What happened to Espen Knutsen?

[The Kingslayer]

I realize that it must have been tough on him after the freak accident, but he was a decent player who could prlly score you 20-25 goals a season. What happened to him and is he still playing hockey?

 

[Frightened Inmate #2]

If I remember correctly he really wasn't the same player after his shot deflected off Morris and wound up killing that girl in Columbus. He also was quite injury prone and as such he was as soft as butter on a hot tin roof. Plus he would be about 34 or 35 right now making him an older player.

 

[futurcorerock]

I realize that it must have been tough on him after the freak accident, but he was a decent player who could prlly score you 20-25 goals a season. What happened to him and is he still playing hockey?

Far as I know, he's back in Norway

Columbus went through some housecleaning in 03-04, starting with Knutsen who was sent to the minors, then back home... and Grand-Pierre who switched from D to LW, then was promptly sent to the Thrashers.

Last casualties of the Year-one Jackets Sanderson and Wright were dealt earlier this year, as Sanderson fell entirely off the depth charts and was sent to PHX, and Wright went to ANA in the infamous Fedorov trade

 

[Norseman]

He went back to Djurgården, SEL, were he after 23 matches in 03-04 and 04-05 managed to miss a hit and went headfirst into the boards himself, resulting in a careerending neckinjury. He is now a coach for the norwegian eliteclub Vålerenga.

 

[Big Phil]

I still to this day disagree with the overreaction the NHL did by placing the netting behind the net. I feel bad for the young girl Britanie Cecil who died, God rest her soul, but this was the first and only time in 85 years of the NHL that a fan died from a puck or an errant stick.

 

[JrussJacket]

I still to this day disagree with the overreaction the NHL did by placing the netting behind the net. I feel bad for the young girl Britanie Cecil who died, God rest her soul, but this was the first and only time in 85 years of the NHL that a fan died from a puck or an errant stick.

Overreaction? She died! Your right it was the first time in 85 years but because of the "Overreaction" it will also be the last!

 

[Puckclektr]

I still to this day disagree with the overreaction the NHL did by placing the netting behind the net. I feel bad for the young girl Britanie Cecil who died, God rest her soul, but this was the first and only time in 85 years of the NHL that a fan died from a puck or an errant stick.

I concur

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

I still to this day disagree with the overreaction the NHL did by placing the netting behind the net. I feel bad for the young girl Britanie Cecil who died, God rest her soul, but this was the first and only time in 85 years of the NHL that a fan died from a puck or an errant stick.

I figure one dead child is enough to warrant a change to prevent it ever happening again.

 

[vitogor]

He went back to Djurgården, SEL, were he after 23 matches in 03-04 and 04-05 managed to miss a hit and went headfirst into the boards himself, resulting in a careerending neckinjury. He is now a coach for the norwegian eliteclub Vålerenga.

He went for a hit??

 

[Big Phil]

I figure one dead child is enough to warrant a change to prevent it ever happening again.

To me its just another example of the league distancing itself away from the fans. Sure we're used to it by now, but at the time the NHL lawyers overreacted to what had happened. She died yes, but not right at her seat it was three days later. Yes I know it was still the result of the puck hitting her but just think about how much in the last few years fans have gotten shut out from the rink. It used to be pucks would go into the stands on a much more frequent basis, and that seemed to bring the fans into the game much more, kind of like Baseball. But now even if a player unintentionally flips the puck into the stands he gets a penalty. Look it is unfortunate that someone died, but I just dont think that it justified bringing in the netting. Its not as if pucks injure fans the way it would a goalie if he didnt have a mask. More than one goalie would hae been hurt in the last 85 years if there were no masks.

 

[Leaf Lander]

anyone ever die from getting hit by a baseball?

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

To me its just another example of the league distancing itself away from the fans. Sure we're used to it by now, but at the time the NHL lawyers overreacted to what had happened. She died yes, but not right at her seat it was three days later. Yes I know it was still the result of the puck hitting her but just think about how much in the last few years fans have gotten shut out from the rink. It used to be pucks would go into the stands on a much more frequent basis, and that seemed to bring the fans into the game much more, kind of like Baseball. But now even if a player unintentionally flips the puck into the stands he gets a penalty. Look it is unfortunate that someone died, but I just dont think that it justified bringing in the netting. Its not as if pucks injure fans the way it would a goalie if he didnt have a mask. More than one goalie would hae been hurt in the last 85 years if there were no masks.

