Kesler calls Ladd a coward
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - There are so many of the Vancouver Canucks for Blackhawks fans to dislike - Willie Mitchell, Kevin Bieksa, Rick Rypien, the hair pulling Alex Burrows, even goalie Roberto Luongo.
But Ryan Kesler might now be at the top of their list.
Kesler called out Blackhawks winger Andrew Ladd after Saturday's 5-1 win by the Canucks at GM Place during which Ladd got the best of Kesler in a first period fight.
Kesler was looking for revenge for what he said was a hit from behind from Ladd in last spring's playoffs and wound up taking a punch to the face that opened a cut under his eye. Instead of trading punches with Ladd, Kesler's only response was to wrestle Ladd to the ice.
"He's a coward, he'll always be a coward," Kesler told reporters after the game. "At least he was man enough to hit me when I was looking this time."
We'll have to wait until practice on Monday to get Ladd's response since the Hawks have a day off on Sunday.
Circle March 5 on the schedule. That's when the Hawks and Canucks meet for the final time during the regular season at the United Center. That also will be Mitchell's first game back in Chicago since he knocked out Jonathan Toews with a head shot in October.
Vancouver is turning into the best rivalry the Hawks have, even better than Detroit because of its potential for nastiness.
Old-time hockey. I miss it.
- It was just bad night all around for the Hawks on Saturday. The Canucks were pumped for the game while the Hawks didn't come to play with their usual energy.
Starting goalie Antti Niemi was pulled after the first period after the Hawks fell behind 3-0. He allowed 3 goals in 12 shots before being replaced by Cristobal Huet, but it wasn't entirely his fault.
"I wasn't blaming the goaltending at all tonight," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Down 3-0 you try to change the momentum with a lot of hockey left. It didn't work."
Niemi admitted he did have trouble finding some pucks in scrambles.
"A lot of (tough) bounces," Niemi said.
The first period was a disaster after the Hawks failed on a power play that started 19 seconds into the game.
Mikael Samuelsson made it 1-0 at 7:19 when nobody bothered to pick him up in the slot. A Brent Seabrook turnover led to Henrik Sedin's goal at 10:21, then an unchecked Steve Bernier scored late at 18:22 on a rebound.
It was the first time Niemi made back-to-back starts and was the third time in 52 games Quenneville pulled his starting goaltender. He did it twice previously with Huet.
The Hawks finished 0-for-4 on the power play. They outshot the Canucks 44-28, but this is a stats crew here that likes to jack up the shot totals for their boy Luongo.
The Hawks have a great team, but I'm starting to think this is a long shot at best to win the Cup given our lack of a money goalie and parity in our Conference. The Hawks are not the 1986 Edmonten Oilers that are going to outscore every team and win a play-off series in 4 or 5 games. Every playoff game will be tight checking and come down to a few clutch plays.
Hawks will likely be the #2 seed come March and the road to the Cup would look something like this....
Round 1 is looking more and more like a matchup with Detroit who will have a healthy team, a hot goalie and a core group of proven playoff talent. Hawks still have the better team so let's give them a 65% shot at winning the series in 7.
Round 2 would either be Vancouver or Colorado. Hawks have no problem with Colorado, but Vancouver has played us tight in every single game this year. Hawks are still the better team up front so they have a 70% shot a beating Vancouver.
Conference Finals against the Sharks. Say all you want but the Sharks are way to talented to roll over in the playoffs again. San Jose will also have home ice but give the Hawks a 60% shot at winning the series since they have matched up well this year.
The Cup will be either Washington or New Jersey. The West is a better conference this year and the Hawks have played the East well. Give the Hawks a 60% chance at winning this series.
So even if the Hawks have a better than average chance of winning each series you multiply the chances of the Hawks advancing in each series (65% x 70% x 60% x 60%) you are looking at a 16% chance of winning the Cup.
