Around the League Thread | November Rain

[CanucksMJL]

Sidney Crosby.

The guy who initially whined and cried the refs and earned nicknames such as Crysby pre-2010. What ensued was totally ridiculous because there was this weird period between 2010-2015 where he would get mugged, cheapshot, grabbed and hooked. It was just odd because the Penguins would be marquee primetime matchups but the league did a god awful job protecting it's #1 star.

McDavid is just ridiculously protected.

Mario had to deal with the same type of thing, perhaps even more so. We've all seen the highlight of him being hooked the whole way down the ice and roofing it despite that. McDavid seems to be treated more like a Gretzky than the Penguin Royalty.

The story on Gretzky was that he had Semenko as a deterrent, but that never made much sense to me. Why would any team fear a trade of injuries where one side loses THE best player and the other team loses THEIR best player. It's not like the coked up enforcers of the 80's were afraid to fight anyone even if they got messed up.

 

[CanucksMJL]

Yeah I’ve never seen a call quite like that before. Especially to overturn the on-ice call.

Dowd was standing in the crease slightly but hardly if at all touched the goalie, and was being pushed/held there by the Leaf defender. It seemed like it was called on the goalie not being able to move somewhere he never really intended to move as the puck was blown by him. Really soft.

I'm just watching the replay now. That's f***ing bullshit. Not only is the contact minor, the contact is facilitated by the defenseman sliding into Dowd. It's hard to find that ruling credible in an age where gambling is promoted to children.

 

[PavelBure10]

I think you guys are sounding a little ridiculous with the 'McDavid favoritism'.

There are stats showing penalties drawn and despite the fact that McDavid is getting a ton of ice time as well as ALWAYS having the puck, he's nowhere near the top of the list. Why is that? He gets infracted on a ton but the truth is if they called everything on him it would get absurd - he really is that good. On top of that the Oilers are near the bottom of the league in PP opportunities even though they are one of the better posession and 5on5 teams in the league.
There is zero evidence to support the idea that McDavid gets referee favoritism. Quite the opposite actually.

Not going to go further for that chode-like fanbase but you guys really need to tone down the homerism.

I am not even completely talking about him drawing penalties, I am talking about how he can poke his stick anywhere and completely trip someone and more often than not there is no call. There are two examples I can give in the past two games. Yes the past two games.

Canucks vs Oilers

Hughes is in the box for a weak holding call against McDavid "no big deal". Oilers on the powerplay are pressing and Connor Garland is battling for a puck and McDavid trips him from behind. Clearly a obvious trip that should of taken the Oil off of the powerplay, but instead Edmonton scores a minute after.

Oilers vs Islanders

This is the play I was talking about in my original post. 2 Islanders are racing for the puck against the boards, McDavid comes into the battle stick first into the skates and sends one of the Islanders absolutely flying and out of play. McDavid picks up the now loose puck and sends it in for his 997th career point.

Look I get that McDavid is the best hockey player on the planet. He has insane skills and he deserves to be protected but he shouldn't have immunity from the infractions that he pulls. As for penalties he draws I expect him to draw a lot going the speeds McDavid travels.

I love McDavid, his skillset and the speed he processes the game with the puck on his stick is unbelievable. Some of the best I've ever seen. Any fan of hockey should be honored to be able to watch such greatness in the game, but also at the same time should be able to differentiate from the greatness that he possesses from the bullshit that he gets away with.
Yes rival fans can be guilty of falsely accusing a star player of things, especially on a rival team but fans can also get so enamored with such greatness that they totally overlook the faults that the specific player has.

My buddy Aaron is a good case of this. He is a Canucks fan slash Oilers fan. There is no way he can admit McDavid is at fault for "Anything". I tell him to take off his McDavid beer goggles all the time lol.

 

[strattonius]

I am not even completely talking about him drawing penalties, I am talking about how he can poke his stick anywhere and completely trip someone and more often than not there is no call. There are two examples I can give in the past two games. Yes the past two games.

Canucks vs Oilers

Hughes is in the box for a weak holding call against McDavid "no big deal". Oilers on the powerplay are pressing and Connor Garland is battling for a puck and McDavid trips him from behind. Clearly a obvious trip that should of taken the Oil off of the powerplay, but instead Edmonton scores a minute after.

