Around The League 40: As we barrel towards 40 teams

[chaz4hockey]

This is such a divisive issue in America…worse than the late 60’s/early 70’s that I lived through….perhaps it would be best for an offline Discussion that keeps this site clean from the political cesspool.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

In my view, the dude decided he wanted to deliver a crushing check, didn’t have it lined up right and another player got in the way a little, then kinda just decided he was gonna take what he could get and contorted his body to just kind of hit him however he could, interference call/major penalty be damned.

I think it’s also very clear from his immediate reaction to the immediate aftermath of the collision that “skate blade” wasn’t a part of his plan and he was horrified by the outcome.

 

[baconandbread]

Very much seems like Backstrom is done
Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is stepping away from hockey indefinitely, he announced Wednesday."Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time,"...

www.thescore.com

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Very much seems like Backstrom is done
Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is stepping away from hockey indefinitely, he announced Wednesday."Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time,"...

www.thescore.com

Who is going to pass Ovi the puck now?

 

[WreckingCrew]

Wow this whole thing really went off the rails fast didn't it?

I'm guessing the racism narrative is a very small vocal group (like here in the US, whichever extreme small group yells the loudest gets everybody labelled). He's a black man in a predominantly white sport...maybe he himself is racist and likes being able to take it out on white guys, but even IF that were the case (doubtful) I have a hard time thinking he suddenly just decided "yep, this is the particular white guy I'm going to kill." And I can only imagine, being in the UK (which arguably experiences worse racism than the USA despite the media narrative), he faced far more racism against him than he could possibly dish out (they're not nearly as PC)

EDIT: At the end of the day, if it's a tragic accident (most likely), I hope he can find peace...because that's a situation that can truly haunt a person even if it was an accident. If it was intentional, well then I hope he gets haunted for eternity.

 

[ndp]

Anyone else think TT is about to put the whole “earn your ice time” mantra to the rest.

Rod can put I’m on the 4th line without kinda looking like an asshole right now, and I think it’s eating him up.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Anyone else think TT is about to put the whole “earn your ice time” mantra to the rest.

Rod can put I’m on the 4th line without kinda looking like an asshole right now, and I think it’s eating him up.

Dude is on fire right now, it would be stupid to put him on the 4th line...he literally won a game 3-0 for us!

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Anyone else think TT is about to put the whole “earn your ice time” mantra to the rest.

Rod can put I’m on the 4th line without kinda looking like an asshole right now, and I think it’s eating him up.

Necas is lining up on the 4th line based on the most recent practice

 

[ndp]

Who is going to pass Ovi the puck now?

Like I just picture Ovi standing in “his spot” all game. Looking around, occasionally staring off into space, confused look on his face, contemplating his very existence.

 

[ndp]

Necas is lining up on the 4th line based on the most recent practice

Like I said can’t put him on the 4th while he’s hot without looking like an asshole. He’s had the lowest ESTOI of any player the last two games.

I wonder if the next game goes like the PHI game. If the 2nd line goes a period or so without scoring does he get bumped again?

 

[DaveG]

I think he had intent to injury. Looking at his history, he's a player that constantly crosses the line.

Should have a lifetime ban from hockey to start, and should be investigated for involuntary manslaughter.

What intent there was in the guy was in going for a knee on knee hit, at worst. And that's absolutely a dirty play. But it's not something that's even on the realm of something that could have this kind of outcome. Even Chris Simon, who was as big a psychopath as the sport has seen in the last 20 years, wouldn't consider that.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I don't think he meant to kick the guy in the throat at all. I don't know how that happened exactly.

But Based on his history I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to injure someone in that exchange.

The reason this situation is different is because the player in question seems to be a bad person.

I'm not against violence in fact I think we probably need a little more of it.

But this guy as unsustainable said seems to consistently cross the line.

I keep seeing this but I haven’t seen it from anyone who reliably knows anything about hockey. Aside from having a lot of penalty minutes, do you know of anything he’s done to warrant that reputation?

One thing to be a fighter and/or heavy hitter. Is this a multiple escalating suspensions type of guy? Genuinely curious.

 

[Unsustainable]

What intent there was in the guy was in going for a knee on knee hit, at worst. And that's absolutely a dirty play. But it's not something that's even on the realm of something that could have this kind of outcome. Even Chris Simon, who was as big a psychopath as the sport has seen in the last 20 years, wouldn't consider that.

Im looking at him in the same light as Tom Wilson, Matt Cooke. They play that line that gets others hurt, going by his stat sheet

 

[Daeavorn]

I keep seeing this but I haven’t seen it from anyone who reliably knows anything about hockey. Aside from having a lot of penalty minutes, do you know of anything he’s done to warrant that reputation?

One thing to be a fighter and/or heavy hitter. Is this a multiple escalating suspensions type of guy? Genuinely curious.

His penalty minutes far surpass anyone elses from what I was shown. He definitely is a bit of a bottom line hitter.