It's at least as good as anyone else's. Yes, the West is very strong this year but I think we would be favored in every series. I think Stan knows we need another D-man and will acquire one before the deadline. If we can coax Niedermayer to come here we become the prohibitive cup favorite in my opinion.
Look, the Hawks failed on Sat night, plain and simple. With three top D out and only a couple of days for the replacements to gell you might have expected a better result. The Canucks can skate, check well and play very physical. They also didn't have Rypien who pound for pound could be the toughest player in the NHL. They are also extremely well coached and are very bitter over last seasons loss. As stated elsewhere they don't like the Hawks plus they clearly wanted it more and treated like a playoff game. Unfortunately we can not match up physically with teams that want to play that way, as not enough bodies willing/able to do so. Our stength alledgedly is our speed but I don't see an edge against teams like Vancouver/Detroit etc. What may work against many of the other teams doesn't and the Hawks don't seem to be able to change gears/adjust very well. Not sure if true or how much effect but one of the Vancouver writers credited the Roxy (nightclub) with the the 3rd star. Vancouver has a vibrant nightlife and I'm sure the young guys will take advantage. The Canucks saw this game as a "statement" game for them. I don't think the Hawks saw it the same way. I like others are concerned about Seabrook and Keith especially with the Olympics coming. If you notice in the Calgary game Sopel and Barker did not play much in the third. Also don't llike seeing Hammer getting hit so much. Soupy never likes the rough going. Don't understand why they don't get Hendry in to give Sopel a well deserved rest
Buff just lays out one of the Sedin sisters with a shot from the shoulder. Don't leave the skates, keep the blade down and just flatten one of them, preferably an open ice hit and when he sees it coming.
As for Kesler, OK buddy...drop the gloves with Ladd and see this time if you can keep the eye from being opened up again. I hope Ladd has the class to keep it clean during his interview today and not stoop to Kesler's level. Talkers usually go looking for it and are often not as prepared as those that are ready for it.
Burrows? I actually feel sorry for him. Any "man" in an NHL game that has to resort what he resorted to with DK last spring is 100% sissy. He probably crapped himself.
The 'Hawks just have to look out for Bieksa and Mitchell. They must play THEIR game. Only the Sharks can match the 'Hawks man-for-man throughout their respective lineups.
Daddio!
The last month of the season has made me think there are more than a few teams in the West that this Hawks team will have extraordinary difficulty beating in a seven game playoff series. I hate to keep picking scabs but I can't help but think that the Minnesota loss was the beginning of this particular spiral. I hope this doesn't turn into a three-month hangover but we have not seemed like the same team since Minnesota took it to us and handed us our most embarrassing defeat of the season. If we can't get a guy that can skate and throw then guys like Buff have to do it. This team looks, at times, very soft and when we're getting rolled we don't seem to have the nastiness to turn the game back in our favor. I have hated the thought of having to move some of these very talented guys off of our roster for cap space but this month has shown we have to move some of these guys for more than just cap reasons. We have too many guys that can skate pretty and I'd like to see this team minus a few of those and plus a couple of tough SOBs that relish the physical aspect of hockey which is a VERY physical game. As for the Vancouver posters on this blog, F-off and go enjoy your win you snitty little bitches.
>It's just one regular season game -- that's all it is.
>Canucks have a great home record because they are usually the third or fourth stop for teams on lengthy west coast road trips, their city is a great place to party, and their team has some talent.(How many Hawk road trips ever started in Vancouver? Probably none.)
