The Talk Around The Rink

[Rantsalot]

...

Versus alone pays about $75 million a year to the NHL. But this only broadcasting rights. Even more important is ad/commercial spots. THe more Canadian teams means less viewers, less ad revenue and eventually less broadcasting fees.

I cant be any more clearer.

THE LEAGUE DOES NOT WANT ANYMORE CANADIAN TEAMS. it is contrary to the leagues agenda of growing the sport in the USA.

I cant believe you disagree with this.

Greep I whole heartedly agree but you're fighting a losing battle with whom you directed this too.

Betteman states: "The fact is we're not seeking to relocate any franchises and as a result expansion would be the way to satisfy that interest. But in this economic climate, I'm not exactly comfortable that this is the right time to be expanding to locations that have previously had franchises."

[greep]

Greep I whole heartedly agree but you're fighting a losing battle with whom you directed this too.

Betteman states: "The fact is we're not seeking to relocate any franchises and as a result expansion would be the way to satisfy that interest. But in this economic climate, I'm not exactly comfortable that this is the right time to be expanding to locations that have previously had franchises."

Thank you Rants, nice to see someone agree with me around here for a change.

It will be interesting to see how the Phoenix dilemma plays out over the next few weeks. Winnipeg clearly should get this team back.

People dont realize the paltry optiions the NHL has for relocation in the US. There are really no cities left that are suitable. Even Seattle's rink is ancient.

[Rantsalot]

....

Thank you Rants, nice to see someone agree with me around here for a change.

It will be interesting to see how the Phoenix dilemma plays out over the next few weeks. Winnipeg clearly should get this team back.

People dont realize the paltry optiions the NHL has for relocation in the US. There are really no cities left that are suitable. Even Seattle's rink is ancient.

Betteman's logic:

Quebec - Has a new rink that would support a nice fan base and the city has good and steady economic growth. The area itself garners a lot of potential future talent. The outcome? Betteman would say this: "In turn I think the NHL should have a new team ....in Albequerque!!!"

[Rockheart]

atleast somebody else knows about hockey,whers crags input i know he actually played the game.

I did think that Chara went out of his way to look like he wasn't doing anything. If you watch at the end he purposely looks away.

Currently I am not playing organized hockey mainly because most of the young players out there these days are just out to fight and hurt.
I go out to have fun and play hockey and just encounter those who don't want to have fun and just injure people. Maybe that is fun for them.

Truly I think humanity has left the game. The hits that go on now days are often unnecessary.

When I went skating in Bangkok (it was +42C outside), you can see they have huge white pillars outside the boards that you can run people into.
You can see me here lining up a Thai gentleman to take him out into one of those pillars. Take that Thai Boy!
I am thinking of joining a hockey league in Thailand, not only would I be better than everyone, I would be much bigger.

Oh, and a Thai Zamboni picture for Y'all too.

[greep]

Betteman's logic:

Quebec - Has a new rink that would support a nice fan base and the city has good and steady economic growth. The area itself garners a lot of potential future talent. The outcome? Betteman would say this: "In turn I think the NHL should have a new team ....in Albequerque!!!"

I agree.

Bettmans back is really against the wall with this one.

[tommygun]

I did think that Chara went out of his way to look like he wasn't doing anything. If you watch at the end he purposely looks away

I think you're giving Chara a bit too much credit here. I don't think he could have done this on purpose if he wanted to. So many people have watched this hit in slow motion and trying to analyze his body language and what he did. Watching it in real time gives you an important perspective too. From the time Chara touched him to the time he slammed into the glass was a total of half a second. Literally, 0.5 seconds. Half a second of contact and he gets his opponent into the 1% of the ice he would need to in order to seriously hurt him, and give him just enough of a push knowing he was off balance. I've pushed guys into the boards and have been pushed in myself. Chara didn't push him very hard at all. Given Chara's size and strength it would have been very obvious if he was trying to push him into the boards. He wouldn't have been gently guided into the glass, he would have been launched into it. I don't know anybody who could have orchestrated that even if they wanted too.

[Telvin]

If that does not look like Chara is pushing Pacioretty`s head into that post I don`t what does. This picture says it all to me.

[MaxwellJ]

I think you're giving Chara a bit too much credit here. I don't think he could have done this on purpose if he wanted to. So many people have watched this hit in slow motion and trying to analyze his body language and what he did. Watching it in real time gives you an important perspective too. From the time Chara touched him to the time he slammed into the glass was a total of half a second. Literally, 0.5 seconds. Half a second of contact and he gets his opponent into the 1% of the ice he would need to in order to seriously hurt him, and give him just enough of a push knowing he was off balance. I've pushed guys into the boards and have been pushed in myself. Chara didn't push him very hard at all. Given Chara's size and strength it would have been very obvious if he was trying to push him into the boards. He wouldn't have been gently guided into the glass, he would have been launched into it. I don't know anybody who could have orchestrated that even if they wanted too.