 

[ndp]

I keep seeing this but I haven’t seen it from anyone who reliably knows anything about hockey. Aside from having a lot of penalty minutes, do you know of anything he’s done to warrant that reputation?

One thing to be a fighter and/or heavy hitter. Is this a multiple escalating suspensions type of guy? Genuinely curious.

From what little I’ve read about the situation it seems that he’s a player who definitely plays with an edge.

Where the whole “I’ve been waiting to roundhouse kick a cracker in the throat” narrative came from, who knows?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

His penalty minutes far surpass anyone elses from what I was shown. He definitely is a bit of a bottom line hitter.

Alright, that’s where you lost me.

Pat Maroon led the NHL in penalty minutes last year. We’re gonna need more than “a lot of penalty minutes” to establish a level of intent you’re implying…

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Alright, that’s where you lost me.

Pat Maroon led the NHL in penalty minutes last year. We’re gonna need more than “a lot of penalty minutes” to establish a level of intent you’re implying…

He doesn’t have anything, like most people who are pushing that “violent player” narrative. The fact of the matter is, most people (myself included) know nothing about this guy and wouldnt have heard of him outside of this situation. Which is why I’m listening to the players (on both teams) involved in this that are saying “Hey, this was an accident. Petgrave is distraught about it. Anyone claiming otherwise can go to hell.”

 

[the halleJOKEL]

Its not a stretch that guys who are on the ice to hit enjoy hitting people.

I dont know what he was trying to do, but I have a hard time seeing his leg come up that high and accepting that it was completely out of his control. Ive never seen that happen before.

Like I said I dont think he was looking to stab johnson but he definitely wasnt just playing hockey

example -

now imagine losing an edge like this while your skate is hit by another player while you are trying to make a hit

or another one:

 

[hblueridgegal]

Like I said can’t put him on the 4th while he’s hot without looking like an asshole. He’s had the lowest ESTOI of any player the last two games.

I wonder if the next game goes like the PHI game. If the 2nd line goes a period or so without scoring does he get bumped again?

I am more concerned about how last year's leading scorer is going to handle this situation. I am still 50/50 that he wants to stay after this season given his thorny relationship with the coach and the team's style of play.

 

[Unsustainable]

this view i can see the argument he was going for a knee on knee hit and his leg got shifted to kick him, so he was getting beat on the play, and got dirty with the knee on knee if that is what caused his leg to come up, its still negligence that caused a death.

Negligence just like Cooke showed in games and should have been booted years before he injured EK.

 

[WreckingCrew]

example -

now imagine losing an edge like this while your skate is hit by another player while you are trying to make a hit

or another one:

That EJ example is much closer to what it looks like happened here than anything else. And it looks like guys even on the other team are supporting that it's a freak accident. I think a bit of it is that "player reputation" bias...if Slavin did that nobody would think it was intentional, but if Tom Wilson/Matt Cooke did it everyone who already hates them would think it was intentional. I do think it's close/sketchy enough that investigating is the right course of action. I think the players can give a much better idea of how things actually happen in real-time on the ice vs judging from a video. The general public and social media need to STOP trying to be judge, jury, & executioner.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Very much seems like Backstrom is done
Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Backstrom steps away from Capitals amid ongoing injury situation

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is stepping away from hockey indefinitely, he announced Wednesday."Given my ongoing injury situation, I decided to take some time and step away from the game. This is a difficult decision, but one that I feel is right for my health at this time,"...

www.thescore.com

If this is LTIRetirement, this gives Washington an extra $9M to play with. Perhaps there is life yet for Washington, unfortunately, if it goes to the right priorities. They're kind of in the same spot that Pittsburgh is, where the priority is helping Ovechkin until he retires.

 

[cptjeff]

this view i can see the argument he was going for a knee on knee hit and his leg got shifted to kick him, so he was getting beat on the play, and got dirty with the knee on knee if that is what caused his leg to come up, its still negligence that caused a death.

Negligence just like Cooke showed in games and should have been booted years before he injured EK.

Police investigations in the matter of deaths are routine. They do not imply guilt or even any wrongdoing.

And implications that Petgrave was motivated by race in any way will not be permitted here. That is racism, plain and simple, and will not be tolerated. Please immediately report any comments that imply such. I have tried to leave a core of discussion up while deleting comments making or quoting racist claims. Please, please try to be f*ing human here, people.

 

[Unsustainable]

Police investigations in the matter of deaths are routine. They do not imply guilt or even any wrongdoing.

And implications that Petgrave was motivated by race in any way will not be permitted here. That is racism, plain and simple, and will not be tolerated. Please immediately report any comments that imply such.

Where have i said anything about race?

 

[cptjeff]

Where have i said anything about race?

Sorry, the stuff about race was not about your comment, I had you quoted to make the point about the police investigation.

The point about race was about now deleted discussions that I do not want repeated.