>In an 82-game season, the Hawks are wise to not "hit everything that moves" every game. Hawks did hit everything that moved in the playoffs -- and -- it is imperative that they do it again in the playoffs this year
>Bolland and Burish are really missed in games like this and on trips like this -- Burish would have answered the bell and though Sharp has had his moments at center, Hawks have been a center short all year
>Good centers control hockey games and the Canucks had better center play last night >Bolland's health is a huge factor for any trades we make
Blame for the Vancouver loss cannot be solely placed on the goalies. The first period goals on Niemi would not likely be stopped by any goalie. Bad clearing passes, nobody covering the trailer and players being out of position all generated the chances for Vancouver. I am not sure what Barker or Campbell are doing at times in our own zone when they should be defending our net. In games like this it is easy to criticize our defense who most of the time are thinking offense. The majority of the time this philosophy has led to goals or chances for our team. However it also creates chances for the opposition which were cashed in last night. They say if you play with fire sometimes you will get burnt. I thought the back breaker was the fourth goal. I did not see a close replay but it sure looked like it should have been stopped. If that goal does not happen then I believe we may have had some hope. I cannot figure out why Huet lets in so many goals that look like they would never go in on a street hockey goalie. The team may need to get a little more conservative starting with the defense so as not to create as many of these turnover goals particularly against better teams. I know we can't win every game but I particularly hate losing to Vancouver. Overall we have a great team and the season has been a lot of fun so far.
No more dipsy doodling in our own zone (every single d man) and in the neutral zone (Versteeg and Kane). We must return to a simple north-south game, get the puck out of our zone asap and deep in the opponents zone more consistently and crash the net. We've stopped crashing the net and have become as one poster put it...the perimeter Hawks.
Too fancy, reading our own press clippings and playing too soft. This must stop if this team hopes to cash in on its incredible promise.
AMEN philco!
The more I watch the Hawks with their new found success and becoming the team to watch in the NHL the more I see them taking the easy route. It is nice to have a good puck moving defense but come on boys we need to make D 1st! The goal tending situation is spinning way out of control and if we don't stop reading the headlines we are going to find our keesters out in the 1st round. Don't get me wrong I have so much pride in the Indian and have been a fan before all the bandwagon jumpers I just hope Q rips them a new one and we make the right moves as we begin to get ready for the second season and another shot at Lord Stanley’s Cup. I remember sitting on my pop's lap in the Old Barn during the 61 finals so the last time we won it has been a long time memory and would love to see the same in 2010!
Just thought this was funny and applies to all the bandwagon jumpers. I was downtown wearing my Seabrook jersey and was surprised when several folks wearing Hawk's garb asked me who that was! Is that your last name some 20 something guy asked me, an older lady said oh that is sweet you must have got that for Christmas who is that player! The TRUE fans and those that have hung in there during the down times appreciate this team so much and well again just goes to show everyone all loves a winner but COME ON!
I've taken my fair share of criticism on here for the Hawks lack of toughness. I knew this game could get ugly. Teams like Vancouver get in the hawks heads. A 6 minute a game hw isn't the answer. 1 or 2 tough guys who can also play is. I know those are hard to find these days. Maybe we could pacage a few of our mighty mites for 1. Team toughness is a lot like a girl with a great personality - they both sound good until you take them to the dance. MATT CARKNER ANYONE.
i'll take carkner right now, because last night i watched toews get rung, kane get rung ect. and we'll get the same response from the new era hawk fans! ! that seabrook,brouwer, eager ect are tough!! bullschat! i'm with you i want a sheriff riding that bench for the last 2 months, i sacrifice some offense out of that 4th line. don't worry there is going to be some movement soon in that direction, the hawks manangement team isn't dumb. they are just not going to tip their hand to all these gm wannabe's in the papers! i'll go 1 further, you are going to see a move for a bonified, playoff experienced veteran 2nd line center to play with hossa also, and it is probably going to come at the expense of a few of these kids, could be a multi player trade also. just be patient my friend , we'll get what you want, trust me! later hey 24 stand for probie??!!
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Big contract for one month but he is playing as nasty as he did when he first arrived on the scene.
I agree it can't be some slewfoot toughy. It has got to a real deal all around player +badass.
