Post-Game Talk: Caps @ Rangers: 05/03/21

[gravey9]

I honestly don't see that as any more ethical than what Wilson did, why not go after Wilson or will he not play?

It's not ethical. It's telling the other team you can't do whatever you want and think it's ok. this is hockey, you have to stand up to the bullies because there's no other mechanism to protect your team.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I honestly don't see that as any more ethical than what Wilson did, why not go after Wilson or will he not play?

The difference here is that Wilson went after our guys because he was upset with a call the refs made, nothing any Ranger player actually did. This would be sending a message as retaliation for Wilson's insane antics that cost us our best player and nearly killed two of them.

If the league refuses to do anything other than fine a player for pure assault, then players will have to police themselves in order to ensure protection. Its as simple as that.

 

[NjDevsRR]

When Devils and Islanders fans are on the side of Rangers players and only Caps fans are defending Wilson, that's the definition of delusion. Caps fans are a cesspool of human garbage, I've already said this.

I’ve been to dozens of Devils games at MSG, Philly and Nassau, the only two times I was ever verbally and physically accosted was in Washington and I am one who always keeps my mouth shut. Garbage organization with garbage fans and scummy players. Always been that way, idk how it’s gone so under the radar amongst fans around the league. I hate that franchise and was pissed when they raised the cup a few years ago.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Ho, hum. Who would have guessed. If the NHL was serious about player safety they need to fire Parros. But Parros is an arsonist posing as the Captain of the Fire Dept.

This league will be a joke in this country until they start taking things seriously that every other league does. A f***ing mickey mouse league.

 

[chosen]

Sure. Like I said no goons but an enforcer who can play AND stick up for his fellow team mates.

It seems like the teams that win the cup have a few of these players

In today's NHL, those players head to the contenders near the end of every season.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

This is a landmark happening for both the team (1) and the league (2).

1. The team did not have much to play for these last games, so vets/leaders coasting a bit was understandable. Their biggest star and another top 6 player where both targeted in potential very dangerous situations. How will the vets/leaders respond? Will they respond at all? Will they think that having a 3. pairing d-man (Smith) fighting Wilson be enough to make sure these situation will not happen again in the future? Or will they use this next unimportant game to send a message to the Caps and the rest of the league that this is not accepted?

2. It is enough with 1 crazy SOB in the game for someone to get seriously injured. These 2 situations had high enough chance of being very dangerous that the DOPS should want them gone from the game. A 5k fine will not to that. What will the teams of the league do about this? Will we see more Cooke type of players in the next seasons? Will it be accepted to have rats hunting down other team star-player? Old-school goons really never stopped them. Will DOPS stop it before a player get his career ruined? it might be only Wilson for now, but if he gets away with fines even as repeated offender it might lead to a arms-race for similar players. Every team without a player or two mad enough to potential put your star out of the game may en up defenseless.

I absolutely expect #2 to happen. The NHL has made it clear the only form of retribution that can come is through vigilante justice.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Again, forget Wilson. If the league won't protect its stars, its an open invitation to 2 hand chop backstrom, ovechkin and carlson across the wrists every time they are on the ice. Somebody breaks a wrist and misses the playoffs? Oh well, wouldn't have happened if the NHL just handled its bussiness.

Yeah. Honestly a broken wrist or something to one of Washington's top guys, forcing them to miss playoff time, would be karmic justice since the NHL clearly isn't interested in taking care of it themselves.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I’ve been to dozens of Devils games at MSG, Philly and Nassau, the only two times I was ever verbally and physically accosted was in Washington and I am one who always keeps my mouth shut. Garbage organization with garbage fans and scummy players. Always been that way, idk how it’s gone so under the radar amongst fans around the league. I hate that franchise and was pissed when they raised the cup a few years ago.

I was actually happy Ovy raised the cup and was mostly happy the Pens didn't threepeat. But this is hockey culture. Like 75% of hockey fans are mouth breathing neanderthals.

 

[CLW]

Dress Geertsen and tell him to "go to the net" and when he gets there, forget to stop. Send a message by saying hi to their goalie right before they start the playoffs and maybe they'll get it.

This decision by Parros is literally to pour fuel on the flames to create more thuggery, more goonery, more idiocy.

