Hurricanes fire coach Paul Maurice again amid rough start to season

Why am I not surprised?  Oh ya, because their power play really does totally SUCK!

Should have happened last June. Not all BB's fault; team quit on him, especially the core, which displayed an incredible lack of fortitude when things got tough. (Seems like this has happened across the NHL in the past few years.) But it's tough to convert from a "players coach" to a disciplinarian. Much easier to go in the oppo direction.

Still, BB took the Caps out of the Cassidy/Hanlon/Jagr dark ages into an exciting (albeit frustrating) team. Hate to say it, but I think he was eventually promoted out of his pay grade. Not that he won't learn and be a better coach in his next job.

Hunter is a very promising coach; he has developed several current NHL all-stars in the minors. Key questions are how well he relates to millionaire players (versus rooks) and how strong his X's and O's are. Caps will be more disciplined (or else), not sure what his overall team philosophy will be. This could work out very well, or come crashing down. If it crashes down, massive roster reconstruction will occur, including 2-3 of Ovie, Backstrom, Green and Semin. GM McPhee (GMGM) would also get the axe.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesj 

 11/28/2011

Capitals fire Bruce Boudreau; Dale Hunter named new head coach

 

in other news...Ovie trims unibrow.

 

Pacioretty ended up with a three game suspension for the hit on Letang. Might I also add that Shannahan compared it to the exact hit (Cooke on Savard) that I posted above as justification for why he should be suspended.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylrwnzl 

Pacioretty ended up with a three game suspension for the hit on Letang. Might I also add that Shannahan compared it to the exact hit (Cooke on Savard) that I posted above as justification for why he should be suspended.

That's weird, if that's what Shanahan said. Patch's hit was a shoulder hit on a guy who ducked into him while attacking the net. Three games was a little harsh for that.

The Cooke hit in your link was a gutless, deliberate chicken-wing elbow on a guy standing still in the neutral zone. No similarity at all.

Cooke's hit on Savard was somewhat similar to the hit on Letang, except that it ended the victim's career. (Letang, OTOH, came back and scored the winning goal.)

I agree with the referee's call on the ice.  It was a shoulder check.  Shoulder checks should be legal, at least when the pucks nearby.  That is not the same as steering someone's head into a stanchion. 

While we are on the topic of hits.  What's with this new idea of "Oh no!  Someones going to hit me.  I'll just turn my back on him so he can get a penalty for checking me into the boards from behind.  There should be a penalty for turning your back on a hit in the boards.

I miss the good old days.  Well not all of it.  I actually like the increased holding calls.

You would think that by the time a player makes it to the NHL and makes that much money for playing hockey he would have learned to protect his head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost 

I agree with the referee's call on the ice.  It was a shoulder check.  Shoulder checks should be legal, at least when the pucks nearby.  That is not the same as steering someone's head into a stanchion. 

 

While we are on the topic of hits.  What's with this new idea of "Oh no!  Someones going to hit me.  I'll just turn my back on him so he can get a penalty for checking me into the boards from behind.  There should be a penalty for turning your back on a hit in the boards.

 

I miss the good old days.  Well not all of it.  I actually like the increased holding calls.

 

You would think that by the time a player makes it to the NHL and makes that much money for playing hockey he would have learned to protect his head.

Yes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost 

While we are on the topic of hits.  What's with this new idea of "Oh no!  Someones going to hit me.  I'll just turn my back on him so he can get a penalty for checking me into the boards from behind.  There should be a penalty for turning your back on a hit in the boards.

 

I miss the good old days.  Well not all of it.  I actually like the increased holding calls.

 

You would think that by the time a player makes it to the NHL and makes that much money for playing hockey he would have learned to protect his head.

I dislike the interference calls.  You should be able to check someone shoulder to shoulder anywhere on the ice as long as they should have seen you approaching (i.e. didn't turn away to draw a penalty).  Pick plays are even allowed in basketball.  And, who doesn't love to see a well placed blind pick?

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipshod 

Yes!

 

Won't be long til we're watching world cup soccer on ice.

Unfortunately though, the real issue here and pushing all of the changes in football is our increased understanding of the devastation concussions deal out over time.  Now that we know the damage is permanent and sometimes fatal we can't really continue to condone real contact in sports much longer.  50 years from now all sports will likely be non contact in general.

But moving picks are not, they are a foul.

Hockey is a game of constant movement, so the concept of setting a stationary pick doesn't apply in most situations.

Unless a player ducks, a shoulder hit to the head should be a penalty and a suspension. Same as an elbow. I have no love lost for Letang, but he was in a natural act of shooting (not ducking), so it is the checker's responsibility to deliver the hit accordingly.

