we just bring back duels and call it sport???

      Report Post » IndyGuy  
    • IndyGuy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:05pm

      For all the idiots that think this kinda hit is O.K…Let’s see you get out there and get a hit like this and then come back here and tell us how cool it is…

      Report Post » IndyGuy  
    • IndyGuy
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:52pm

      Yer Honor..I object…Poster AGGIEBREWER is out of order…

      Report Post » IndyGuy  
  • grimmy
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:52pm

    Its hockey, who cares………….

    Report Post »  
    • Southern Rebel
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:23pm

      Who cares? Those who love real mens sports. Hitting, talent, speed, finesse, teamwork, extreme athleticism……you know, a mans sport. :)

      Report Post » Southern Rebel  
    • rickg62
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:23pm

      Then don’t bother with the article and go watch your little boys in shorts.

      Report Post »  
  • Blitz
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:49pm

    With a history of head hunting I’m glad he got what he did. Yes I’m a Hawks fan.

    Report Post »  
  • tckid17
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:49pm

    I got to see Hossa play for the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL. Torres should of been suspended indefinitely, his “goal” was to intentionally hurt his opponent and might end Hossa’s career.

    Report Post »  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:23am

      How do you know what his “goal” was??
      A lot of those guys intentionally hard-check other players. It happens ALL THE TIME in hockey. If you watch 30 minutes of hockey you’ll see it happen a couple times at least. It’s a rough sport, they do go after each other yes. But you can’t presume to know what he set out to do other than hard checking a player.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • Memphismerlin
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 9:59am

      @ JJ, I can most certainly say he was trying to hurt Hossa. Hossa no longer had the puck, he was in the neutral zone, Torres charged, then left his feet, put his shoulder into his head. And for your comment that you can watch 30 minutes of any game and see that, your wrong. I was at a playoff game last friday and this friday, I did not see anything like that.

      Report Post »  
  • Brasil2520
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:49pm

    He should get the 25 games plus a year in jail for assault
    A few years ago a player hit another player on the back of the head with the stick sending that player face first to the floor, the player that hit him acted like it was no big deal, the NHL also didn’t care.
    It comes down to the old Roman coliseum mentality, blood & gore sells tickets

    Report Post » Brasil2520  
    • Brasil2520
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:34pm

      BADDOGGY

      Ask anyone that works in a emergency room about head injury, you will get some real horror stories, everything from someone falling off a bike/motorcycle or just a slip and fall, the injuries look horrible, a missing jaw, nose smashed, teeth gone, memory loss, about someone getting killed in the NHL, it’s just a matter of time, then after someone gets killed then will you agree with me ?

      Is that what it takes for you to drop the machismo ?

      Report Post » Brasil2520  
  • Sorocialism
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:44pm

    STOP TRYING TO MAKE THE NHL WEAK…Less regulation…NOT MORE. The NBA is a good example…dribble dribble foul dribble dribble foul dribble dribble foul…seriously…there is a foul called when some1 blinks their eyes too hard in that game.

    If you want a pansy sport, go watch curling.

    Report Post »  
    • Brasil2520
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:14pm

      True – but to purposely cripple someone, like biting a person you are boxing ear off, that stops being a sport and turns into a vicious attack

      Report Post » Brasil2520  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:27am

      ok, biting someone in boxing is illegal.
      Checking someone in hockey happens all the time.
      Was this play harder than normal? Yes.
      But it was still body checking.
      To say he intentionally set out to injure him is presumptuous. I personally think he set out to ring his bell a bit, but not injure him. That’s how you play hockey.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • RBaerwalde
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 1:51pm

      JJ…

      …Just because someone doesn‘t agree with you doesn’t mean they aren’t a “hockey fan”.

      I have watched hockey for many years. I have been to more games than I can count. I have the signed pucks and every ticket from every home playoff game (all 4 rounds) the season my Lightning won the Cup. I agree that the game gets litigated more than it should now (which I think stems from the stupid instigator rule).

      However, all of that said, you cannot look at that video and not see that Torres left his feet. Further, it is currently illegal to “ring his bell a bit”, like it or lump it.

      Do I wish that the players could police this? Yes Yes Yes. It used to be that one of the top Phoenix players would have been demolished within 3 shifts. Sadly, can’t do that anymore. Those hits were never OK in hockey, it was just a different method of enforcement.

      I really don’t get, if you are really a fan of hockey, how you can say that hit wasn’t dirty. Frankly, even if he did have the puck, and it didn’t look like Torres was trying to deflect it on the way to his hit, it was still a penalty. Headshots just aren’t legal and leaving your feet to deliver one never was (to the players at least).

      Report Post »  
  • IAMIR
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:42pm

    It was borderline late. He had just passed the puck and Raffi followed through. However Raffi did leave his feet. No question there. The problem here is it was a league superstar that was laid out. If it was Carcillo instead of Hossa no one would care. It was a shoulder and not the elbow. 25 games is excessive in my opinion. If Shanahan and the NHL wants this issue solved, drop the 2 minute instigator and fines for fights in the last 5 minutes of a game. Allow the players to deal with it on the ice and you WILL see less cheap shots.

