News from Around the AHL/NHL/KHL 2023-24

[13th Floor]

It's likely that while this reckoning is happening, the players in the near future are going to less likely to be victimizers (and victims - I really do think that athletes being victims and/or are being taught to victimize is a big part of this story), and so *easier* to root for. Seems the wrong time to throw up one's hands.

I had to read this a few times to parse. Are you saying that being disgusted with the game currently is the wrong reaction because all of these sexual assault allegations coming out show that some inflection point is hit and it's going to be better from here on out?

I'm not sure I want to touch that one.

 

[gordie43]

Cool. Another sexual assault investigation for Team Canada from the 2002-03 WJC.

This sport is a mess and the culture around it is apparently rather disgusting. Hard to stay engaged and continue fandom when disgusting shit like this is happening among the players and then abetted by grown professional men across the country.

Let’s not pretend like the NHL is an outlier. The MLB seems to be having an epidemic of domestic violence. NBA and NFL also have issues with various criminal incidents. Humans can and will do terrible things. Innocent until proven guilty. Let’s the courts decide, and I will continue to focus on the hockey.

Reminder some of these media members saying these players are guilty are some of the same that tell us about free agent signings or trades that were never happening in the first place just to bring clicks. Hard to trust anything these guys, and gals say.

 

[leeroggy]

Let’s not pretend like the NHL is an outlier. The MLB seems to be having an epidemic of domestic violence. NBA and NFL also have issues with various criminal incidents. Humans can and will do terrible things. Innocent until proven guilty. Let’s the courts decide, and I will continue to focus on the hockey.

Reminder some of these media members saying these players are guilty are some of the same that tell us about free agent signings or trades that were never happening in the first place just to bring clicks. Hard to trust anything these guys, and gals say.

You didn't seem to fully look at the details. This is about Hockey Canada, not the NHL. These are kids gangbanging an underage woman in 2018 and a filmed gangbang in 2003 of a passed-out girl according to the information. I suggest you go back to the previous page and look at what I posted from Canadian law. As far as falling for flawed bloggers, that's a pretty bad analogy since Canadian law on hockey rumors pales in comparison to how Canadian journalists are handcuffed in a sexual criminal investigation. Note that the media can't even confirm the 5 names from yesterday without being subject to possible arrest until the February press conference.

 

[saintunspecified]

I had to read this a few times to parse. Are you saying that being disgusted with the game currently is the wrong reaction because all of these sexual assault allegations coming out show that some inflection point is hit and it's going to be better from here on out?

I'm not sure I want to touch that one.

Probably overstated the case. 2018 is very very recent. It is up to Canada and the junior leagues to see it through. I am optimistic that it's going to go beyond the players and touch the people in charge of Canada's program, and the junior leagues. Because once that gets done good change happens quickly. I believe the notion that there's an ingrained culture that is difficult to stop even with serious leadership changes is incorrect.

 

[PK Cronin]

Not directed at anyone in particular but let's make sure we're being respectful when discussing these topics. They're very serious and should engaged with appropriately.

Cool. Another sexual assault investigation for Team Canada from the 2002-03 WJC.

This sport is a mess and the culture around it is apparently rather disgusting. Hard to stay engaged and continue fandom when disgusting shit like this is happening among the players and then abetted by grown professional men across the country.

I think all sports have these sorts of issues at some point another, it's just a matter of when it comes out. Once the first domino falls usually there's a cascade effect after it to some degree.

Part of that might be because people (victims, third parties, etc.) might feel empowered or maybe the people who were in positions of power start to lose some of that control as information starts to leak out so it becomes less risky for people to come forward. Whatever it is, I hope more people start to be held accountable for these things so they can eradicate this sort of behavior.

Sports is such a small world that crossing the wrong people can mean the end of all your opportunities. I don't think there's a way to fix that, especially not overnight.

 

[Throttle]

How fair is that? PIT is where they are because they won those cups. Isles are where they are because they lost in back to back conference finals. Rather be PIT.

I would disagree. PIT is where they are because they’ve made some really bad acquisitions. They are 5 years removed from their last Cup and they’ve been bounced out in the first round almost yearly or haven’t made it. They should have remained much more competitive in light of their players. Hextall and Dubas are not very good as GMs.