Best course of action is to beef up the squad with strong, capable players. Ignore Wilson for now and start winning. If the Rangers goon up Parros will be pleased as punch, he lives for that shit it made his career.

 

[Leetch94]

Parros is there to take the heat. It's the league. Now's when you appreciate a psycho like ADA on your team.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I was actually happy Ovy raised the cup and was mostly happy the Pens didn't threepeat. But this is hockey culture. Like 75% of hockey fans are mouth breathing neanderthals.

My most pleasant road experiences were Montreal (they just loved Marty and the Devs), Nashville, Tampa and Denver. Dallas was great too. Never expected the hostility when I went to Washington, was shocking.

 

[Jackson Ranger]

Quinn is not responsible for the roster. It's given to him.

He does have to play the players that are given to him but he does have input into what his team should be. If he's telling Gorton that he is happy with the makeup of the team, it falls on him too.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I’ve been to dozens of Devils games at MSG, Philly and Nassau, the only two times I was ever verbally and physically accosted was in Washington and I am one who always keeps my mouth shut. Garbage organization with garbage fans and scummy players. Always been that way, idk how it’s gone so under the radar amongst fans around the league. I hate that franchise and was pissed when they raised the cup a few years ago.

You clearly haven't gone to enough Islanders games in Nassau. Perhaps the most mouth-breathing fanbase in the league. I've been to games around the country (including NJ, Washington, etc), but growing up on the island have never witnessed anything quite like being an opposing fan at the Coliseum.

 

[Siddi]

I am far from a supporter of the old time hockey toughness and have been vocal about my disgust for goons or "deterrents" in our line up but the shit that Wilson pulled last night has got me livid beyond reason. 2 of our players could have ended up dead/paralyzed! I say goon the f*** up with whatever meathead we have in our systems and put a price on every f***ing teeth in that piece of shit waste of atoms Wilson.

 

[gravey9]

I want to address something else that really ticked me off last night. In the third period, when we're fighting to get back into the game, Zibanejad blocks a shot and breaks his stick and instead of staying in position while the other team has possession he skates back to the bench gets a new stick. And in the meantime, the Caps pass it back to the Defenseman Zib was covering and suddenly the guy has a wide open lane to walk in and take a very dangerous shot against Shesty with traffic in front. That's the kind of crap you can't have from your leaders. I'm so done with Zib and Strome as our top two centers. They're offensively gifted. But with their on-again off-again commitment to playing the full 200 ft, and lack of physical game, they simply cannot lead.

The game before, against the Islanders, in the first period Zib gets accidentally elbowed in the face, whinces, whines to the ref and skates himself out of the play again. I believe if the Islanders scored or had another high danger shot after. Zib has very little mental toughness. Last night he talked about how Tom Wilson wasn't respecting the game. I would argue that Zib often does little things out there that disrespects his team. All season long, we've seen this from him where something happens in the middle of the shift and he basically stops playing. We thought it was COVID related, but since he's gotten past that we still see him taking himself out of the play because he was nicked or because he loses his stick or something. It's just not what a leader does. You need more from your 1C.

 

[NjDevsRR]

You clearly haven't gone to enough Islanders games in Nassau. Perhaps the most mouth-breathing fanbase in the league. I've been to games around the country (including NJ, Washington, etc), but growing up on the island have never witnessed anything quite like being an opposing fan at the Coliseum.

Been to 6 or 7, I am guessing it not as bad for Devils fans making the trip as Rangers fans. Theres a rivalry factor there, but me going to see the Caps as a Devils fan? I got treated like I was enemy #1 on both trips. Absolutely bizarre.

 

[dshea19]

Who gives a shit. Adam Fox isn't a physical player. He is a highly skilled defenseman.

You think having 6 of Adam Fox on D would be a good thing? The lineup can support 2 or 3 of his type before your D gets run over. Fox gets away with it because he is smarter than everybody else and uses his body positioning to give him an advantage. Also, he scores a lot. If your D aren't physical, then they better contribute in other ways, which is primarily going to be scoring. Miller, even for his size, gets pushed around and has zero snarl to his game. His offense better bloom or he better get some nasty in his game. Otherwise, he will be the next Marek Malik.

 

[dshea19]

This is batshit. I'm sorry, but there's a huge difference between wanting to add grit and toughness (somewhat skilled, hopefully) and asking skilled, finesse players to become thugs. If it's not their game, it's not their game. Miller will probably become more physical as time goes on, hopefully in the mold of a Trouba, but it's not a huge deal if he doesn't.