Wiz...you lookin for special ed? lol
I don't understand why we seem to be soft on the Sedin twins when our skilled guys get a faceful when they go to the net. Last night these guys are around the net and they never get blasted. I agree with a previous blogger which stated that a team like Vancouver which can come close to our speed and is willing to play tough can give us problems. We say we have team toughness but last night makes me wonder?
I cant belive a full body check is being called a head shot. Even Toews said it was his fault for having his head down. It was a 100% legal hit in any league (even if it was CHL who has a clear cut head shot policy). As for the Sopel "cheap shot" Raymond was looking for position on the slower skater. If you watch the replay it was a 50/ 50 at fault as sopel also leaned into Raymond to not let him pass. I guess you guys are just sore that we iced a 50% AHL defence and your "superstars" couldnt make hay.
You Nuckleheads probably also defend the actions of your hair-pulling sissyfag, Burrows, too.
getting whipped in the playoffs last season. 7 on Bobby Lu in the clincher. Bet that didn't come up during his contract talks. He was the difference last night as we dominated in shots on goal and edge in play, but we know the real Chokelungo will show up in the playoffs.
P.S. Tell the Sedin Sisters to keep their heads in Chitown. Never mind...they usually vanish on the road anyway.
...we know the mouth works, but how's the eye?
Sidenote: I like the Canucks. I like they way they play. Nasty is old time hockey, and old time hockey is fun to watch.
I like it less when they pound my Hawks but enjoy it all the more when the Hawks beat them. *circles final match in March on the calendar*
I'm sick of Buff. Time for a tour on the 4th line and no more power play. Being on the pp has given him a false sense of being a finesse player. Like Grapes always says, "when the crusher starts to think he's a rusher. He ends up as an usher."
Hammer's getting killed back there. How does Bernier go untouched?
Somebody's going to have to come up with a lot of cash to beat me out of the cboe seats on March 5th. I've got a few things to say to the rats. I probably won't make it to the 1st intermission before I get tossed.
The NHL really needs to do something about the icing rule. There have been far too many incidents this year of our D-men getting slammed while touching up for icing. Last night Sopel gets dropped and by the looks of it was seriously injured. That situation gives the opposing player too much room to take liberties. And obviously the Canucks' player, I don't recall who, took his opportunity to get one in. There's a difference between playing tough and playing dirty. The Canucks are venturing into that dirty zone too often. Next time I hope Ladd hits Kessler in his big yap. He obviously was looking for payback, he brought up the hit from last year, and he got dropped.
Try a clean hit. Take your red/black tinted glasses off and try unbiased journalism. Mitchell destroyed Toews with a perfectly clean hit, don't try to vilify it with words like "head shot".
This is a blog and I can put opinion in it. Learn the difference. Tinted red/black glasses, good one, but the FACT of the matter is it was a head shot. Did I say if it was clean or dirty? It was what it was, a head shot.
Hey Bud I thought you're in the land of Capone I guess it's okay to give the cabbies a head shot, uh? What's with all the whining in the Midwest? You kicked the Canucks collective a**es in the playoffs last year, it's a new year. Good for you, now you're going to talk head shot on J. Toews it wasn't anywhere close to being a "head shot" despite what you want to tell yourselves their in tough guy country.
Here is an idea Timmmmeeeey why don't you spend some of your hard earned money and by yourself and the Hawks a case of vagisil and have a big ole cup of STFU.
they'd hang their own mothers most of these clowns.
You bozos should worry more about getting some snow for the Olympics than coming on here to trumpet one meaningless regular season win.
P.S. save the vagisal for Roberta, Henrietta and Danielle and your coach Elayne. They'll need it more come April arsejack.
All you guys are the same. Flames and Canucks fans love poping up when you actually win, but are NO WHERE to be found when you guys lose. Never heard one peep from you when Niemi shot you out in Vancouver, or when your beloved Roberta flat out imploded and let in 7 goals last spring. Yet, I do chuckle each time I hear moronic Canucks fans petitioning for Roberta to start for Canada. Really? A guy who has never made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs, you want starting? Please.