Oilers vs Islanders

This is the play I was talking about in my original post. 2 Islanders are racing for the puck against the boards, McDavid comes into the battle stick first into the skates and sends one of the Islanders absolutely flying and out of play. McDavid picks up the now loose puck and sends it in for his 997th career point.

Look I get that McDavid is the best hockey player on the planet. He has insane skills and he deserves to be protected but he shouldn't have immunity from the infractions that he pulls. As for penalties he draws I expect him to draw a lot going the speeds McDavid travels.

I love McDavid, his skillset and the speed he processes the game with the puck on his stick is unbelievable. Some of the best I've ever seen. Any fan of hockey should be honored to be able to watch such greatness in the game, but also at the same time should be able to differentiate from the greatness that he possesses from the bullshit that he gets away with.
Yes rival fans can be guilty of falsely accusing a star player of things, especially on a rival team but fans can also get so enamored with such greatness that they totally overlook the faults that the specific player has.

My buddy Aaron is a good case of this. He is a Canucks fan slash Oilers fan. There is no way he can admit McDavid is at fault for "Anything". I tell him to take off his McDavid beer goggles all the time lol.

I'm sorry I'm not buying it.

He's the center of attention and around the puck every shift there's always going to be a hyper-focus. Receiving favoritism just goes down a conspiracy road it's mostly just homer fans spitting the nonsense. Not to say reffing in the NHL is any good, I just don't buy that McDavid is getting preferential treatment.

 

[Hodgy]

I'm sorry I'm not buying it.

He's the center of attention and around the puck every shift there's always going to be a hyper-focus. Receiving favoritism just goes down a conspiracy road it's mostly just homer fans spitting the nonsense. Not to say reffing in the NHL is any good, I just don't buy that McDavid is getting preferential treatment.

My frustration with McDavid is that he dives a lot. But I think that while he may dive the most in the nhl, I agree that he should draw even more penalties than he does based on his speed and how much he has the puck.

 

[PavelBure10]

I'm sorry I'm not buying it.

He's the center of attention and around the puck every shift there's always going to be a hyper-focus. Receiving favoritism just goes down a conspiracy road it's mostly just homer fans spitting the nonsense. Not to say reffing in the NHL is any good, I just don't buy that McDavid is getting preferential treatment.

Another example. Game 2 Stanley Cup playoffs vs the Oilers. Quinn Hughes brushes up against McDavid while trying to get to Nugent Hopkins "who is the puck carrier". While brushing up against McDavid, McDavid loses control of his stick which results in his blade brushing up against Hughes cheek in which drawing blood from his face. Normally a instant 4 minute double minor for high stick for drawing blood, but McDavid isn't even given a penalty. The refs acted like it never even happened.

I can bring up more examples but I won't go any further because I don't think I can convince you my friend lol, but I don't think these assumptions of McDavid getting special treatment isn't too far fetched.

 

[MS]

My frustration with McDavid is that he dives a lot. But I think that while he may dive the most in the nhl, I agree that he should draw even more penalties than he does based on his speed and how much he has the puck.

I think this was probably the case for the first 5 years of his career but the last year or so has gotten absolutely ridiculous as it seems like there's a league-wide mandate to Get The NHL's Best Player a Cup. If you fart in his direction you get a penalty and he seems to basically have impunity to calls on him the other way. The Soucy thing in the playoffs was just nauseating.

 

[Hodgy]

I think this was probably the case for the first 5 years of his career but the last year or so has gotten absolutely ridiculous as it seems like there's a league-wide mandate to Get The NHL's Best Player a Cup. If you fart in his direction you get a penalty and he seems to basically have impunity to calls on him the other way. The Soucy thing in the playoffs was just nauseating.

Yes, agreed. While not McDavid, what was worse, was the blatant elbow to the head by Draisaitl on Barkov that the media all seemed to agree to not talk about and the NHL didn’t even bother to have a hearing. It was pretty clear who the NHL and media wanted to win the Stanley Cup last year.

 

[Jerry the great]

I think this was probably the case for the first 5 years of his career but the last year or so has gotten absolutely ridiculous as it seems like there's a league-wide mandate to Get The NHL's Best Player a Cup. If you fart in his direction you get a penalty and he seems to basically have impunity to calls on him the other way. The Soucy thing in the playoffs was just nauseating.

