# NHL: March 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 2, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165 "2011-03-02T04:38:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/62 "2011-03-09T20:46:38Z")
On a much happier note, Brad Richards is returning for the Stars tonight. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/63 "2011-03-09T21:32:27Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > What are you talking about? I’ve been calling for Chara to be made an example of. It was a reckless thing to do and he should be punished harshly. I don’t care if he meant to hurt anyone. The only way these hits will go away is if people are punished regardless of the outcome of bad hits. Someone needs an internet time out. If you feel compelled to defend yourself when you were not even remotely implicated, that’s on you, buddy. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/64 "2011-03-09T21:38:29Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > On a much happier note, Brad Richards is returning for the Stars tonight. It will be nice to not have to double shift Benn, but he played so well on that road trip. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/65 "2011-03-09T21:44:27Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No. It’s the right call. No, it really isn’t. It’s bullshit to say “anywhere else on the ice…” because it didn’t happen any where else on the ice. It happened in an area and a situation where _every goddamned player_ knows it’s dangerous and players are vulnerable. I don’t care if Chara had never done anything before (that the NHL bothered to look at). I’ve never killed anyone in my first 29 years of life, do I get a reduced sentence if I do it now? That’s a bullshit factor to consider. Chara knew where he was. He knew who he was targeting, and had been targeting that same player for 2 games now. He knew the puck wasn’t being controlled by Pacioretty. He knew the boards by the bench are a dangerous place to throw a full body hit on someone. He raised his arm and ensured Pacioretty’s upper body stayed along/outside the boards, thereby ensuring a hit into the stanchion. _He knew that a full-body hit in that area could severely injure someone, and he did it anyways._ Malicious? No, as I said, I doubt he was thinking “I want to break this guy’s neck” or even “oooh, let’s see if I can give him whiplash!” But it was still a disgusting, irresponsible, late, dirty fucking hit and the NHL should have penalized him for it. NO GAMES OR FINE is a giant slap in the face to the game of hockey and fans, particulary those of the Habs. It’s a giant FUCK YOU to Pacioretty and Boston gets away with (near) murder because the NHL doesn’t dare discipline them for anything. 2 or 3 games woudn’t have been enough in my opinion, but at least it was something. This? This is an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/66 "2011-03-09T22:01:03Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Hockey players aren’t supposed to do things that injure other players. Best to ban body checking and shooting the puck, then. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/67 "2011-03-09T22:08:49Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Best to ban body checking and shooting the puck, then. Other than that would could the league realistically do to help lessen the instances of injuries like this? I’m being totally serious. I’m not being sarcastic or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/68 "2011-03-09T22:24:39Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Best to ban body checking and shooting the puck, then. If you shoot the puck you’re not being reckless (unless you’re actually shooting it _at_ another player, I guess). If you hit someone in a dangerous part of the rink, you are. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/69 "2011-03-09T22:52:32Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > That was a totally legal hit, even under today’s rules. [Really](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owpYYNjWnro)? Totally legal? Funny, because I see a hit that pretty much is a text book example of what the NHL says they want to eliminate. Naslund is movine North-South, and he gets blindsided by Moore who is going East-West. The head is the primary point of contact. IMO, in the league today, that should be at least 5 games. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/70 "2011-03-09T23:42:51Z")
My bad; I misremembered the hit. I remembered Moore coming head-on, not from the side. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/71 "2011-03-10T00:18:46Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > No, it really isn’t. > > It’s bullshit to say “anywhere else on the ice…” because it didn’t happen any where else on the ice. It happened in an area and a situation where _every goddamned player_ knows it’s dangerous and players are vulnerable. > > I don’t care if Chara had never done anything before (that the NHL bothered to look at). I’ve never killed anyone in my first 29 years of life, do I get a reduced sentence if I do it now? That’s a bullshit factor to consider. > > Chara knew where he was. He knew who he was targeting, and had been targeting that same player for 2 games now. He knew the puck wasn’t being controlled by Pacioretty. He knew the boards by the bench are a dangerous place to throw a full body hit on someone. He raised his arm and ensured Pacioretty’s upper body stayed along/outside the boards, thereby ensuring a hit into the stanchion. > > _He knew that a full-body hit in that area could severely injure someone, and he did it anyways._ > > Malicious? No, as I said, I doubt he was thinking “I want to break this guy’s neck” or even “oooh, let’s see if I can give him whiplash!” > But it was still a disgusting, irresponsible, late, dirty fucking hit and the NHL should have penalized him for it. NO GAMES OR FINE is a giant slap in the face to the game of hockey and fans, particulary those of the Habs. It’s a giant FUCK YOU to Pacioretty and Boston gets away with (near) murder because the NHL doesn’t dare discipline them for anything. > > 2 or 3 games woudn’t have been enough in my opinion, but at least it was something. This? This is an insult. I think you need to take off your bleu, blanc et rouge goggles. And take a pill. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/72 "2011-03-10T00:49:49Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I think you need to take off your bleu, blanc et rouge goggles. And take a pill. :rolleyes: “Take a pill.” That’s twice you’ve used that. What, are you twelve? You’re free to disagree with me, but I’m free to keep stating my opinion, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to tell me not to. I hate the violence, I hate the cheap shots, and I hate the fact that a player is in a hospital with a broken neck and severe concussion because of it. This would be true regardless of what team that player plays for, ok? I think the lack of response to the hit on Savard is just as horrible, and lookathat…he plays for the Bruins! I want these types of plays taken out of the game. NHL: Make fun of another guys girlfriend = 6 game suspension Mime fellatio = 2 game suspension Slam a guy into a dangerous area of the rink and break his neck = no suspension. There is something seriously wrong with this world. