Kaleta hit on Richards: Suspension or not? UPDATE: Suspended 5 Games

[silverfish]

Boyler is right, the Rangers don't have a heavyweight to tango with Scott if things get ugly on the 12th. If my assumption is correct, and Kaleta gets three games, he'll return that night. Now, the Rangers have plenty of guys on the roster who can get a hold of Kaleta and beat the **** out of him, but they have no one who matches up with Scott, who will have free reign. It might serve as a deterrent. If Rupper was still around (not saying that was a bad trade at all, love Powe, just an example) then he'd be able to match up with Scott. Not that well, but they'd match up.

Fact is if someone goes after Kaleta, Scott's going to go after one of our guys. And if Asham is our heavyweight (if his back is okay, if not it'll be Bickel) they're in for a rude awakening.

What's Brashear up to these days?

Kaleta will not fight. They will literally have to jump him which will create a 5 minute PP for Buffalo. Are you good with that?

Sucks, but it's true. I hate the instigator rule.

 

[CTRanger]

Again, you won't be the person on the receiving end of Scott's haymakers.

You are all like the captain sitting in the trench yelling at his men to charge across an open field. Jus' sayin'

Settle down. Don't begin to draw this comparison as you are now entering a whole other realm!

I just hope we do what is right and stand up for ourselves regardless of John Scott.

 

[RUSF18]

Kaleta will not fight. They will literally have to jump him which will create a 5 minute PP for Buffalo. Are you good with that?

No, and I doubt anyone is. And no one would do that in this situation. Challenge him, and if he turtles as expected, laugh and walk away. Done.

If Richards was seriously hurt last night, I do think that scenario would take place and everyone would come to grips with it.

 

[Krams]

This Rangers team is not built to really answer the bell. That's a fact. Asking someone else to step up, while maybe good for team chemistry, is asking for the game to get out of hand and begin a spiral towards a game they would not want to get into.

Now you've changed your argument.

If you need to call up McIlrath and Haley/Newbury for one game, you do it. I can assure you that allowing the **** Kaleta pulled last night to go completely unanswered in a physical sense will be detrimental long-term. If guys on the opposition team are not fearful for their own heads if they take liberties against our own players then they'll be more likely to throw questionable hits. This is pretty much common sense.

I'm not interested in Richards/Gaborik/Nash/McDonagh/Staal being concussed. It's obvious to even the casual observer that the league's suspensions aren't enough of a deterrent.

 

[NYR Viper]

Settle down. Don't begin to draw this comparison as you are now entering a whole other realm!

I just hope we do what is right and stand up for ourselves regardless of John Scott.

Settled.

I am more arguing to play the Devils advocate at this point. I do it quite often on these boards to create solid conversation. I wish someone would beat the **** out of Kaleta but the fact of the matter is the Rangers don't match up well going that route.

No, and I doubt anyone is. And no one would do that in this situation. Challenge him, and if he turtles as expected, laugh and walk away. Done.

If Richards was seriously hurt last night, I do think that scenario would take place and everyone would come to grips with it.

And what if Richards does not play in their next game?

 

[NYR Viper]

Now you've changed your argument.

If you need to call up McIlrath and Haley/Newbury for one game, you do it. I can assure you that allowing the **** Kaleta pulled last night to go completely unanswered in a physical sense will be detrimental long-term. If guys on the opposition team are not fearful for their own heads if they take liberties against our own players then they'll be more likely to throw questionable hits. This is pretty much common sense.

I'm not interested in Richards/Gaborik/Nash/McDonagh/Staal being concussed. It's obvious to even the casual observer that the league's suspensions aren't enough of a deterrent.

That is going to be the way the Sabres want to play moving forward. Get used to it. They are sick and tired of being pushed around for years going the skill route. Unfortunately, the Rangers look to have gone that route this season.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

People are scared what John Scott is going to do to this team? Sheesh.

He'll have to catch somebody first.

 

[lJuicel]

I'd imagine 3 games. Sadly he is worthless and there will be no fight on the 12th. Just the player he is.

 

[CTRanger]

Settled.

I am more arguing to play the Devils advocate at this point. I do it quite often on these boards to create solid conversation. I wish someone would beat the **** out of Kaleta but the fact of the matter is the Rangers don't match up well going that route.

I agree this is not the way we are built, but sometimes you need to step outside your comfort area and for this team going forward I think it would serve us well for someone to step up.

 

[ltrangerfan]

This thread just reminds me as to why hockey will always be a cult sport.

 

[Krams]

That is going to be the way the Sabres want to play moving forward. Get used to it. They are sick and tired of being pushed around for years going the skill route. Unfortunately, the Rangers look to have gone that route this season.

Get used to it?

What a pathetic excuse for the passive acceptance of their guys taking runs at our star players. Actually, it's not even an excuse. It's just a ridiculously dangerous mindset to have when there are such important team assets at risk.