As far as last night goes, good for you. Your team is desperate for points as you have a nice 14 game road trip that will probably break your season, staring you in the face. Canucks made their statement, but it might not even matter come playoff time.
However, save the childhood antics for your Canadian blogs. We talk hockey here
Listen, Einstein, that was not a "perfectly clean hit," by any standard of judgment. Just because Mitchell didn't get his elbow up doesn't mean that the hit was clean. He delivered a vicious shoulder to the head of Toews and that constitutes an "unclean" hit. Judging from your inane comment and your misuse of the word, "vilify," one might think that you were the victim of some headshots yourself.
R u kidding? Hockey code prevents taking advantage coming out of the shadows of the penalty box.
Hockey code says keep your head up and on a swivel when you're moving through the neutral zone. As for that being a head shot...maybe you guys should watch it again. It's pretty popular on YouTube so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it. The video clearly shows that it was shouder to shoulder. I don't even know why this is an issue now. It wasn't at the time. As I remember, most of the articles and blogs originating in Chicago were of the opinion that it was a clean hit. An opinion shared by the majority of the hockey community.
And about Raymond and Sopel's incident on the icing, that's nobody's fault. As long as icing rules remain unchanged there are going to be situations like that all the time.
He had his head down and got smoked, that's all there is to it. Get over it.
I am a true Hawk fan and JT is my favourite player. That being said as Bob McKenzie will say even though it the last thing I want to see I still have no problem with the Mitchell hit on JT. It was clean and if you have ever played the game you know you look for hits like that. JT will have learned from this hit and hey, give the Canucks credit they kicked our butts last night. Let's regroup and get on a roll again.
and got smoked...tell the Wank to shut up. Endy story.
Well then I think you need to take your Canucklehead goggles off and admit that Erhoff's cross-check was gutless.
Gutless? Hardly. It may have been against the rules, but in a playoff atmosphere the physicality picked up and there was chippiness both ways. The difference is you don't see Canuck fans complaining about it because their team put the beat down on the Hawks on the scoreboard.
you just see their goalie crying when they lose in the playoffs.
...most of them can't read or write.
Congrats on winning 2 of 3 from the Hawks in the regular season. Great beat down, can somebody remind me what happened in the playoffs last year?
I'm sorry but I don't care what type of game it is you don't cross-check someone in the lower back like that. So I guess on March 5th it will be ok if we do the same to the Sedin sisters. Face it your team has to take the low road because it was proven they couldn't hang in the playoffs. Luongo will chocke again and everything will be as it should be.
I think you overlooked the fact that one of your own players is crying about a hit from a year ago. But I know reading can be hard. Maybe we can help you out by putting it into pictures.
If Kessler could fight as well as he can talk to the press he wouldn't be looking at a line of stiches when he shaved this morning.
Philco, Huet has weaknesses, as does any goalie.
But if, as you claim, his entire game is terrible, how is it that he still has a save % of .904? Unless all the shooters he faces are ECHL class.
No one gets to the NHL without a lot of strong play.
While I'd like to see the Hawks get a goaltending upgrade, in order to move Huet for someone better, first you have to identify someone both better AND available AND at a price that doesn't cripple the other facets of this team for this year or future ones. Unlikely this year.
Play Niemi more, agreed. But continued, hyperbolic beyatching about Huet accomplishes nothing.
Sure, last night was a frustrating game, cause most of us think the nucks have bigger mouths than talent (their actually talented guys like the Sedins don't run their mouths).
But, the Hawks played their 6th game in 10 nights, while crossing 4 time zones. Not hard to see why they might be a bit flat. Vancouver played 4 games in the same period, traveling once to Edmonton. Advantage Canucks. In the playoffs, the teams have essentially the same schedule and travel burdens.
