Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well, Wings get one of their 4 injured centers back tonight. Helm is in. Datsyuk and Alfie not practicing.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Eh? I mean he is basically Andrew Shaw but better. Ok, maybe dirtier also, if that's the reason than yeah I agree with you.

But to call him a "grinder" is not exactly true. Marchand has some serious skill.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Marchand is probably the best instigator in the league. He's awesome. I hate him and he is so damn annoying and he is incredibly talented.

EDIT:

The whole sequence yesterday when he fell into Seabrook, skated over and checked Keith from behind pretty hard and that set Keith off, and then he went right back over and sent Seabrook over the top drawing a penalty.....is exactly why he's awesome.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Stumbled upon this today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1Bi...&feature=share

Figured it was appropriate for a few reasons on this board.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:thumbsup thanks for posting that.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hate shoot outs.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

No problem. Gave me chills.
Don't need to tell me that. Wings 2-7 this year in shootouts.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Speaking of Marchand the entire Kings defense should probably ask him politely for their jock straps back after the way he undressed them this afternoon.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Torts got 15 days :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Yea all unpaid too

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I think Hartley should have got a game or 2. If he doesn't start the thugs, we never get to that point.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It's always the retaliation that gets the penalty in every single sport. the Hawks or the Wings would have responded by putting out their top line and just scoring on them early. There were a couple ways to handle that situation and Torts handled it in a very childish way.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Eh I don't know about that. He can't be held responsible for Torts actions. I see nothing's wrong with what happened that game other than what Torts did off the ice.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I will say if they are handing out 15 games to a coach that they need to do the same harsher penalties to the players as well.

What a game, just driving back from Boston now. Marchand is insane lately, and it was great to see Quick getting cheers beforehand. Like I've said 100 times these two teams would kill eachother in a 7 game series.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The way that game started is not needed in the NHL. It was goonery at its best. They were put out there to hurt. If they weren't Westgarth wouldn't go after Bieksa as soon as the puck dropped. The NHL ever wants to not be looked at as a second rate league, they need to get rid of that shit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Agree with this. Fights that happened during the emotions of a game I have no problem with. Pre-planned fights that happen at the face-off to start a game are just stupid. Imagin that happening on the opening kick off of the super-bowl?? The NFL would flip a shit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I agree that they should get rid of this shit but not sure about your other point.

That fight got more attention from the sports world than most hockey games do :shrug

A few of my friends that don't follow hockey at all came over to watch the NFL games Sunday and were like "did you see that fight!?"

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Where is Bron to rag on fighting in the sport and use this anomaly for a reason to get rid of fighting in the NHL?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

yep to the bolded

big time catch 22 for the NHL

i'm beginning to think that the NHL has it's viewers/fans and will remain a niche sport. that being said, get rid of the unnecessary fighting and try to grow the game via games overseas, continued outdoor games and market the superstars. if the game has topped out in viewership then fine, let's focus on making the game safer, better, and more enjoyable all around.

the NHL wants to be the NFL so bad, but it just can't...

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I hope the people who just like the fights never go to a game.
I don't mind the NHL being a niche sport.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It is too bad. Thread isn't the same without the Pitt/Caps pissing matches. :hug

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

:lol that Erat trade still looks amazing.

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:lol @ comparing the caps to the pens

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Who compared the Crapitals to the Pens?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The press I saw it got was people dogging on them. To me, all it does is help the negative narrative that people already believe about the NHL.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hartley obviously was bent on intimidating. When McGratton and Westgarth found out they were starting the game TOGETHER (that's like basically giving the other team a 5-on-3 advantage), Hartley probably didn't even need to tell them what their job was going to be. It's obvious. They were sent out there to set the tone with an intimidating shift. And by intimidating, I mean beat the shit out of people. Speculate how you want, but that's what it was.

I feel for Tortorella in that situation. It's easy for people to say, "send the Sedins out and take advantage of the mismatch," but like I said, Calgary's 4th line knew what their job was for that opening shift, and I guarantee they would do it no matter who was on the ice. They get little enough playing time as is, they are going to do what they're told when they do get to play. Maybe the Sedins wouldn't have fought back, but they still would've gotten roughed up. BUT, if Tortorella elects to send out his 4th line (like he did), he's blamed for helping perpetuate the situation. Tough spot for a coach to be in. We speculate and take the "moral high road" as spectators, but when you're down in the trenches like that, you have some tough calls to make.

Where Torts went wrong was obviously the locker room incident. No place for that and a black eye on the game. Getting press, but for the wrong reasons. I'm totally fine with the suspension, and with Hartley's fine. Torts would've gotten the same fine too if he hadn't mounted an offensive on the Calgary locker room.

I do appreciate the comments he made about Lain in his post-game interview, saying that one of his biggest regrets was putting him in that situation for his first NHL game.

Also, for the record, I'm fine with the NHL being a niche sport too. :)

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

You can't send the Sedin line out, you just can't. Henrick was (is) hurt to the point he couldn't finish the game. The Flames line had no intention of playing the puck. Wesgarth didn't even look at it as it was dropped, they would have instantly pounded the crap out of the turtling Swedes.

Torts was in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

If anything I would thing Vancouver's 4th line would want to go out there in that situation to protect the first line from what was obviously going to be a rough start of the game

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm ok with it being a niche sport to a point. but the NHL keeps shooting itself in the foot with crap like this. Part of the reason I like it being a niche sport is this board. Compare our thread to the NFL one. 99% of us know the game very well in here. Go to the NFL thread and you get a lot of people who think they know the game. It's nice to be able to talk civilized about the game.
Agree here. You send the Sedin's out when the 4th line from the other team gets caught out on an icing or something. When those guys start the game, you know what the idea is. You don't put your star players in that situation.