    Report Post » IAMIR  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:53pm

      The comment about dropping the instigator rule and letting the players police themselves is very true. Gary Bettman wants this pristine type of hockey that’s impossible to achieve. With the regular season overtime play and shootouts he’s ruining the game. Bettmen is nothing but a dictator and uses Shanahan as a tool.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • IAMIR
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:15pm

      Bettman wanted a European style game. He thought it would grow the NHL. I could go on all night about how much he has ruined this sport. Never liked him from day 1. ‘The NHL expansion has also hurt. As a Philly fan I would love to see more games against Detroit and Colorado but with so many teams now it doesn’t happen but 1 or 2 times a year. I love good clean hard hitting and glove dropping hockey. Let the players take care of the punks.

      Report Post » IAMIR  
    • Memphismerlin
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 10:07am

      The shootout is the most exciting thing in regular season sports.
      And please get off of your high horse about expansion. Look at the playoff picture; Preds, Panthers, Sharks, Coyotes. These teams are not hurting hockey, they are not bringing down the level of play, they are beating the old guard and its ******* a lot of original 6 fans off.

      Report Post »  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 12:23pm

      @Memphismerlin: The shootout is the dumbest thing ever invented. Why is it a team sport until there’s a shootout, then we just pick the good players to try and win the game? So the 21 other guys on the bench aren’t good enough to help the team win, that’s ridiculous. The 4 on 4 overtime, another stupid example of the game. The best part is none of this is any good when the playoffs roll around. Then it’s time to actually play hockey and throw all the gimmicks out.

      Your argument about teams making the playoffs doesn’t work either. The way teams make the playoffs is stupid too. If you win your division you’re automatically given a top four spot . So even if teams are better than you it doesn’t matter? Sounds like socialism at its best. This is why home ice advantage has disappeared, you have lower ranked teams with home ice advantage getting beat by lower seated teams. Bettman is ruining this league with his dictatorial stranglehold.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • Memphismerlin
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 3:44pm

      Well, then I guess you don’t like the penalty shot either then. That takes away the team also. I do agree that what you do in the playoffs is what you do in the regular season. So, unless you want the Chicago/Phoenix series to be 0-0-5, your argument is invalid.

      I agree with the seeding, but then explain LA vs Vancouver. The players union shot down the 4 conferences for next year, so blame them. If they are better, then NJ should be beating the crap out of Florida.

      Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:40pm

    Stupid liberal.

    Report Post » hi  
  • smokeysmoke
    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:18pm

    yes…. he should have gotten more… he HIT SOMEONE NOT HOLDING THE PUCK… WHO WAS TURNED… HIT IN THE HEAD, AND JUMPED INTO THE AIR TO PROPEL HIMSELF… REMEMBER WHEN THE SAINTS COACH LOST HIS JOB FROM THE NFL FOREVER…. THIS IS THE KIND OF RESPONSE THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED…. trying to HURT A LEADING SCORER, TO BENIFIT YOUR TEAM… SHOWS THAT THIS MAN HAS NO CLASS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THE PRIVLEDGE TO PLAY IN THE NHL

    Report Post » smokeysmoke  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 8:48pm

      I don’t think he should be kicked out of the league. I wouldn‘t take away someone’s livelihood. Hossa will return if the Blackhawks can extend the series, although that looks pretty unlikely. When Matt Cooke got his suspension that ended up costing him 17 games he came back and is a totally different player. Torres is known for hitting like this and makes some really dumb plays that cost his team dearly. He deserves every bit of 25 games and I’ll bet he comes back a different player.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • Duff
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 9:24pm

      No, this suspension was way overkill.

      Hossa was a legitimate target, it was about 1 second between Hossa dishing the puck and getting hit. Not enough time to be considered a late hit.

      It wasn’t charging. Torres was in a hard turn towards Hossa, his left skate only leaves the ice as he’s turning his shoulder into him to avoid hitting him face first. He’s not jumping up. it‘s the physics of his momentum as he’s finishing the turn into Hossa as Torres’ weight unloads and he is straightening up getting ready for contact.

      I’ll give you the head contact, but it certainly didn’t look intentional.

      Hockey is an extremely fast moving game, and quite often the difference between a good hit and a bad hit can be fractions of a second. But the player initiating contact is still responsible for his actions.

      This looks more like a crap happens deal as the result of a split second decision and Torres deserves a little time off to contemplate his split second decision making process. But Hossa has also been around long enough to know that you never let your guard down and leave yourself vulnerable when handling the puck.

      There was no obvious intent to injure and 25 games is ludicrous.

      Report Post »  
    • Kerstile
      Posted on April 21, 2012 at 10:56pm

      @Duff describes what I saw. Its a fast, rough, game. It almost looks like he pulled up at the last sec (realizing the puck had been passed?). Who knows. Let ‘em play. If you don’t like it, don’t watch. Disclaimer: I don‘t like hockey so I don’t watch.

      Report Post » Kerstile  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on April 22, 2012 at 4:32am

      Duff, I completely agree with what you said about the physics part of his momentum.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
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