Odds are pretty good if I drive home hammered tonight I'll get there without incident. Nonetheless I wouldn't do it- it's the same principle.

They also make us wear seatbelts and bike helmets, regardless of the fact that not a single kid I ever knew died driving a bike.

 

[chooch*]

anyone ever die from getting hit by a baseball?

ray chapman Teams/players have been sued over balls and broken bats into stands. The legal question is what did the team do to mitigate its risk.

Bettmans a lawyer not a hockey fan. He represents the owners.

 

[Rumblick]

Overreaction? She died! Your right it was the first time in 85 years but because of the "Overreaction" it will also be the last!

I've seen some wicked shots go into the stands on the sides. Why not enclose the arena completely?

 

[hfboardsuser]

I've seriously wondered why that wasn't done, Dango. I like the netting. I rarely notice it, if ever, and it keeps me and other fans safe. It wouldn't be too much trouble to wrap it around the entire rink, making damn sure no one was ever hit or killed again.

 

[Rumblick]

I've seriously wondered why that wasn't done, Dango. I like the netting. I rarely notice it, if ever, and it keeps me and other fans safe. It wouldn't be too much trouble to wrap it around the entire rink, making damn sure no one was ever hit or killed again.

If they ever wrap the whole arena, I'll take up baseball.

 

[mattihp]

If they ever wrap the whole arena, I'll take up baseball.

Because of the higher risk of getting something in the head? No offense, but with that statement, I think you've taken one hit too much to the head ^^

 

[hossua34]

Well I support the league's decision to put up the netting, but maybe I have a biased viewpoint... I was at the game where it happened, one section over, probably about 25-30 feet away from where the puck went into the crowd.

And since the nets went up, I've seen countless times where a puck, if not stopped by the nets, would have at the very least broken a nose, blackened an eye, or worse. It's not just a measure to stop people from dying.

 

[007]

I cannot believe that people are considering putting up nets an overreaction. They are a preventative measure. They should have been put up BEFORE anyone got hurt, let alone killed.

Distancing the sport from the fans? We can deal with some nets, that quite frankly, barely touch the viewing experience. I'm more annoyed by drunk idiots jumping up and down in front of me during a game, but I'm not calling for them to stop selling beer. But nets that potentially save lives? You complain about that? Unbelieveable. The sport is distanced from the fans with every child who gets hurt.

The inability of people to sympathise with the basic suffering of others boggles my mind. Go up to the parents of the poor girl who was killed and tell them it was an overreaction.

hossua34, you're not biased, you're sane.

 

[jacketracket*]

Overreaction? She died! Your right it was the first time in 85 years but because of the "Overreaction" it will also be the last!

I agree completely.

 

[PenaltyShots]

I find it sad that we go from discussing the whereabouts of Espen Knutsen to the topic that will be indelibly tied to his NHL career. It's something that really has little to do with Espen Knutsen as a player or a man, but will be forever linked to him. I even find it hard to avoid the topic when his name comes up, always pointing out that I was at that particular game and saw the shot & deflection. It always sparks a debate, and I guess if it results in a positive future for the NHL and its fan base, it is a good thing. Glad they changed the color of the netting though, Jeez!

Now to the positive:
Thank you Norseman, for the update on his career. I thought it was awesome that Knutsen got to represent the old "bad news bears" Bluejackets in the All Star game. How cool was that for him, his country & the CBJ? He was a special player in the CBJ's short and storied past. IMO, during his time here, he had the best touch pass on the team. And he had some slick moves. I think he would fit right in again, in the new NHL. Would love to see him elude some of the best clutch & grabbers in the biz!

 

[mattihp]

He ended his career due to a serious injury, not because of that incident.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

His NHL career though ended due to the incident (or his play after that incident).

 

[Choice]

At first I was skeptical of the netting, but I've seen games at several arenas (AHL & NHL) since, and it hasn't been a hinderance at all. If thats what it takes to make sure something like what happened it Columbus never happens again it is fine with me.

 

[Kenadyan]

Thanks for the update. It really was a tragedy how the whole incident happened with the young girl in Columbus. However, some good did come of it as the end-nets are now required at all NHL arenas; hopefully, so some family NEVER has to go through such an incident ever again.

I too was wondering what happened to him. I remember how much fun ESPN had with his name when they would show Blue Jacket highlights where Espen had scored a goal.