On the other hand, people really forget that we were missing several of our tougher players last night which probably didn't help add to the cause.

At no point am I saying he needs to be a thug. A team of thugs is useless. However, being a passive shadow is useless. He has shown neither grit nor toughness. If he isn't going to provide at least a competitive level of that, not asking for him to be Chara, but to have push back, then he better score a ton. Otherwise, he is the return of Marek Malik.

 

[chosen]

He does have to play the players that are given to him but he does have input into what his team should be. If he's telling Gorton that he is happy with the makeup of the team, it falls on him too.

GM gets the players.

Coach plays the players he's given.

You can quibble with player usage, but not about who is responsible for personnel.

 

[LOFIN]

I haven't read the full thread, but I 'm pretty sure there are some people who are demanding we need a guy in our lineup who can punch guys like Wilson in the face.

Wilson can fight, he's damn good at it. And punching him won't stop him from doing his BS. What we need, is the league to step up and suspend these assholes, hit them in their wallet. I woulnd't be surprised, if in the next owners or GM meeting they would be calling for Parros's head. That f***ing asshole has been hit in the too many times, and refuses to suspend people because of "hockey code". f*** him, he's deliberately trying to force more injuries in this league.

EDIT: did delete some of my comments, one should never wish injury on anyone, no matter how much of an asshole he is.

 

[Fitzy]

An unfortunate side effect of last night's shenanigans is the revival of old arguments between posters that don't believe any level of physicality is useful in a roster, and posters who think that a team should be at least 30% hard-nosed players.

There is value in physicality on the roster. But it isn't going to stop Tom Wilson being a psychopath. Really only the league can do that, unless he collectively becomes so unpopular with players around the league that he becomes borderline unemployable like DeAngelo or Voynov. But given that Bertuzzi continued to find employment, that seems unlikely.

 

[Joe Ranger Fan 1960]

The lack of discipline in the NHL has been going on for time immemorial. It is why hockey is a second tier sport; the premier league is bush. To his credit, Bettman has been going down the path of diminishing violence for years. Unfortunately there remains an inherent dilemma. Namely, the NHL sanctions intent to injure. That's what fighting is all about. Unless the NHLPA decides that it's time for a game misconduct for fighting, intent to injure will remain an acceptable practice in the NHL. It was proven yet again. I'm quite used to it.

That accepted, if the Rangers really believe there is no place for it in the game, thereby disagreeing with NHLPA wishes, they should take it upon themselves to hire a goon with a steel stick to end this thing once and for all. The opportunity awaits on Wednesday evening. The only way the violence will end is with epic, headline garnering, off the charts violent conduct.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

My most pleasant road experiences were Montreal (they just loved Marty and the Devs), Nashville, Tampa and Denver. Dallas was great too. Never expected the hostility when I went to Washington, was shocking.

I got some pretty bad hostility at CAA. One guy was just being a drunk asshole, everyone else was fine though. Didn't help that we lost 6-1 in a playoff game.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Is Stephane Quintal still part of the NHL's Department of Player Saftey?
If so there might be some bias. I believe he has a history with this organization and not a good one. If the story is correct it goes like this, when he was a player here he gave an interview to a Quebec newspaper during the off-season where he inferred that he wished he had not signed with the Rangers. During the following pre-season John Davidson who was the color commentator for MSG at the time outed him for that interview and stated on air that anyone who wasn't proud to ware the teams jersey shouldn't be here. Right after that Quintal was traded.
Do some digging Uncle Larry. If this is all true, expose it. Let the world know.

 

[East Coast Bias]

You think having 6 of Adam Fox on D would be a good thing? The lineup can support 2 or 3 of his type before your D gets run over. Fox gets away with it because he is smarter than everybody else and uses his body positioning to give him an advantage. Also, he scores a lot. If your D aren't physical, then they better contribute in other ways, which is primarily going to be scoring. Miller, even for his size, gets pushed around and has zero snarl to his game. His offense better bloom or he better get some nasty in his game. Otherwise, he will be the next Marek Malik.

Of all the things you're bitching about Adam Fox?

Yeah I do want 6 Adam Fox on defense. Without question.