Ovechkin Says No Thanks
The NHL All-Star break is upon us and the league is set to showcase itself in the annual mid-season classic.
Personally I always enjoy the event. I think it’s a great time to recognize the best players in the world. Every year is different. Some years the star power is greater than others with this season being no exception. Without the likes of Crosby, Ovechkin, Toews, Pronger, and Lidstrom it will certainly take on a different flavor.
At the end of the day I’ll still probably watch the game.
Everyone seems all up in arms regarding Alexander Ovechkin’s decision not to attend the game. I get the argument that he’s paid millions of dollars and he owes it to the NHL to show up. On the other hand the NHL decided to suspend him just before the game. The NHL can’t have it both ways, if they want to suspend the player they can’t expect him to still show up to their event. There’s no doubt he’s using this opportunity to make a statement.
Is the game better off with Ovechkin involved? Absolutely but why should he go when he's on the suspended list? If he can't play in a regular game should he even be allowed to play in the ASG? I'm curious what Brendan Shanahan would have done if he was still an active player?
I’m all for making the game safer but suspensions are out of control. There’s little consistency and nearly every hard hit is being questioned during an NHL telecast. Brendan Shanahan is front and center in all of this mess. His name is mentioned more than any player playing the game. You can’t go a full day without hearing the name Brendan Shanahan.
I’m starting to wonder how long he will continue in his current role with the NHL. There’s no question he has a hard job and we all knew it wouldn’t be easy. It’s hard to see a former superstar take as much heat as this guy deals with on a daily basis. A person can only take so much and you’d hate to see his role with the NHL overshadow what he did as an NHL player.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
The Latest Truth
External Link
Top Stories From the World Championships
Is USA a Gold medal contender?Elimination round starting up
Rewind
John Tortorella Post-Game
Watch
Rewind
Rangers Take Game 1
Watch
Details of Hull's Role With Blues Getting Clearer
An agreement between Hull and Stillman could come by the end of the week Read more
New Era
Tom Stillman has landed an impressive group of local investors as he begins a new era of Blues ownership Read more
32 Comments | Share: Share Tweet
Brian Burke was a piece of crap when he held that position.
Colin Campbell was a piece of crap when he held that position.
It's a loser job.
Shanahan's done a much better job because there's a level of transparency that's never been there before. He's willing to put out a video explaining every aspect of his decisions.
Where he's failed has been in delivering consistent punishements.
Look the NHL and Andy knows this is supposed to be cracking down on head hits and especially by those who are repeat offenders.
Epic FAIL.
The shove by Cooke I have heard not one word about. Stuart makes contact with Petro's head nothing. It is said to be a clean hit b/c Petro put his head down. Yet when Kronwall attempts to reverse hit Stewart makes the intial contact and Stewart knocks him down three games for his first offense.
What's more there is hardly a difference between Cole's hit and STuart's hit, other than the dramatic figuring skating down by Abdekator.
It makes zero sense. Rene Bourque barely goes a week it seemed like before making yet another dirty hit and against a star player that he concusses and hasn't played since. What does Bourque get? 5 Games. FIVE! Just two more than Stewart or COle for their first offense.
Doughty with seconds left up by two goals cross checks Oshie from behind. Cross check. I'd say Oshie put himself in a bad position if it were a shove or a real hit and still think Doughty committed a penalty...but he cross checked him. He is fined $2,500 which equates to him not getting paid for one shift.
Meanwhile COlumbus a struggling franchise has Wisniewski make a bad play and he starts off the season 8 games in the hole.
I get ti you all are saying he is inconsistent. QUestion if there is favoritism going on and then say but it's transparent.
If it were transparent we would understand pretty much from the moment a play happens what would happen to the player. And as if this clown circus couldn;t get any worse, the officials are sometimes calling five minute major, sometimes a two minute, sometimes a double minor and sometimes nothing at all and the suspensions still vary.
If fans of the game for many years, people who grew up playing can't understand the rule or requirements then something is terribly wrong.
Meanwhile concussions continue to happen. Players are running into their teammates and concussing them.
It all goes to what Andy said in the off season and I completely agree that the ice surface is far too small. flag this comment
I'm glad Ovi is skipping out. That's what they get for all this hitting and BS (Brendan Shanahan). Way to rub it back in their faces. It sucks for the fans but something needs to be done. What the hell is "launching" anyways!? When you go to hit someone, you want to explode into them! That's a hit! Michalek was crouched down and Ovi plowed him, well he put himself in that vulnerable position when he knew his fellow countrymen was going to run his ass.
If Ovechkin is so great then he should be able to lead his talent filled teams past the second round. Halak looked great but Ovechkin is easy to peg. Once you get him frustrated and the game on the line he tries to do everything himself like last year against Tampa. He made Brewer look like an all-star.
One reason I really disliked Janssen is because he often left his feet when hitting. There' too much bush league crap going on at the supposed highest level of hockey in the world, like Malkin taking a seat when Backes touches him.
The fact is too many players don;t respect the game nor the opposition.
Man I would have paid good money to see Bab's face and hear what he had to say.
Oh yeah it's that time of year already. Time for the ancient ones to begin to slide and their injuries should begin to mount up right about now.