Most of WAS roster was depleted bc of injuries, sun setting players, bad picks, bad trades, and now it’s just Ovy wilting away trying to break a record.

 

[Throttle]

Cool. Another sexual assault investigation for Team Canada from the 2002-03 WJC.

This sport is a mess and the culture around it is apparently rather disgusting. Hard to stay engaged and continue fandom when disgusting shit like this is happening among the players and then abetted by grown professional men across the country.

But here you are.

And millions of people watch American football every Sunday with players that have criminal records, sexual assault charges/lawsuits, domestic abuse, gun possession charges, etc.

 

[13th Floor]

Not directed at anyone in particular but let's make sure we're being respectful when discussing these topics. They're very serious and should engaged with appropriately.


I think all sports have these sorts of issues at some point another, it's just a matter of when it comes out. Once the first domino falls usually there's a cascade effect after it to some degree.

Part of that might be because people (victims, third parties, etc.) might feel empowered or maybe the people who were in positions of power start to lose some of that control as information starts to leak out so it becomes less risky for people to come forward. Whatever it is, I hope more people start to be held accountable for these things so they can eradicate this sort of behavior.

Sports is such a small world that crossing the wrong people can mean the end of all your opportunities. I don't think there's a way to fix that, especially not overnight.

I don't disagree. I think one of the issues going on with hockey is that a lot of this disgusting shit was/is happening covertly while the NHL kind of maintains this out-of-the-media persona of stars that stay out of trouble. I think that's what's crumbling for many people. I don't think anyone in the NFL nor their fans want to get into a morality debate about their players.

But for some reason there's more of this 'boys will be boys' and 'good Canadian boys' that surround hockey players, that up to now, buried and hid a lot of this disgusting shit that's on par with every other league. I'm not saying that people don't try and excuse disgusting acts by people in other sports, but the NHL and their fans seemingly would want to get into that morality debate because I think they feel that the NHL and their players' images are cleaner than those of other sports. I want to tread lightly here, but if you've ever had this conversation with an NHL fan (who stereotypically and notoriously thinks every other sport pales in comparison to the NHL), it starts on a very slippery slope towards some racist shit.

And I think that's the other unique thing about hockey: the monetary barrier to entry. The representation of NHLers (and WJC players) is extremely rich, privileged kids who have been given everything in life in the form of money, yesmen, and rule bending. I don't think it's surprising that we constantly read reports that hockey locker rooms are extremely disgusting, racist, and sexist, with the air of irreproachability for those coming of age in juniors because your family's wallet and connections will always save you.

As you said, this is rampant in all sports of course, and I just hope that hockey fans get their heads out of their asses and realize that their idols are just as shitty of people as the rest of the sports world and that hockey executives blaze a path towards doing something about it instead of waiting for this to blow over, which the cynic in me says is exactly what they are trying to do but people like Rick Westhead and Katie Strang won't let them.

 

[Throttle]

Oh brother…

Westhead took the bait from a plaintiffs lawyer…

 

[LeapOnOver]

I would disagree. PIT is where they are because they’ve made some really bad acquisitions. They are 5 years removed from their last Cup and they’ve been bounced out in the first round almost yearly or haven’t made it. They should have remained much more competitive in light of their players. Hextall and Dubas are not very good as GMs.

Most of WAS roster was depleted bc of injuries, sun setting players, bad picks, bad trades, and now it’s just Ovy wilting away trying to break a record.

Fair enough.... they chose to reward the horses behind the cup wins than rebuild. I'm not going to blame them for that.

 

[MJF]

Parise to the Avs. 1 year $825,000.

https://x.com/frank_seravalli/status/1751041302446178377?s=46&t=3jn8qHjbCZPRmQFtjNWB8w

 

[Nassau Revisited]

Good for Parise, I hope he gets his cup

 

[Metnut]

Parise loved it here, liked his teammates, and has a good relationship with Lou.

Says a lot about what he thinks of our chances when he’s going elsewhere for a shot at the cup.