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/73 "2011-03-10T01:08:22Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > :rolleyes: “Take a pill.” That’s twice you’ve used that. What, are you twelve? You’re free to disagree with me, but I’m free to keep stating my opinion, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to tell me not to. > > I hate the violence, I hate the cheap shots, and I hate the fact that a player is in a hospital with a broken neck and severe concussion because of it. This would be true regardless of what team that player plays for, ok? I think the lack of response to the hit on Savard is just as horrible, and lookathat…he plays for the Bruins! I want these types of plays taken out of the game. > > NHL: > Make fun of another guys girlfriend = 6 game suspension > Mime fellatio = 2 game suspension > Slam a guy into a dangerous area of the rink and break his neck = no suspension. > > There is something seriously wrong with this world. Fights don’t even seem nearly as dangerous as the hits the players take during normal play. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/74 "2011-03-10T01:09:40Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > :rolleyes: “Take a pill.” That’s twice you’ve used that. What, are you twelve? You’re free to disagree with me, but I’m free to keep stating my opinion, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to tell me not to. > > I hate the violence, I hate the cheap shots, and I hate the fact that a player is in a hospital with a broken neck and severe concussion because of it. This would be true regardless of what team that player plays for, ok? I think the lack of response to the hit on Savard is just as horrible, and lookathat…he plays for the Bruins! I want these types of plays taken out of the game. > > NHL: > Make fun of another guys girlfriend = 6 game suspension > Mime fellatio = 2 game suspension > Slam a guy into a dangerous area of the rink and break his neck = no suspension. > > There is something seriously wrong with this world. No one likes to see an injured player. Chara did not do anything intentionally. It was a set of unfortunate circumstances. Get over it. Oh yeah, and take a pill. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/75 "2011-03-10T02:11:19Z")
In other news, the Blackhawks are back from the dead, having gone 9-1 in their last 10 games (well, until a loss on Tuesday), and are only 6 points behind Detroit now. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/76 "2011-03-10T05:12:02Z")
You know, **Leaffan** , some of us don’t cheer when players from “enemy” teams get injured. I know it’s a difficult concept. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/77 "2011-03-10T06:20:52Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > [“After a phone hearing on Wednesday, the NHL has decided that there will be no further punishment issued to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.”](http://www.nesn.com/2011/03/zdeno-chara-wont-be-suspended-or-fined-by-nhl-for-hit-on-max-pacioretty.html) > > That is bullshit. Agreed. > [@mnemosyne](#): > > :rolleyes: “Take a pill.” That’s twice you’ve used that. What, are you twelve? You’re free to disagree with me, but I’m free to keep stating my opinion, and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to tell me not to. > > I hate the violence, I hate the cheap shots, and I hate the fact that a player is in a hospital with a broken neck and severe concussion because of it. This would be true regardless of what team that player plays for, ok? I think the lack of response to the hit on Savard is just as horrible, and lookathat…he plays for the Bruins! I want these types of plays taken out of the game. > > NHL: > Make fun of another guys girlfriend = 6 game suspension > Mime fellatio = 2 game suspension > Slam a guy into a dangerous area of the rink and break his neck = no suspension. > > There is something seriously wrong with this world. Agreed. > [@Leaffan](#): > > No one likes to see an injured player. Chara did not do anything intentionally. \ Yeah, he did. He didn’t have to finish that check (actually, should have stopped the check - that’s why he got the interference call), and he didn’t have to check him right into a column. Did he intend to break his neck? I doubt it, but intentions aren’t going to unbreak Pacioretty’s neck. I’d like to see penalties for on-ice injuries more in line with the damage done - I know hockey is a physical game, but you can’t just carelessly put someone headfirst into a column like that. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/78 "2011-03-10T06:39:23Z")
Just reading about the whole thing makes me ill. (And you can’t tell me that Campbell didn’t have some influence in this decision) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/79 "2011-03-10T13:00:49Z")
I’m a Bruins fan, and I think a 2 game suspension would have been perfectly acceptable. I don’t think there was any intent to injure, but the it’s a hit that shouldn’t have been made. To make players think twice about things, it would have been appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/80 "2011-03-10T13:31:04Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > Other than that would could the league realistically do to help lessen the instances of injuries like this? I’m being totally serious. I’m not being sarcastic or anything like that. Automatic suspensions for hits that result in verifiable injury, maybe? It’s a slippery slope, and I’m not a fan of punishing the outcome over the act, but players might be more likely to choose to pull up in that instant of hesitation when so many seem to choose poorly and continue through with their hits. Have suspensions count against the roster limit so that even if it’s Joe Goon that only contributes with his fists, his suspension still hurts the team. Automatic fines against the coaches AND the teams. No more precedent based punishments. Have a climbing scale for offenses. Three strikes and you’re out. Of hockey. For life. Just some thoughts… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165/81 "2011-03-10T13:47:20Z")
Well, it isn’t everyday that Canadian politicians talk about hockey in Parliament and they were talking yesterday. Also, Air Canada who is a big sponsor of the NHL sent a letter to Bettman saying they were going to rethink their support of the league if more isn’t done to stop head shots. Sadly, it will probably be the sponsors who get the NHL to change their tune rather than any concern for player well being. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-march-2011/573165.md?page=5)