The hit by Pacioretty was less heinous than several of the Cooke hits (and Cooke is a severe repeat offender), so Cooke got a longer suspension (at least in one case.)

My Rangers cruising on a 10 for 12 win streak.  Shutting down that whiney punk Crosby, and now we're looking at Staal's return AND there's word we're taling to Bobby Ryan...... F' basketball this is Hockey Season (once football ends, LOL)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnL 

 

 

But moving picks are not, they are a foul.

 

Hockey is a game of constant movement, so the concept of setting a stationary pick doesn't apply in most situations.

In soccer two players can joust shoulder to shoulder while running down the field after the ball, just no arm pushing, tripping, or sniping (blind picks). Moving blocks are allowed in football as long as it doesn't interfere with a receiver catching a ball. 

That's allowed in ice hockey also if both players are going after the puck. If you're Sidney Crosby, slew foot tripping is also allowed.

I don't understand what you're trying to explain. NFL football has pretty strict restrictions on offense and defense contact on pass plays based upon position wrt the line of scrimmage and when the ball is in the air. Some well designed pass routes often do get away with a pick play (similar to the Red Wings), but it is technically illegal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnL 

I don't understand what you're trying to explain. NFL football has pretty strict restrictions on offense and defense contact on pass plays based upon position wrt the line of scrimmage and when the ball is in the air. Some well designed pass routes often do get away with a pick play (similar to the Red Wings), but it is technically illegal.

I'd compare more what I'd like to see in hockey (again) to NFL running play blocking rules.  i.e. all is fair but holding or blindsiding or chopping low..  NFL pass play rules really don't convert to hockey and shouldn't because the puck stays in play regardless of the success/failure of the pass. Receiver protection and blocking rules are designed to give people (both defense and offense) opportunity to catch the ball so the game keeps moving.  Hockey is more comparable to rugby or football running plays than football pass plays because the puck/ball is still live and in play even when dropped.

So you'd like to see blocking in hockey? Like a football running play? Seriously?

Why not add tackling also?

Cheerleaders? Now that I can handle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnL 

 

 

So you'd like to see blocking in hockey? Like a football running play? Seriously?

 

Why not add tackling also?

 

Cheerleaders? Now that I can handle.

Pretty much have tackling already, you can flatten anybody that has the puck right? 

Seriously, what is often called as "interference" should be allowed.  Let them play the man even if they don't have the puck.

Cheerleaders?  You don't have any?

No ice girls in Ottawa, if they know what's good for them.

Colorado only has one female crease cleaner, but still ....  (the funny thing is that right after this timeout, San Jose scored the game-winning goal)

Quote:

Originally Posted by segbrown 

Colorado only has one female crease cleaner, but still ....  (the funny thing is that right after this timeout, San Jose scored the game-winning goal)

 

 

I'm afraid Philly wins there..

Oh look, Washington does have proper distractions!

Other sports related rule change suggestion.  No free pitchouts in baseball.  If the pitcher throws it and it isn't a strike count it as a ball.  First, second, and third bases are not in the strike zone.  Pitchout or throw to base to catch a runner = a ball for the hitter.  That ought to speed up the pace of the game and increase scoring some.

huh? A pitch out is a ball.

My Caps suck - I'm going home now.

I like the direction this thread took.

Agree with Charles on Philly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRusty 

huh? A pitch out is a ball.

 

My Caps suck - I'm going home now.

A throw to first should also be a ball..

We got a live one going on NHL-US!

Pens vs. Caps     

1-0 after one

Whether you like them or not, 25 out of 26 possible points in the month of November is pretty impressive for the B's. Another game against Toronto this weekend and then a big one against the Pens on Monday. Early season excitement in the NHL!

Going to the game tomorrow night.. Canes and Penguins.  The way Carolina has been sucking  I wondering when folks will break out the shopping bags.

 I guess it will be a sight to see Crosby play live though.  I've never seen the Penguins play live and I guess I'm glad he is back in the line up for that reason.

Kids are still optimistic.  Miracles happen right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by crgildart 

 I guess it will be a sight to see Crosby play live though.  I've never seen the Penguins play live and I guess I'm glad he is back in the line up for that reason.

 

Kids are still optimistic.  Miracles happen right?

Yep Miracles happen:

^^^He's in the crease!

What's up with NJ?  Saw the Wild-Devil's game last night - Brodeur was awful.  Toasted for 6 goals in Colorado, then gives up 3 on 4 shots against the Wild.  Did this Hall of Famer stay on one year too many or is there something else going on?  His season stat's are pretty bad too, but not sure if this is due to a poor team play in front of him or not.  Devil's really out-played the Wild last night, but were sunk before the first period was 8 minutes old.