Herd...you might call it hyperbole but the fact of the matter is.....Huet is weak goalie on a very good young team. But it looks like we're stuck with him and his ridiculous contract. If i'm an opposing GM, no way do i take this guy. He's just not a clutch goalie and the one's that are out there are all going to the playoffs...so once again we're stuck with him.
You guys can call me a broken record but until this team develops and attitude or gets a couple guys who can play nasty, teams like the Canucks are going to give us trouble. This is where a George Laraque would be great. There are a few teams who have the speed and checking power to play hard and run our skilled players. When they do that, we have trouble. Even taking the borderline penalty every now and then the way Erhoff did against Toews. He levels a cheap shot and they kill the penalty and no one makes Erhoff pay for it. The Hawks make it WAY too easy for teams to play mean against us. No one wants to get into a skating contest with us. They'll lose and they know it. But start targeting Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa and running those guys and they have a chance. It's a fine line to walk and your targets have to be hard and clean but there are teams who can do it.
As for Kesler... Not sure why he wants to run his mouth after Ladd popped him. Then he tries to wrestle Ladd to the ground instead of continuing the scrap. He's the coward.
I'd give anything if this team had 3 guys on the team like Manson, Secord, and Probert. If we had a few guys like that to mesh into the skill and speed on this team we would be unbeatable and be an absolute JOY to watch.
...but I'm not sure Laraque is the answer--too one-dimensional in a cap world.
The Hawks absoutely DO need to be nastier to play against.
Not.
Getting Laraque means the 4th line loses much of it's offensive threat and defensive capability, and that means having a limited role.
In turn that puts Hossa, Kane, Towes, Sharp out there more, increasing the chances of injury due to increased fatigue if nothing else.
with all the offense we have on the top 3 lines, i'll take laraque and sacrifice some thing else,this is what the hawks need , please don't tell me that the mighty adam will solve the problem when he gets back, the leagues tough guys laugh at him before they beat the piss out of him, last year in the beginning of the season he challenged derek boogard, boogaard laughed so hard all he did was pin him to the boards while he was laughing his ass off! don't mean to be ignorant but i am tired of people saying we don'y need that , bottom line is yes we do!! if laraque was on the hawks bench last night, the canucks bullcrap would have been over right away. this is the nhl ,not a saturday night c league no check beer league at your local rink! it is part of the game!
#1 Does anyone else think that the Canucks have the largest collection of cheap-shot wusses in the league? Think about it: Mitchell, Bieksa, Kesler, O'Brien, Burrows, Bernier, and now, Erhoff. I can't remember being angrier watching a game than I was last night, and it wasn't strictly because of the score. I am trying to take into account my being a Hawks' fan and all, but honestly, what a collection of petulant jerks.
#2 I liked Ladd's fight with Kesler. He took care of business and rubbed it in a little bit at the end, which was nothing less than what that team deserved. That being said, it appears that Ladd is stepping up the physical dimension of his game and making himself very useful. Would that Buf and Brouw took a page out of that book.
#3 How much punishment are the Hawks going to let Toews take? That hit by Erhoff could have been a match penalty and yet noone stepped in to mangle him. Where was Brouwer? Does he suddenly think that he's Mike Bossy? Listen, if Brouwer is not going to protect his line-mates, then put someone in who will. Maybe that someone is Ladd. Enough is enough. Too many liberties are being taken with our top skill guys and one of them is going to get badly hurt if we're not more vigilant and ready to scrap. I don't know how large Kovalchuk is or how eager he is to drop the gloves, but I do know that he's been in some fights and done pretty well. At the very least, Toews and Kane need a nasty skilled winger who will brook no nonsense. I think of players such as Tkachuk, Holmstrom, Franzen, Lucic--wow, would I love Lucic as their line-mate! All I know is that we have too many little forwards for whom fighting is not an option. I've heard all the talk about overall team toughness. But if we're so tough, how come we allow ourselves to get so punished as we did last night?