Ironically, his net penalties/60 is only second best in history (min 300 games). EP40 wears the crown....for often falling down.

 

[StreetHawk]

I think this was probably the case for the first 5 years of his career but the last year or so has gotten absolutely ridiculous as it seems like there's a league-wide mandate to Get The NHL's Best Player a Cup. If you fart in his direction you get a penalty and he seems to basically have impunity to calls on him the other way. The Soucy thing in the playoffs was just nauseating.

If the suspended Soucy, then there was no basis for not suspending Drai for that elbow on Barkov. Flip it, and Barkov more than likely gets suspended.

 

[MS]

If the suspended Soucy, then there was no basis for not suspending Drai for that elbow on Barkov. Flip it, and Barkov more than likely gets suspended.

There was literally zero precedent for the Soucy suspension and no suspension like it in NHL history. The reason for the suspension was 'it's a bad look to have the NHL's marquee player get hit in the face' even though it was in a scrum that McBaby started by acting like a bitch after his team lost, and even though he basically fell into a static stick when he was bumped from behind.

I'm still seething over it. It was basically Aaron Rome all over again.

 

[God]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1790128660990562348

 

[MS]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1790128660990562348

The Edmonton media occasionally gets pissy and asks some pissy questions of guys like Draisaitl when they're struggling but holy hell do they band together to push (often ridiculous) pro-Oiler agendas out into the world.

Conversely, it's absolutely crickets from our media when something like Keith-Sedin or Jeannot-Boeser happens. Or saying anything about the insanity of 2011.

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

There was literally zero precedent for the Soucy suspension and no suspension like it in NHL history. The reason for the suspension was 'it's a bad look to have the NHL's marquee player get hit in the face' even though it was in a scrum that McBaby started by acting like a bitch after his team lost, and even though he basically fell into a static stick when he was bumped from behind.

I'm still seething over it. It was basically Aaron Rome all over again.

It was insane. Both of those plays in isolation would at worst be a 2min penalty, but they get punished because it resulted in a stick to the head when neither guy knew what the other was going to do. That's really reaching because shoves/crosschecks to the chest happen a billion times per game in the playoffs that don't go uncalled. Just ridiculous

Prior suspension history? 1 suspension in 5 seasons. Not like he is repeatedly dirty.

Principle contact the head? Yes, but moved last second which Soucy had no way of knowing. Change of direction last second matters when judging suspensions. Clearly not intentional.

The NHL reasoning is that it is "not a hockey play and occured well after play" when this has never been a thing and there are scrums, fights, slashes, etc almost every whistle that don't ever get punished is insane. The league is as consistent with upholding the rules as Dan Cloutier is at goaltending.

 

[MS]

It was insane. Both of those plays in isolation would at worst be a 2min penalty, but they get punished because it resulted in a stick to the head when neither guy knew what the other was going to do. That's really reaching because shoves/crosschecks to the chest happen a billion times per game in the playoffs that don't go uncalled. Just ridiculous

Prior suspension history? 1 suspension in 5 seasons. Not like he is repeatedly dirty.

Principle contact the head? Yes, but moved last second which Soucy had no way of knowing. Change of direction last second matters when judging suspensions. Clearly not intentional.

The NHL reasoning is that it is "not a hockey play and occured well after play" when this has never been a thing and there are scrums, fights, slashes, etc almost every whistle that don't ever get punished is insane. The league is as consistent with upholding the rules as Dan Cloutier is at goaltending.

I honestly think that if you switched the actions of the two players in that altercation they would have found a way to suspend Soucy for slashing McDavid after the whistle and then hitting him high, and would have said that Soucy 'got what he deserved' for starting the melee.

That whole thing was just a 'there are different rules for this one guy' situation in it's entirety. It was absurd.

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

It's hilarious that the NHL play both sides again. Allows so much shit like fighting, scrums after the whistle, slashing, and crosschecking go and barely punishes headshots because "it's part of the game". But McDavid gets hit in the face and not even injured and suddenly it's not part of the game. I can understand being protective of McDavid after Crosby missed so much time with neck and concussions, but f*** be consistent. It's okay or not okay for everyone. So many players have had their lives effected by CTE and its crickets, but McDavid might get hurt and everybody loses their minds.

