Is there a lack of respect in the NHL these days? That is a question asked by many across the hockey world, and it is a question that not only needs to be answered, but also addressed by the National Hockey League.
On Saturday, Sean Avery of the New York Rangers shoved Leaf's winger Jason Blake before getting into a heated exchange with Blake's teammate Darcy Tucker during the pre-game warmup. Later in the game Avery and Tucker dropped the gloves, and after the final horn had sounded, hockey fans thought that would be the last of Shawn Avery's shenanigans...at least for a little while. However, new information has surfaced on the issue. Avery allegedly provoked Tucker by taking an inappropriate verbal stab at Blake, who revealed last month that he is suffering from a rare form of leukemia.
Shocked? Yeah, so am I. What is going on these days? It seems as if some players today will say or do anything at will to their opponent, accepting no responsibility or accountability for their actions. Not just verbally, but with respect to the physicality of the game as well. Just take a look at the past six weeks in the NHL; the lack of respect demonstrated by some players is unacceptable, specifically the lack shown by Steve Downie, Jordin Tootoo, Jesse Boulerice, and now, Avery. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look at the Downie hit on Dean McAmmond, the Boulerice crosscheck on Kesler, the TooToo hit on Winnick, and just last season, the Chris Simon slash on Ryan Hollweg. ...not to mention the hit from behind from Randy Jones on Patrice Bergeron two weeks ago.
When is enough, enough? When will players realize that the game of hockey does not need hits from behind, crosschecks to the face, reckless shots to the head, and inappropriate slurs at other players.
For example, take a look at the Jordin Tootoo hit on Winnick. After seeing the hit, you may say to yourself, "Well, he checked Winnick in the face with his shoulder- not his elbow. And Winnick had his head down too." Well, ask yourselves this question: "Was there any intent on behalf of Tootoo to strip Winnick of the puck?" The answer is 'no'. Tootoo's sole intention was to bury Winnick, regardless of where the puck was. Whether the hit was legal or not simply doesn't matter; it's bad hockey sense and dangerous. And that is the unfortunate reality of the new mindset creeping into the NHL.
The actions of Boulerice and Tootoo lead to a very basic question: is there a lack of respect in the NHL? The 20-game suspension handed down to Downie was supposed to send a message to the rest of the players that violent hits to the head are unacceptable. Clearly, that message has not been heard.
On the contrary, one could argue that today's players are covered in a suit of armor; and it's true. If the NHL no longer wants to see players carried off on stretchers or laying on the ice unconscious, they have to address the equipment as well. If you take a look at the elbow and shoulder pads that these players are wearing, it's ridiculous. Players are barreling in at 20 mph wearing these so called 'pads', and it's no wonder we are seeing so many players laying on the ice in a world of hurt. Regardless if you're getting hit in the head by a shoulder or an elbow, the equipment can knock you out cold and it's something the NHL must seriously look at.
However, the aspect that's most disturbing surrounding head shots is that the most physical players in today's NHL don't 'get it'. Of course everyone loves to see that hard open-ice hit (a la Scott Stevens), but what we are also seeing more and more of are players entering the NHL with reckless intentions. In other words, their mindset of 'making an impact' and 'what a hit should be' is wrong.
Decades ago in the NHL, players followed a 'code'. However, it has become unfortunately apparent that far too many enforcers (and agitators) have veered away from that code. The tough guys and hitters entering the NHL these days are too reckless and dangerous. Scott Stevens, who is being inducted into the hockey hall of fame tonight, was a man who followed the code but still managed to give those hard, legal hits. He didn't crosscheck someone in the face, didn't hit from behind, didn't come barreling in looking for a particular player's head, and didn't take stabs at players' personal lives. Instead, he measured his hits, and can be considered an artist of 'the hockey hit'. However, players like Scott Stevens are a dying breed. We are now seeing loose cannons looking to launch themselves at anything that moves. Players continually state that they have the ability to 'police themselves' on the ice, but their ability to control themselves is yet to be seen. One of these days, an NHL player is going to be killed, and who is going to take responsibility? The NHL? Don't count on it.
