Quick Hits: Hall of Fame Edition

by JeffHancock41 on Nov 14, 2011 5:34 AM CST in Quick Hits

A great honor for our second favorite Howe. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hockeytown, No Limits

Mark Howe steps out of Gordie's shadow, into Hockey Hall of Fame | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
It's great to see Mark Howe being recognized for his accomplishments and enjoying the spotlight as he prepares to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Detroit Red Wings - NHL | Wings announcer Mickey Redmond humbled by Hall honor | The Detroit News
Mark Howe isn't the only one with Red Wings' ties headed to the Hall. Our very own Mickey Redmond will be honored as well. He's going to receive the Foster Hall Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. Bingo bango, Mick.

White out 1-2 Weeks, Smith Recalled, Bertuzzi placed on STIR " The Production Line - TP:60
I would just like to personally thank Ian White for preventing a goal with his face. It sucks that he will be out 1-2 weeks, but I'll be going to the game on the 23rd when I'm home from Boston and there is a smal chance I could possibly see Brendan Smith in the lineup. Will it happen? Probably not, but hey, a kid can dream, can't he?

Are the Red Wings the West’s hottest team again? | ProHockeyTalk
Yes, but the author thinks one of the league's best road teams of the last few years is going to struggle on the upcoming road trip (s/t JJ).

Red Wings reaping benefits of Valtteri Filppula's aggressive play on the wing | MLive.com
Filppula spent much of last season centering the third line. This year, he's been on a top-two line most of the time. (s/t JJ).

Mursak keeps improving | Red Wings Front
Come Christmas time, the Sak will be back. Colouring book fan Cory Emmerton or Fabian Brunnstrom will have to be sent down to Grand Rapids in order for this to happen. A smart bet would be Bruno. Look forward to having the speed of Mursak in the lineup once again.

Around the NHL

Video: Dane Byers gets nutty after AHL fight with Micheal Haley - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
This is what the Columbus Blue Jackets have to look forward too. They've got some good character guys in that system, eh?

Ovechkin could learn from Michael Jordan’s evolution | ProHockeyTalk
Apparently, Ovechkin needs to learn how to shoot three-pointers. I don't know if I read this article closely enough (s/t JJ).

The Top-10 Spin-o-ramas of All-Time | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com
Todd Bertuzzi's favorite video of all-time.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are not the worst team in the league - Arctic Ice Hockey
Oh yes they are (s/t JJ).

Saturday afternoon gaming: Wayne Gretzky Hockey ’98 | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com
I used to spend hours playing Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey '98. Add that to Golden Eye in my N64 lineup and my childhood videogaming was complete.

Behind the Scenes: NHL All-Star Ballots - Nucks Misconduct
Read Columbus'... pure gold (s/t JJ).

Watch an incredible hockey wedding, including matrimonial faceoff - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
A wedding on ice. This is a pretty cool way to get married. Stick tap to Josh for the link.

Report: NHLPA suspects Nashville Predators under-reported revenue - On the Forecheck
It's a link to a post about a link, but I'd rather have a fat girl slap my balls than link to Larry Brooks (s/t JJ)

After Lucic hit, Ryan Miller out indefinitely with concussion - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Lucic has a hearing with Brendan Shanahan today at 1p ET. (Humblebrag alert: the NESN score bar in the video...I operate that from the Garden for every Bruins home game)

DISCUSSION: Do you believe Lucic should be suspended for hitting Miller? Rule 69.4 says the goalie is not fair game if he ventures out of the crease, but incidental contact is permitted if the player attempts to avoid the goalie. Personally, I'm not sure it's suspension worthy. Maybe a game or two if Shanny wants to send a message that he wants to protect goalies. However, I'm positive that Lucic didn't attempt to avoid Miller. I believe he knew what he was doing the whole time. He knew no one on Buffalo was going to go after him and he knew that if someone did that an all out brawl of a game would play right into the Bruins style and favor them.

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Comments

Lucic should definitely be suspended. He put his arms up and ran right through Miller. He looked at Miller long before he made contact and knew what Miller was doing. Lucic did this on purpose and was cocky as all hell afterward talking about the lack of a response from Buffalo. With Miller being concussed on the play, I personally see Lucic being given the longest Shanaban to date.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Nov 14, 2011 7:04 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I'd suspend Lucic

There’s really not a mitigating circumstance in his favor. He saw Ryan Miller come out to play the puck and stayed on a path designed solely to hit him. Then he hit him high.