 

[thecupismine]

The Edmonton media occasionally gets pissy and asks some pissy questions of guys like Draisaitl when they're struggling but holy hell do they band together to push (often ridiculous) pro-Oiler agendas out into the world.

Conversely, it's absolutely crickets from our media when something like Keith-Sedin or Jeannot-Boeser happens. Or saying anything about the insanity of 2011.

The 2011 Canucks had more powerplays than their opponents in 2 of their final 41 regular season games, despite dominating at even strength, and it got more crazy in the playoffs. The way that season was officiated turned me away from being an 82 game + other team's games + entire playoffs guy for 10+ years.

Anyways, hoping Dallas kicks Boston's teeth in tonight. Want them to keep losing so some of their defenders shake lose at the deadline.

 

[MS]

It's hilarious that the NHL play both sides again. Allows so much shit like fighting, scrums after the whistle, slashing, and crosschecking go and barely punishes headshots because "it's part of the game". But McDavid gets hit in the face and not even injured and suddenly it's not part of the game. I can understand being protective of McDavid after Crosby missed so much time with neck and concussions, but f*** be consistent. It's okay or not okay for everyone. So many players have had their lives effected by CTE and its crickets, but McDavid might get hurt and everybody loses their minds.

I believe it was Friedman who said right after that 'according to the people he talked to' (which would be league high-ups because he's basically a mouthpiece for the league and GMs) that 'you just couldn't have your star player getting hit like that, it was a bad look'.

The suspension was solely because of who was hit. It was a 'protect McDavid' suspension. It had nothing to do with any precedents or any level of 'fairness'. It was purely 'you can't touch that guy'.

And like, I don't even have too much of a problem with that when a superstar player is an innocent victim of a cheap shot. But that whole f***ing situation was because McDavid was having a spaz at the end of a game and started throwing slashes and cheap shots at Canuck players.

The 2011 Canucks had more powerplays than their opponents in 2 of their final 41 regular season games, despite dominating at even strength, and it got more crazy in the playoffs. The way that season was officiated turned me away from being an 82 game + other team's games + entire playoffs guy for 10+ years.

Anyways, hoping Dallas kicks Boston's teeth in tonight. Want them to keep losing so some of their defenders shake lose at the deadline.

Ha, you're basically playing my music here. I believe it was something like 1 time in 36 games at one point, and that one game (if anyone remembers) was a game where LA was getting blown out and just started cheapshotting Canucks all over the place in the 3rd. They had a PP advantage to that point in that game, as well.

There was either some sort of league directive against us or the referees were essentially getting manipulated by the media narrative against us. It's impossible that what happened that spring was some sort of coincidence or 'bad luck'.

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

I believe it was Friedman who said right after that 'according to the people he talked to' (which would be league high-ups because he's basically a mouthpiece for the league and GMs) that 'you just couldn't have your star player getting hit like that, it was a bad look'.

The suspension was solely because of who was hit. It was a 'protect McDavid' suspension. It had nothing to do with any precedents or any level of 'fairness'. It was purely 'you can't touch that guy'.

And like, I don't even have too much of a problem with that when a superstar player is an innocent victim of a cheap shot. But that whole f***ing situation was because McDavid was having a spaz at the end of a game and started throwing slashes and cheap shots at Canuck players.



Ha, you're basically playing my music here. I believe it was something like 1 time in 36 games at one point, and that one game (if anyone remembers) was a game where LA was getting blown out and just started cheapshotting Canucks all over the place in the 3rd. They had a PP advantage to that point in that game, as well.

There was either some sort of league directive against us or the referees were essentially getting manipulated by the media narrative against us. It's impossible that what happened that spring was some sort of coincidence or 'bad luck'.

To have 1 tail or heads in 36 flips is literally a 1 in a billion outcome

 

[strattonius]

There was literally zero precedent for the Soucy suspension and no suspension like it in NHL history. The reason for the suspension was 'it's a bad look to have the NHL's marquee player get hit in the face' even though it was in a scrum that McBaby started by acting like a bitch after his team lost, and even though he basically fell into a static stick when he was bumped from behind.

I'm still seething over it. It was basically Aaron Rome all over again.

I'm more pissed that a flying crosscheck to the face from Zac Hyman (which was worse just based on intent) went 'unnoticed' like it wasn't the exact same thing but worse.