To reach Christos, send an email to christos10@gmail.com
On Saturday, Sean Avery of the New York Rangers shoved Leaf's winger Jason Blake before getting into a heated exchange with Blake's teammate Darcy Tucker during the pre-game warmup. Later in the game Avery and Tucker dropped the gloves, and after the final horn had sounded, hockey fans thought that would be the last of Shawn Avery's shenanigans...at least for a little while. However, new information has surfaced on the issue. Avery allegedly provoked Tucker by taking an inappropriate verbal stab at Blake, who revealed last month that he is suffering from a rare form of leukemia.
Shocked? Yeah, so am I. What is going on these days? It seems as if some players today will say or do anything at will to their opponent, accepting no responsibility or accountability for their actions. Not just verbally, but with respect to the physicality of the game as well. Just take a look at the past six weeks in the NHL; the lack of respect demonstrated by some players is unacceptable, specifically the lack shown by Steve Downie, Jordin Tootoo, Jesse Boulerice, and now, Avery. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look at the Downie hit on Dean McAmmond, the Boulerice crosscheck on Kesler, the TooToo hit on Winnick, and just last season, the Chris Simon slash on Ryan Hollweg. ...not to mention the hit from behind from Randy Jones on Patrice Bergeron two weeks ago.
When is enough, enough? When will players realize that the game of hockey does not need hits from behind, crosschecks to the face, reckless shots to the head, and inappropriate slurs at other players.
For example, take a look at the Jordin Tootoo hit on Winnick. After seeing the hit, you may say to yourself, "Well, he checked Winnick in the face with his shoulder- not his elbow. And Winnick had his head down too." Well, ask yourselves this question: "Was there any intent on behalf of Tootoo to strip Winnick of the puck?" The answer is 'no'. Tootoo's sole intention was to bury Winnick, regardless of where the puck was. Whether the hit was legal or not simply doesn't matter; it's bad hockey sense and dangerous. And that is the unfortunate reality of the new mindset creeping into the NHL.
The actions of Boulerice and Tootoo lead to a very basic question: is there a lack of respect in the NHL? The 20-game suspension handed down to Downie was supposed to send a message to the rest of the players that violent hits to the head are unacceptable. Clearly, that message has not been heard.
On the contrary, one could argue that today's players are covered in a suit of armor; and it's true. If the NHL no longer wants to see players carried off on stretchers or laying on the ice unconscious, they have to address the equipment as well. If you take a look at the elbow and shoulder pads that these players are wearing, it's ridiculous. Players are barreling in at 20 mph wearing these so called 'pads', and it's no wonder we are seeing so many players laying on the ice in a world of hurt. Regardless if you're getting hit in the head by a shoulder or an elbow, the equipment can knock you out cold and it's something the NHL must seriously look at.
However, the aspect that's most disturbing surrounding head shots is that the most physical players in today's NHL don't 'get it'. Of course everyone loves to see that hard open-ice hit (a la Scott Stevens), but what we are also seeing more and more of are players entering the NHL with reckless intentions. In other words, their mindset of 'making an impact' and 'what a hit should be' is wrong.
Decades ago in the NHL, players followed a 'code'. However, it has become unfortunately apparent that far too many enforcers (and agitators) have veered away from that code. The tough guys and hitters entering the NHL these days are too reckless and dangerous. Scott Stevens, who is being inducted into the hockey hall of fame tonight, was a man who followed the code but still managed to give those hard, legal hits. He didn't crosscheck someone in the face, didn't hit from behind, didn't come barreling in looking for a particular player's head, and didn't take stabs at players' personal lives. Instead, he measured his hits, and can be considered an artist of 'the hockey hit'. However, players like Scott Stevens are a dying breed. We are now seeing loose cannons looking to launch themselves at anything that moves. Players continually state that they have the ability to 'police themselves' on the ice, but their ability to control themselves is yet to be seen. One of these days, an NHL player is going to be killed, and who is going to take responsibility? The NHL? Don't count on it.
To reach Christos, send an email to christos10@gmail.com
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