Bickel can play RW on the fourth line. McIlrath can play limited minutes as the 6th defenseman like Torts usually does regardless. Sit Halpern, slot Boyle down onto the fourth line, and call up one of Haley/Mashinter/Newbury. We have the assets.

 

[NYR Viper]

Get used to it?

What a pathetic excuse for the passive acceptance of their guys taking runs at our star players. Actually, it's not even an excuse. It's just a ridiculously dangerous mindset to have when there are such important team assets at risk.

Bickel can play RW on the fourth line. McIlrath can play limited minutes as the 6th defenseman like Torts usually does regardless. Sit Halpern, slot Boyle down onto the fourth line, and call up one of Haley/Mashinter/Newbury. We have the assets.

You are allowing the other team to dictate how you are going to play. Why?

And you think I am in passive acceptance of the way things happened? Really?

 

[NYR Viper]

Odd that no one has said anything. Hour and a half phone conversation?

 

[Krams]

You are allowing the other team to dictate how you are going to play. Why?

No I'm not. I'm advocating the Rangers actually stand up for themselves so this sort of hit is less likely to happen in the future. Novel concept, I know.

And you think I am in passive acceptance of the way things happened? Really?

"Get used to it."

Without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[NYR Viper]

No I'm not. I'm advocating the Rangers actually stand up for themselves so this sort of hit is less likely to happen in the future. Novel concept, I know.


"Get used to it."

Without a shadow of a doubt.

I don't expect much.

Re-read the comment. It was about their style of play. They will be playing like this for the foreseeable future. There is a large shadow in your doubt.

 

[Krams]

I'm not debating what will happen. I doubt they'll do much if anything. I'm arguing what the proper course of action should be for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

No I'm not. I'm advocating the Rangers actually stand up for themselves so this sort of hit is less likely to happen in the future. Novel concept, I know.


"Get used to it."

Without a shadow of a doubt.

Dressing Stu Bickel, McIlrath, and Mashinter isnt going to stop Kaleta from playing like an idiot like he has his whole career.

 

[Krams]

Dressing Stu Bickel, McIlrath, and Mashinter isnt going to stop Kaleta from playing like an idiot like he has his whole career.

All three could beat the **** out of Kaleta.

You know what I can guarantee won't stop guys in the future from playing like idiots? Doing nothing.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm not debating what will happen. I doubt they'll do much if anything. I'm arguing what the proper course of action should be for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

The proper course of action would be to win the game. Take care of the rest of this crap when the game is out of hand.

Dressing Stu Bickel, McIlrath, and Mashinter isnt going to stop Kaleta from playing like an idiot like he has his whole career.

Agreed. Although it would be nice if this team would be more comfortable defending themselves and eachother.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I'd say we already made Kaleta pay, scoring twice because of his selfish penalty.

People want to have our players go after him, whatever - we already made him look like an *******. Having Mashinter, Bickel, or McIlrath go after him isn't going to change anything.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'd say we already made Kaleta pay, scoring twice because of his selfish penalty.

People want to have our players go after him, whatever - we already made him look like an *******. Having Mashinter, Bickel, or McIlrath go after him isn't going to change anything.

The thing that would be great is if the Rangers had ANYONE who could make legal runs at him ala Chris Neil in last years playoffs to Boyle. That is the way to answer that type of ****. The Rangers have no one.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

All three could beat the **** out of Kaleta.

You know what I can guarantee won't stop guys in the future from playing like idiots? Doing nothing.

Kaleta has a long history of not answering the bell for the **** hes done. Thats not going to change.

So what happens? Kaleta turtles and the Sabres get a powerplay?

No thanks, I'd rather beat them on the scoreboard like last night.

 

[Krams]

Kaleta looked like an idiot after he took his penalty. I'm sure he's looked like an idiot because of ill-advised penalties in the past. Has it stopped him from playing like an idiot? Nope.

The only way to stop this **** is by making these guys look like idiots without their front two teeth. People change their behavior when they have a personal stake in what happens as a result.

Otherwise, our guys will continue to be smashed into the boards without repercussions for the opposition. Nash/McDonagh/Richards, and we've gotten off pretty lucky. Waiting for somebody to get seriously injured.

 

[Krams]

Kaleta has a long history of not answering the bell for the **** hes done. Thats not going to change.

So what happens? Kaleta turtles and the Sabres get a powerplay?

No thanks, I'd rather beat them on the scoreboard like last night.

Worked out pretty well for the Senators last year.

Stop looking at it in the context of one game and start considering what might happen if the team continues to be so incredibly passive.

 

[Cmox]

This is my favorite tweet : It's some rando who seems to not watch hockey, so keep that in mind if you decide to reply...

Chris Ramondelli ‏@ChrisRamo10
Thats one bad hit from Kaleta. Yes it was a bad one but it was one hit. He is still a very good hockey player and not a dirty one.