#4 Seabrook and Keith look tired. Lots of giveaways lately, most of them leading to goals. Sopel did OK last night, but we could use an upgrade there. Campbell for as well as he skates and handles the puck, absolutely does not like to check. Opposing forwards don't seem to mind when he's on them, for they know they can shake loose. How about a wicked body-check every now and then?
#5 Speaking of punishment, how about Bernier's end-boards hits on Hjall? That Bernier is a cheap-shot thug who should have had his head handed to him on a platter, but there was no payback. Maybe we do need to sign Cheli. At least I know that Bernier would have gotten the butt end of a stick in his mouth last night. Its increasingly clear that the league seems to think that the way to attck our team is by PUNISHING it. Bernier took repeated shots at Hjall and no response. That poor Swede is going to break in two if we're not careful. Where was his defensive partner after those hits? Kesler spoke of Ladd as a coward, but he must have confused him with Bernier, who loves to hit people in the back.
We need a big bounce-back Tuesday night. Best to all.
Look at that game with out the "Red and Black goggles, or even the Blue and Green ones.
Really? Dirty players? Obviously haven't watched hockey for that long. Ehrhoff is dirty? Look, its a rough sport. I agree the crosscheck was wrong. So did the refs...thats why they called a minor. I notice you don't bring up Toews two hander to Ehrhoff's ankle in response. That's OK because he is a Hawk right? Its an emotional game...things happen out of emotion...end of story. The players you listed all have one thing in common...they play hard. period.
2- Ladd and Kesler goes back to last spring. He said he got cross checked in the face by Ladd back then. Yep..Ladd tagged him a good one. Kesler didn't miss any time, and still played a great game. My theory is that he doesn't like playing the Hawks because he grew up outside of Detroit...and well...you know...
3-A match penalty? HA-HA-HA! You kid right? A match is intent to injure...not a cross check. you are upset because you saw it. It goes on in EVERY game in the NHL. If they gave match penalties for that, most NHL teams wouldn't be able to ice a whole line up.
4- I agree here. Your only cogent point. They do look a little weary...but part of that last night was dealing with the Twins. They make a lot of D-men look "tired", so...the Hawks aren't alone there.
5- Are the players on YOUR team under some special exemption that they can't get hit? Geez...its part of the game, and Bernier finished his check. Another plain old hockey play. They don't like it? Hit back.
Your writer Sassone has lost all sense of the game and become a homer. He tries to inflame you guys by bringing up the Mitchell hit as "dirty"? Everyone that saw it, experts and guys that have been around the game WAY longer than Timmy, all agree it was clean. Every player on the Hawks agreed. Stop trying to inflame the readers that way Timmy. Its wrong, and as a Canucks fan, we know what can happen when you do that.
Bertuzzi.
Enough said.
The Hawks aren't exempt from being hit. It's a contact sport and that's the way the game is played. I think the issue people have isn't so much with your team but the Hawks. It sounds like you've been around hockey for years so you know that one of the so called unwritten rules is that your teamates are supposed to protect the skilled players so they can get enough room to play their game. I think many Hawk fans feel that Kane, Toews et al don't get enough support from Buff,Brouwer and the rest in this regard. So, while Mitchells hit was clean and Ehroff's crosscheck was nothing more than a two minute minor the Hawks as a team can't allow their skilled players to keep taking those kind of hits. If the shoe is on the other foot and one of the twins take a hit like Toews I would expect Vancouver to respond to protect their skilled players. We aren't seeing much of a response from our guys and that needs to change for the Hawks. Did Gretzky ever take a hit like that? I can't remember but I'm sure if he did there would be some sort of response. Some fans think the Hawks need a heavy. I disagree it's a waste of cap space. What they need to do is respond when our skilled players take a hit like Mitchells on Toews with a hard but clean check on players like the Sedins. That's how the game is supposed to be played.