LOLOLOLOL
hahahahaha man i can't stand DET flag this comment
2011-12 Montreal NHL 48 7 25 32 9 1 8 0 0 1 14 55 12.73 20
2010-11 Montreal NHL 43 8 14 22 -3 4 4 0 0 0 12 55 14.55 16
2010-11 Hamilton AHL 35 10 35 45 14 1 - 3 - - 24 70 14.29 -
2009-10 Montreal NHL 6 0 1 1 -1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 .00 2
2009-10 Hamilton AHL 60 27 51 78 30 11 - 1 - - 34 155 17.42 -
2008-09 Hamilton AHL 77 24 34 58 12 6 - 1 - - 20 - - -
2007-08 Hamilton AHL 4 0 1 1 -3 0 - 0 - - 6 - - -
2007-08 Cincinnati ECHL 68 29 77 106 38 9 - 1 - - 18 - - -
2006-07 Bridgeport AHL 7 1 1 2 -2 1 - 0 - 0 4 11 9.09 -
2006-07 Chicoutimi QMJHL 61 38 70 108 8 15 - 5 - 4 32 - - -
2005-06 Chicoutimi QMJHL 63 33 85 118 45 20 - 2 - 6 44 - -
Yeah and he pocket two more goals and an assist tonight against the Dead Things!
He's lsted at 5'7" though that's probably on skates.
I want you to know that I flagged your comment because it's personal in nature rather than attempting to debate/ discuss a particular point. It's classless and uncalled for.
If you want to debate about hockey, be it players' performance, the Blues organization, coaching, fair play. Outside that, I'll flag you.
I know that I have gotten into some pretty heated discussions and gotten personal in the past. It's irresponsible and uncalled for. I hope that you'll consider avoiding these comments in the future.
Hey, it's a free country. Say what you like. Just don't be surprised if someone blocks you from a site/ ignores you/ punches you in the face. You are responsible for your words. Don't forget it. flag this comment
I'm just saying it's a possibility not a fact. Would you make such a move? Eggs?
The only way that I trade Berglund is if we get a player that has the potential to carry the team through a playoff series offensively like Parise, Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, etc. Berglund is 4 years younger than Grabovski, has size and a boatload of potential.
If we were a Stanley Cup contender this year, I'd say move Berglund this year for a difference maker. Does he frustrate the hell out of me? Yes. Don't trade him when his value is low, especially with the way he showed he can take a game over. Gotta find that switch, man!
Watching the way that the Blues played Detroit and Seeing the result against Vancouver leads me to believe that this team will exit the playoffs in the second round. This is going to sound like blasphemy: If the Blues lose in a tough second round series I believe that this season was a success.
Here's another thought: watching the way that Detroit played in front of our net makes me think that a big body on defense may be just as important as a scoring forward. It may be more important, considering what we have in our system. Brett Ponich is going to need someone as an example coming up to the NHL level. I don't think he'll be with the big club next year, but the '13-'14 could be a possibility. flag this comment
I don't know though about Graboviski. Those are pretty good numbers for a second line center. As far as how he would do in the play offs? That remains to be seen. But he has shown a penchant to turn his game up a notch as the games grow in importance.
I wouldn't dismiss the four years.
I think Cole is better at boxing out than say Jackman.
Speaking about defense that is what has me really down on Berglund right now. He showed in his first season he knew how to play at both ends.
He's just frustrating right now. Still holding out for him to do better. Just curious what everyone thought.
Great point stromcujo! flag this comment
But thanks no thanks. The only rationale I could see is this team's struggle finding the back of the net might mean they are looking for ways to cut down even more goals scored against. flag this comment
No, Ovechkin should not have been named to the All-Star team. As the 48th ranked player at the time, there were many more deserving players. But once he accepted the invitation, it became his responsibility to show up.
It's also disappointing that too many fans find it acceptable for Ovechkin to try to have it both ways: attention grabbing when it's comfortable and advantageous for him, and responsibility shirking when his own actions make the attention less positive. Ovechkin and his fans should grow up.
It goes for Lidtrom and Selanne as well. Babcock says Lidstrom has earned the right not to take part in the all-star game. Okay, well the game as silly as it is also helps sell the real games and brings players into a spot light allowing for them to make loads of money.
If you can't play in a non-checking affair that doesn't require your all and is about fun because you need a few days off I'm sure your team can accommodate you during the regular season as well. Should the opposing players slow down or not check Lidstrom b/c he has played to such a high level for so long?
I don't understand the rationale for any of this stuff. You are already special to play a game for a living and get paid handsomely for doing so and when many people Lidstrom's age in the real world are having trouble keeping or finding jobs it's a kick in the junk to here them say these things.
These athletes are spoiled. The slightest ouchy and they have trainers massaging them, putting heat on it like their mommies.
These "men" need to grow up adn take a long look around themselves. flag this comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgVKRQluXSI
Sometimes you get that gap crossing the blue line and he shows he's a great shooter there.
I am interested to seeing how it translates on a smaller ice surface with the North American game. He'll be good. The KHL is pretty sorry. I don't know if the d-men there tend toward backing up and a containment style b/c it's easier for them to go wide over there or what but there's loads of room. NHL needs a larger surface but not that large. flag this comment
http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7496813/vancouver-canucks-boston-bruins-st-louis-blues-top-playoff-power-meter-nhl
Two awesome article about the Blues. If you don't have an insider account I can tell you what they said.