 

[Big L]

Looks like the Pitt-Panther game was a rough one. Maybe Florida will be a little tired for tonight’s game. Isles catch (yet another) break playing a team on the second night of a back-to-back.


oh, wait…

 

[seafoam]

Once Lambert got axed that closed the door on Parise returning.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Looks like the Pitt-Panther game was a rough one. Maybe Florida will be a little tired for tonight’s game. Isles catch (yet another) break playing a team on the second night of a back-to-back.


oh, wait…

Their player took a dirty hit and not only did they stick up for them, they got the two points.

 

[MJF]

Help coming from Broad Street. After 1 period,

Bruins 4
Flyers 0

Our path to the playoffs may run through Philadelphia.

 

[Zeeker]

Help coming from Broad Street. After 1 period,

Bruins 4
Flyers 0

Our path to the playoffs may run through Philadelphia.

I find it hard to summon enthusiasm about the favorable out of town results when our team is so bad. At least the Rangers have fallen apart.

 

[The Real JT]

Help coming from Broad Street. After 1 period,

Bruins 4
Flyers 0

Our path to the playoffs may run through Philadelphia.

Ersson has been good this year but he’s gonna have a heavy load the rest of the season with Hart out.

With the Devils troubles also going on, the Isles still have a chance. Frankly, I wouldn’t bet on it.

 

[MJF]

I find it hard to summon enthusiasm about the favorable out of town results when our team is so bad. At least the Rangers have fallen apart.

I hear you. I think ultimately this is not a good roster but I feel more comfortable with Roy behind the bench that he can pull them together for the final 34 games….I hope.

 

[Big L]

General question - a team fires the puck down in to the offensive zone along the boards, has some air on it. As the puck is going, it tips off one of the multitude of sticks the players on the bench have hanging out over the boards. What should happen? Continue on? blow the whistle?

 

[leeroggy]

General question - a team fires the puck down in to the offensive zone along the boards, has some air on it. As the puck is going, it tips off one of the multitude of sticks the players on the bench have hanging out over the boards. What should happen? Continue on? blow the whistle?

Today's media would likely blame MAGA

 

[saintunspecified]

General question - a team fires the puck down in to the offensive zone along the boards, has some air on it. As the puck is going, it tips off one of the multitude of sticks the players on the bench have hanging out over the boards. What should happen? Continue on? blow the whistle?

Assuming what you mean is that the sticks are above the boards but not over the imaginary line over the ice surface that would extend from the boards up (or at least not egregiously), and the puck hits a stick, and then bounces/stays on the ice, it's out of play, and should be whistled.

If a puck hits a stick stick that is over that imaginary line, or over the boards, it could be a penalty.

 

[Big L]

Assuming what you mean is that the sticks are above the boards but not over the imaginary line over the ice surface that would extend from the boards up (or at least not egregiously), and the puck hits a stick, and then bounces/stays on the ice, it's out of play, and should be whistled.

If a puck hits a stick stick that is over that imaginary line, or over the boards, it could be a penalty.

Close. But at Saturdays game, the panthers players on the bench have the blades of their sticks protruding out over the boards, over the playing surface. As do most NHL players. In the first, isles shot the puck down in to panthers zone. Puck was airborne. As it zipped by parallel to the panthers bench (it wasn’t going out of play), it tipped off the blade of a panthers player sitting on the bench. The players stick blade was hanging over the boards over the ice. The puck trajectory was changed slightly, and continued in to the panther zone, but there was no whistle and play continued.

Wondering if there should have been a whistle or what the deal is with that.

 

[saintunspecified]

Close. But at Saturdays game, the panthers players on the bench have the blades of their sticks protruding out over the boards, over the playing surface. As do most NHL players. In the first, isles shot the puck down in to panthers zone. Puck was airborne. As it zipped by parallel to the panthers bench (it wasn’t going out of play), it tipped off the blade of a panthers player sitting on the bench. The players stick blade was hanging over the boards over the ice. The puck trajectory was changed slightly, and continued in to the panther zone, but there was no whistle and play continued.

Wondering if there should have been a whistle or what the deal is with that.

I've seen play blown dead for that exact reason.