Official 2013 NHL Regular Season Thread

[Círyatan]

I don't know what's funnier – Staal falling or McDonagh stuck lying flat on the boards.

[philou21]

Howson is done with the Jackets. Hextall is on the list for the spot.

[batdad]

Jarmo Kekkalainen is going to be the guy. He was JD's right hand man in St Louis. I have a feeling....plus TSN guys are all over it.

I have to admit...I saw your post and was thinking....he is going to be talking about the Habs choke job that they barely salvaged in the shoot out.

[Danny]

I'm always here for you if you feel the need to talk about the Habs, I offer great insight and deep analysis on this topic. Too bad the system censors most parts of my analysis though !

[batdad]

LOL. Yeah we know Danny...all Bruins fans are experts on the Habs. I cannot believe I cannot find a picture of a smurf (papa preferably) in a Habs jersey. I am shocked that it is not a regular online photoshop.

[philou21]

I have to admit...I saw your post and was thinking....he is going to be talking about the Habs choke job that they barely salvaged in the shoot out.

By the time I did that post they were still leading 3-0 and went I got to sleep it was 3-1. After closing the TV I told myself that I wouldn't be surprised if they lose this. When I woke up I had a good laugh. Let go a 3-0 lead with 5 minutes to go, that looks like a team who finished 15th last year.

On a side note San Jose seems to already have forgotten how to win. And Chicago still managed to not lose in regular time. Also Kekalainen has been confirmed.

[batdad]

Sharks are too veteran a team to worry about...at least during the regular season. Things will come around. Burns is just back, and Marleau and Jumbo were due to cool off for a bit. They will be fine....at least until April. Chicago is Chicago...they are good, but not great. They have a severe lack of those able to handle physical play. This will show up in playoffs.

[philou21]

Yeah that's true there is alot of small guys in Chicago haha

[batdad]

Not small, just not tough. Montreal is small, and very very untough. Chicago could actually hit them out of the rink.

[Loosie]

And Karlsson is done for the season. Tough break. I can't believe that some people think Cooke did it on purpose. I mean I know Cooke has a hisotry, but that was jsut a tough break on a freak play.

Also it appears that Malhotra has also been shut down for the season, due to concerns for his vision. Malhotra is not ready to retire, as per Bob McKenzie, but he pretty much hinted that his career is done.

[philou21]

The Sens are in a bad shape indeed. That sucks Karlsson had a nice season so far. After the game on RDS one of the announcer was out of control telling Cooke did this on purpose too. If we watch the move I can't believe he could have done this on purpose, especially that kind of injury. He wasn't even looking at his feet when it happened and to hit that small spot without looking you need to be good.

[batdad]

Cooke's rep follows him. Guys do not realize that he got better last year, and played hockey in a clean fashion...at least guys who pay no attention...you know like the American media, opposing teams (who are looking for him to do something to have an excuse to go after him) and general idiots and morons.

There is no way Matt Cooke did it on purpose. Non whatsoever. So these idiots just need to go away and cheer for Ottawa. No why anyone would do that I am not sure, but some do.

[YZG]

Just re-watched the hit a few times. Cooke hit Karlsson in a very bizarre fashion, no question. I can see why people think it was purposeful. But, if you look closely, especially in slow motion, Cooke's hit is rather poor, Karlsson would have pretty much avoided it was it not for Cooke's raised leg. I think he just realized his angle was not very good as he brought him to the boards, so he raised the leg to actually deliver a bodycheck; if you pay attention, the thigh and knee play a major role in the check. Then the skate meets Karlsson's leg as it returns to the ice after the hit. I can't see it being done on purpose. No way he could tell Karlsson's leg position without looking. That's an accident to me.

[philou21]

I can't see it being done on purpose. No way he could tell Karlsson's leg position without looking. That's an accident to me.

Exactly what I thought. did you see Mario Tremblay reaction at the Antichambre on RDS? He was red angry that was funny. I thought this guy as more bright. He is clearly someone who is just thinking about Cooke's reputation.

