CHARA

I agree there was some history here.. And it does get into a grey area when dealing with this.. I dunno I still think if it were any other player doing the same thing Chara would do the same thing.. I dunno

We will agree to disagree...I mean you can look at a hit by Lucic against a Tampa player last week...he hit him into the stantion..but that wasn't dirty..

I believe Ryan Smyth was victim of a similar hit to the Lucic one..wasn't dirty..just a shoulder to shoulder check against a guy with the puck

To me this was not the same at all because he did not have the puck, it wasn't shoulder to shoulder and because of history

Like I said, we will agree to disagree..I am just repeating myself here lol

The NHL is in LOVE with the fact we are bickering about this... -900

The NHL only cares about saving "their business" ... if this type of incident and the attendant bickering helps bolster "their business" that's a WIN

One is a SUCKER if he doesn't recognize this... ???

Recognize that NHL is perfectly willing to see dead players if it improves "their business"

Decisions such as today's merely underscore this very sad reality.

If you look at the play instead of the players - you will see that Max got the puck and kinda chipped it ahead.. If Chara doesn't finish the check there he is thinking that Max is pretty much on a breakaway or a 2 on 1 situation.. I believe he tried to disrupt Max from getting past him and to be honest if you think there was intent to injure there your kidding yourself.. I know the history and bla bla bla but there is no way Chara KNEW he could injure him there.. He was trying to save his ass from being scored on and I will bet he would make the same play 9 times out of 10 no matter who had the puck..

I played hockey since I was 5 for about 15 years and have been a fan all my  life.. It's not like I don't know what I'm talking about and it doesn't make your opinion stronger than mine or mine stronger..

Another side note is that after the hit you didn't see Chara trying to fight guys or mouthing off or anything.. If there was intent there you would've seen him fired up and stuff.. He just skated away..

Fans like us need to step up.  The game is OUT. OF. CONTROL. Unfortunately, American sport is an ever increasing competition for viewer audience and ratings... 20 or 30 years ago the following sports were NOT vying for pie:

UFC

GOLF

NASCAR

NBA (that's right youngens, NBA)

...BETTMAN and his henchman have clearly decided that the best way to insure higher ratings is to allow violence to the brink of DEATH, and that's what we, the accomplices, are getting ... and that's the TRUTH, RUTH.

Are you kidding? The game is OUT OF CONTROL???

Right so this just starting happening?

LOL Take a look at old clips of hockey players going into the stands to fight fans!!!! Massive brawls that you RARELY see today..

The game is NOT out of control.. But there are more players with no respect!! Bunch of young guys just playing reckless.. And this is nothing to do with the Chara hit.. AGAIN - take a look at some Rock'em Sock'em movies.. This didn't just start happening.. The difference today is the 'no respect' that young players aren't brought up with.. They are told to do whatever it takes to win and get to the NHL....

And the league IS taking steps to reduce headshots, fighting instigators and so on.. Like they want to see someone die dude get f'in real.. That wouldn't be good for the game infact that would be the worst thing for business.. It would get major attention YES but good for business?? NO!

Guessing your just bitter about this whole Chara hit..

THAT'S RIGHT! Just KKKKEEEEEP watching boys, you know the next concussion is JUST around the corner... perhaps tomorrow, oh we can only HOPE! ...should we lay odds???

How about an Over/Under on the number of nights that pass before another player is taken off the ice on a stretcher... oooh that's a goooood one 

Then we can all reconvene for a great shitstorm here on covers, and just pretend like its the very first time!!??

Oh, it'll be EPIC!

And Gary will just sit back with a shit-eating grin and watch the newsreels bring him ever more of the much-needed attention he so covets

I don't need to watch newsreels... I saw those games live. Welcome to covers.

Then you should know the game isn't more violent.. Right?

Oh thanks I've been here awhile tho.. Just a diff name

I don't agree at all that there is less respect nowdays.

You can't compare this to back then. Players are bigger and faster and collisions are much more violent and to me that is the biggest reason for all this shit. Like Lipps said in another thread look at the freakin elbow pads we have now compared to back then..its ridiculous.

Yes those pads they have are vicious.. But at the same time they were playing with less padding and less protection back then and still throwing hits and checks.. So it goes both ways.. Players are much better protected nowadays with both equipment and protected literally by officials and rules..

The game isn't more violent now then it was back in the day.. And by violent I mean violence.. Not factors that cause injuries..

People were getting their heads smashed in in the 90's?? 80's?? 70's?? Or no??

It's just brought up more nowadays.. Concussions are a big deal nowadays.. As they should be.. But its just more well known now and people care more about controversy and its all over TV.. It wasn't like that before but guys were still getting concussions and shit.. Nobody talked about it tho!! Come on.. The game is not what your making it out to be.. There are concussions in Football, Rugby, Every contact sport.. And football and hockey are taking steps to try and fix these things which is good.. The game isn't more violent now you just SEE more violence on TV..

hockey isn't doing anything to fix their problems..pacioretty, savard, booth, bergeron all knocked out for a long time..the guys who ruined their season got a combined 2 games suspension...its a fuckin joke

apparently a guy telling another guy to suck a dick is of equal offence as those 4 plays combined..that is what wisnieski got for his obscene gesture

Quote Originally Posted by happycap:

Look, you are taking the time to make your points in a rational way, implying that you actually BELIEVE what you are writing .......... so I will leave you with this: I began watching NHL hockey like most ardent fans at around 5 yrs old... in the mid 1970s... and I watched, and I watched, and I watched, I mean Ed Kilgour brought me the Sabres, Brian McFarlane was like a favorite uncle to me, Dave Hodge presented the Leafs to me when Ron McLean was peeing the bed, Peter Puck was my fucking imaginary friend ... capiche? Its more violent today... trust me.

So what I'm getting from your post is that you have been around hockey.. And that because of that it means your right.. Ok..

I've been around hockey the same as you.. Does that mean I'm right too? Should I list off my idols and use it to make it sound like I'm right?

No offense but that was a pointless post.. You can have your opinion I'll have mine.. I'm not delusional but thanks for making me out like that..

Trust me it's less violent and will get less violent in the future as it trends that way..

They are taking steps.. I didn't say that the system was perfect.. They need to suspend guys that commit illegal offenses for longer periods and make suspensions more harsh.. But don't penaltize players for making hockey plays.. I'll leave you with this -

Cherry argues that it's on the players, not the league office, to get things right.

"It's a big buzz word now, head shots," he said. "Remember about five years ago, it was hits from behind? It's always been in the game, the respect is not there and it starts when they're in bantam because of all the helmets, the big cages, the big equipment and the kids just don't have respect for the head like they used to."

100% true... you are correct sir. That would be a good night to feature a couple more concussions too, preferably of the unconscious on the ice with blood dripping from the nostrils variety.