I completely agree. I don't know why people keep arguing about hockey plays like the Chara hit instead of being outraged at the lack of punishment for completely unacceptable hits. Take a look at these two head shots that happened this week after the Chara check. Aren't these the types of hits we should be trying to get out of the game? Here is Heatley's elbow (only two game suspension) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZlrsZxd0k&feature=related and here is Marchand's elbow (again only a two game suspension) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0g7_pVqpB0

[Rockheart]

I think you're giving Chara a bit too much credit here. I don't think he could have done this on purpose if he wanted to. So many people have watched this hit in slow motion and trying to analyze his body language and what he did. Watching it in real time gives you an important perspective too. From the time Chara touched him to the time he slammed into the glass was a total of half a second. Literally, 0.5 seconds. Half a second of contact and he gets his opponent into the 1% of the ice he would need to in order to seriously hurt him, and give him just enough of a push knowing he was off balance. I've pushed guys into the boards and have been pushed in myself. Chara didn't push him very hard at all. Given Chara's size and strength it would have been very obvious if he was trying to push him into the boards. He wouldn't have been gently guided into the glass, he would have been launched into it. I don't know anybody who could have orchestrated that even if they wanted too.

I wasn't commenting on whether the hit was pre-meditated.

I was merely saying he obviously looks away as the contact ends as if he knew he may have done something wrong.
Players do that when they do something bad on purpose or even when they do it by accident.

Kind of like the innocent whistle.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...39;s%20Whistle

[mitsu]

the problem is it happened to a montreal canadian who has the worst fanbase in the N.H.L. period,they think the hockey gods are against them and there jelous cause everything is ran out of toronto and not montreal,notice the air canada spokesman backed down when bettman told him if he has a problem with the way we run our game then we can spend millions of dollars on another airline?typical from the french there gutless.

Lisa........ure a racist...........worst fanbase u say?............if this had happened to Kessel, the Leaf brass would still be screaming...........maybe in another 44 years they'll have their cup.....

Mitsu.

[mitsu]

sily silly silly,theres one team in toronto because the leafs wont allow it do you really think if the N.H.L. had a canadian born commissioner it would be any different?bettman has 29 bosses who tell him what to do period.

last time I looked, there were 30 teams, hence 30 bosses......

Mitsu.

[tommygun]

Heatley's hit was clearly intentional. He slowed down and changed direction specifically to hit with his elbow. Marchand's show looked more like he was too lazy/unwilling to change his direction of skate. He didn't throw an elbow (at least not that I could tell from the youtube clip) he just skated into the other guy carelessly.

[Guest]

That was a foul hit.

Hi,

I think it was an intended assault. Call it whatever you want.

Like the soccer players who trip others on the field and they think no one is watching.

Like in football when someone from the sidelines trips a guy running too close to the line.

Like the hockey player who RAMMED a guy's face into that thing on the boards.
EVERYONE saw it!!
When it happened, EVERYONE was shocked.
Why now try to act like it was nothing?

Charge him with something! Let others see the consequences of such hits. They are supposed to be professional sportsmen not "hitmen".

I don't care about sports, i never watch it. But when i see a hit like that on the news, i stand up and say, "FOUL PLAY".
I don't care which team player got hit - i am not loyal to any team.
A foul hit is a foul hit.

THAT was a foul hit! It it wasn't, then why is it generating such a negative buzz all over the place?
What if the guy, Pachorelli (or whatever his name is) had died because of the hit? Then what? All the same people will say that his head was too soft, or something?

Babe,
xoxo

[tommygun]

If that does not look like Chara is pushing Pacioretty`s head into that post I don`t what does. This picture says it all to me.

Have you ever body checked a guy on the ice before? Have you ever anticipated a check, prepared yourself for it, and then the other guy lost balance and was only able to provide half the resistance to that check he'd normally be able to? That is exactly what happened here. Chara pushed harder than he needed to, not knowing Pacioretty was off balance, and as a result he went into the glass head first. It was an accident.

The thing that kills me about this is that most people who offer an opinion about this had to watch an instant replay to even see what happened. It all happened too fast in real time for them to even see what happened yet Chara somehow managed to plan, orchestrate, time, and deliver this malicious and intentional check in that same time frame.

There is not a thing about this check that does not have a reasonable explanation to disprove that this was an intentional hit.

[Rantsalot]

...

have you ever body checked a guy on the ice before? Have you ever anticipated a check, prepared yourself for it, and then the other guy lost balance and was only able to provide half the resistance to that check he'd normally be able to? That is exactly what happened here. Chara pushed harder than he needed to, not knowing pacioretty was off balance, and as a result he went into the glass head first. It was an accident.

The thing that kills me about this is that most people who offer an opinion about this had to watch an instant replay to even see what happened. It all happened too fast in real time for them to even see what happened yet chara somehow managed to plan, orchestrate, time, and deliver this malicious and intentional check in that same time frame.

There is not a thing about this check that does not have a reasonable explanation to disprove that this was an intentional hit.

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I saw the game when it aired. Chara was fully aware of his position on the ice. He had time to let up on his check but did not. Now please explain to me what Chara is doing with his hand around Max's face like that.