[YZG]

No, I didn't watch it yesterday. Tremblay is rather hot-tempered, so I'm not really surprised he reacts so much. But it's disappointing that they take so little time to analyse before reacting. They probably watched the replay a couple of times during the game, at most, and that was it. I took the time to re-watch it a good dozen times, then a couple more to make sure my interpretation really made sense, before posting. They didn't see it happen live, so they decided by the replay's speed that it was premeditated. If the action had happened at the replay's speed during the game, I'd definitely have a greed. But things actually happen way too fast on the ice to be planned.

But well... a controversy, coupled with subpar analysis and angry analysts draw larger audiences than a moderate analysis. Thankfully, not everyone thinks it was deliberate. I sometimes listen to TSN Radio at work. I didn't pay very close attention this morning, I was in a hurry, but I do think Tony Marinaro also agreed that it was an accident.

[philou21]

Well even PJ Stock told Tremblay that if it was Crosby instead of Cooke nobody would say a thing and even Tremblay agreed.

[Beukeboom]

Cant the Rangers just deny those "power plays" makes me wanna puke since about when Jagr left now and just kills momentun..there just as i say it 3-2 Isles.. goddamnit

[Loosie]

BWAHAHA!!! Eugene Melnyk...whinny pain:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416046

[batdad]

Meh. Cannot say he is all that bad Loosie. He just saw 100000 of dollars go down the tubes with that injury. It would be frustrating and annoying. Actually in some ways good to hear someone not tow the line again.

Oh...and the Laffs have never whined about anything? Really? Come on bud. Pot meet kettle.

[Loosie]

I'm not saying the Leafs have never whined, but my goodness saying Cooke should be out of the league because his star defensmen is hurt in a freak accident? If I really want to pull up the Peter Regin slicing open Dion Phaneuf...totally accidental but still similar. Freak accident in a hit.

I do realize that Cooke has a reputation preceding him, but he really has turned himself around. If it was ANYONE else that hit Karlsson nothing would be said about it, but becuase it someone whos been suspended a few times its 'reprehensable'.

Really the fact that no one outside of Ottawa is calling for any suspension or has hinted that it was intentional shoudl tell Melnyk something.

Oh and nice way to drag a lower tier league through the mud. (I mean yes it IS the Central Hockey League, but still I thought it was pretty distatseful)

[philou21]

I saw on RDS that kevlar socks exists and not much players are wearing it. Why? I know those kind of incidents don't happen often but it should be a must for everyone!

[CeeBee]

I know of at least 2 Canucks that wear them. Bieksa, who's had 2 nasty cuts before and Mason Raymond. I don't know how many players around the league wear them but I bet its more than a handful.

[YZG]

I saw on RDS that kevlar socks exists and not much players are wearing it. Why? I know those kind of incidents don't happen often but it should be a must for everyone!

Didn't know either... did some searching, turns out they're not even expensive : $75. An NHLer's pocket change. I guess it's a little like visors. Players know darn well it'll prevent the vast majority of eye injuries, but there's still a very large percentage of players who do without, either out of habit, out of dislike, out of whatever-reason-they-invoke. Same for these socks, perhaps?

EDIT: these socks actually protect against certain types of motions only. They'll resist slicing motions, but not stabbing ones. The former are still much likelier, so it stays a good idea IMO.

[batdad]

The players are hesitant to change. It is dumb not to, but they all are hesitant. WItness why helmets and visors have only gradually been phased in. Now any new player has to wear them....but guys do not like any change that feels different.

And Loosie....the point I was making basically is that from time to time every team in the NHL has spouted off...every owner has said something non sensical. Its not as big a deal as some are making it. Just a silly thing to say....

And if you had read my post before you would know I already realize that Matt Cooke has reformed his act...and yes what Melnyk said is silly....but they all have done something like that somewhere along the way in the heat of anger. Everyone except Mother Teresa has. And she probably ripped into a young nun somewhere along the way, and then repented for her sins.

I mean a fan of the Leafs calling another owner nuts? How much Laff history do you know? Ever heard of Harold Ballard?

[philou21]

Close to 9000 posts batdad! Make that one special!