Peter Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 J (Milwaukee): Do you think the NHL got it right with Chris Neil and the hit on Drury? Seems to me it was late and it was high, the very definition of cheap? EJ Hradek: No I think the Neil hit was a cheap shot. He came from the blind side, across the ice to a position where he normally wouldn't be to deliver a blow against a defenseless player who was not looking and did not expect to be hit. To me it was a garbage play by a garbage guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogie Oglethorpe Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 From John Buccigross' weekly column on ESPN.com Bucci, Tell us what you think about Chris Neil's hit and the Sabres' reaction as a whole. With so many of our guys out for a while, who do you like on the market that the Sabres might trade for? Do you think all the rookie forwards who are going to play a handful of games will be a good thing for this team's depth going into the playoffs? On a related note, you need to get a copy of legendary Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret's "Top Shelf" DVD. My roommates and I watch it before every Buffalo game to get pumped up. Justin Wild St. Bonaventure University Olean, N.Y. I don't understand why a shoulder pad to the head is not equivalent to an elbow to the head. This is a hit that needs to be outlawed in the NHL. Chris Neil had plenty of time and space to make a decision on how to hit Chris Drury. That alone tells you the hit was a late hit. It was superfluous, unsportsmanlike and excessive. How many stories have we read of players being seriously hurt after hitting their heads on the ice? It is why USA Hockey now mandates all coaches wear helmets during practice. The force of Drury's head hitting the ice was frightening. It could have killed him. We have situations and circumstances where injuries will occur during the course of a hockey game. We all know this going in. Part of the game's appeal and zest is its danger. The soul of the game might very well be the fear. The fear creates concentration. The fear creates chemicals in the body that result in a state of pleasure and ecstasy. Hockey, because of fear, is our Chemical Romance. Most NHL players don't play scared, but there is an underlying fear. This is good. For kids, it teaches them to overcome fear and pain and rise above. But there are instances that cross the line. The reason why the NFL mandates a strict policy against helmet-to-helmet shots is because quarterbacks and receivers are DEFENSELESS. They can't defend themselves while attempting to perform their task. The NHL needs to implement this standard NOW. Hitting defenseless players in the head with shoulder pads is hockey's equivalent to helmet-to-helmet hits in the NFL. In Drury's case, it is even more dangerous because of the whiplash effect of the brain slamming into the wall of the skull. It might be difficult for NHL officials to see some of these hits throughout the course of a game. I would not put too much pressure on them. But, after the fact, there are hits that can be reviewed. A review can see if players had intent. It is a fast game with collisions. Those collisions are thrilling and exciting. But when a player is hit two seconds after he shoots or passes the puck, like Drury or Paul Kariya in the 2003 Stanley Cup finals, these hits are unnecessary because the intent is clearly to injure. In studying Brian Campbell's hit on R.J. Umberger in last season's playoffs, Campbell was anticipating Umberger receiving the pass on the breakout. He was making the right play. His left foot was planted on the ice as he set to hit Umberger. Because Umberger missed the breakout pass and was lunging forward to gather in the puck, he lowered his body. As a result, Campbell's shoulder pad caught a lot of Umberger's head. But I would not have penalized Campbell. He was planning on hitting Umberger in the torso. The late move made it a head hit. The NHL can look at hits in this way. The NFL still has hard hits, the hardest hits in its history, because of the speed and athleticism of its players. The NHL still will have big hits. But the NHL and NHLPA need to work together and figure out the difference between a hockey-play hit and a superfluous hit. Neil should have received a two-game suspension. Again, I wouldn't put pressure on the on-ice officials unless the hit is as clear as day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcrusho Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Dead Horse.... stop beating it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Dead Horse.... stop beating it! ahh, no - no it's not a dead horse issue. this stuff is great. i plan on forwarding those comments to that fcuking POS "journalist" who appeared during the 2nd intermission on saturday and called TG's letter "taking whining to a new level." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveAndWarrener Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Ain't no dead horse. This is our #%^$#!ing captain here. It is a good thing that real hockey journalists are coming to the Sabres' defense on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristian Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Dead Horse.... stop beating it! I disagree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samson's Flow Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Ain't no dead horse. This is our #%^$#!ing captain here. It is a good thing that real hockey journalists are coming to the Sabres' defense on this one. what youre saying that lard of a reporter during the ottawa game wasnt a real journalist?!? this isnt a dead horse issue at all. if the league doesnt set some sort of ruling on these type of hits then they can and will continue until someone gets seriously hurt. it said in the article that this type of hit could kill someone by the head hitting the ice. as usual it will probably take something truly tragic for the league to step up and protect its players in the way that the NFL is attempting to do with the helmet to helmet and roughing the quarterback calls. the sooner this changes the better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 what youre saying that lard of a reporter during the ottawa game wasnt a real journalist?!? this isnt a dead horse issue at all. if the league doesnt set some sort of ruling on these type of hits then they can and will continue until someone gets seriously hurt. it said in the article that this type of hit could kill someone by the head hitting the ice. as usual it will probably take something truly tragic for the league to step up and protect its players in the way that the NFL is attempting to do with the helmet to helmet and roughing the quarterback calls. the sooner this changes the better... Try "has". Ever hear of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy? Masterton was a journeyman for Minny in '68 when he whacked his head on the ice and ended up dying from the injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samson's Flow Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Try "has". Ever hear of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy? Masterton was a journeyman for Minny in '68 when he whacked his head on the ice and ended up dying from the injuries. thanks dave. i think im a bit too young to cite events from '68, but thanks for helping my arguement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundy249 Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Its a Moo point. You know likes a cows opinion? It doesnt matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drnkirishone Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 it will matter when some players successfuly sue the nhl and nhlpa for providing a unsafe working enviroment due to headhunting hits to the face and head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawerchuk Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 ahh, no - no it's not a dead horse issue. this stuff is great. i plan on forwarding those comments to that fcuking POS "journalist" who appeared during the 2nd intermission on saturday and called TG's letter "taking whining to a new level." I wanted to lay a big turd on that fat Fcuks desk!! :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samson's Flow Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I wanted to lay a big turd on that fat Fcuks desk!! :angry: he might mistake it for chocolate and eat it.... :sick: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdexchange Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 he might mistake it for chocolate and eat it.... :sick: Baby Ruth!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Buccigross' column comes accross a lot better than TOm's letter. Perhaps it is because he is supposedly unbiased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerryg Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 It's NOT a moot point, because it's happened in the past and it's going to happen again and again and will keep happening until the league does something about it. This particular incident may have passed, but it will undoubtedly recur and next time some other GM or owner will be called a whiner when HE complains to the league. Then we can have this conversation all over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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