I’d like to see at least 5 and probably 10. We can discuss making goalies fair game in the meantime, but the rule is as it stands. Besides, this is charging regardless of whether Miller is a goalie, so Lucic still made a dirty play.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 7:07 AM CST reply actions

I definitely do not believe a goalie should be fair game outside his crease. Other than a few highlight reel hits each year, the NHL has nothing to gain and everything to lose by allowing it. Just look at this hit: the best player America has produced in ages is now out with a concussion because of it. There is simply too much at risk to allow it, in my opinion.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Nov 14, 2011 7:12 AM CST up reply actions

I wouldn’t make them fair game for big open ice hits specifically for the injury reason, but I’d like to see attacking players have the ability to pin a goalie to the boards if he decides to use his body to interfere with a forechecker trying to get the puck away from him behind his own net.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 7:29 AM CST up reply actions

I can agree with that. They should make the goalies more touchable, though not to the extent that we see goalies afraid to ever leave their crease.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Nov 14, 2011 8:20 AM CST up reply actions

For the sake of argument, how would you word such a rule? Inconsistent officiating will be miserable when one ref lets incidental contact play out and another calls it interference.

by Nim ~ on Nov 14, 2011 2:06 PM CST up reply actions

I’m going to have to think on it more to decide whether I’d prefer to write it up in a way to change the rule about checking a goalie to make it more lenient or to change the rule about interference to make it more strict on goalies.

Ultimately, my problem is a goalie being allowed to act as a skater and use his super-goalie privilege to prevent a forechecker from doing things that a defensemen would not be able to prevent him from doing. I don’t want to make things more dangerous for goalies in the process though. This is a really good question.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

Right now on the local Boston sports talk stations

They’re saying it’s was a dirty play and he’ll probably be suspended, but mainly calling the Sabres pussies for not going after anyone. Which I can agree with. Also, the season is over, the 8-7-0 Bruins lead the league in goal differential and the Cup will be staying out east. We don’t even have to play the rest of the season. Seguin for Hart.

Brendan Smith fan

by JeffHancock41 on Nov 14, 2011 7:19 AM CST up reply actions

I'd suspend Lucic too.

He made no attempt to avoid Miller, charging, and he hit Miller high. End of story. I’d say 8 games minimum.

by Idle Drifter on Nov 14, 2011 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

Don't know if any of you caught this, but

Derek Meech is out 6-8 weeks after surgery for a “lower body injury”. Seems he has played in all of 2 games for Winnipeg. Guess the Wings didn’t lose out on much by letting him go as a UFA. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=capress-hkn_jets_meech-14235657

by zfan16 on Nov 14, 2011 8:58 AM CST reply actions

That sucks.

Meech never really did anything great here, but always seemed like a guy that worked hard and accepted his role without complaints. Hopefully he’ll be okay and get back soon.

Brendan Smith fan

by JeffHancock41 on Nov 14, 2011 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I liked Meech

but he was not going to make the team. He’s one of the ex-Wings I truly do wish well, as he always had the right attitude.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

^This

Best wishes to Derek on speedy recovery and a good season…except against the Wings, of course.

by wingsluver4ever on Nov 14, 2011 11:08 AM CST up reply actions

Easy call

Big suspension, it seems like everyone on here is seeing what I’m seeing, I’m just curious about the number of games, as it could easily go double digits for a cheap shot on a player who expects to be avoided for being a goalie and for being well after the puck was gone. Lucic=POS for being proud of what he did.

by good1 on Nov 14, 2011 9:16 AM CST reply actions

I hope it's 10-15 games

but I kind of wish that Miller would have connected with Lucic’s leg when he swung his stick. Lucic is one of those players who deserve to get injured themselves when they deliberately try to hurt another player.

by zfan16 on Nov 14, 2011 9:28 AM CST up reply actions

What the hell was he thinking?

We all know in the game of hockey that some things can happen in a split second, especially if you’ve ever played before. Looked to me like Lucic had plenty of time to, at the very least, try and avoid or minimize the hit. When I first saw the play, was a bit shocked, but questionable on a suspension. Until I saw this video of it, with a different angle. Not only was it charging but looks like he was trying to take his head off. When the helmet flies like that.. you can’t help but think total head shot.

I agree with Miller’s response to the hit, after the game 100%. Never really minded the way Lucic plays but that was just stupid. I just hope the suspension isn’t any more harsh because it was Ryan Miller on the recieving end aka possible Crosby effect. Luckily, don’t think Shanny roles that way.

Let's GO..Wings, Tigers, Lions, Wolverines (oh my!) & Bolts!!!! (RIP Cory Smoot aka Flattus Maximus of GWAR)

by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Nov 14, 2011 9:43 AM CST reply actions

after watching a few times

Did you notice Miller’s attempted slash afterwards? Don’t blame the guy, I expected one his teammates to put some lumber on the dirtbag but apparently Buffalo is pretty soft.

by good1 on Nov 14, 2011 10:48 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, a lot of Boston writers were calling for Miller to be suspended yesterday until they really started replaying the hit. Now it seems everyone, even the Boston writers, want Lucic’s head on a plate.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Nov 14, 2011 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

Lucic should be suspended....

on current rules. I personally waffle on how much protection a goalie should be entitled to when he leaves the crease to play a puck…on this one, either way, Lucic would be guilty even if another player because it sure looks like he intentionally clobbered him, targeting the head, after the puck was gone.

Jeff, also just want to mention…without being thought of as too sensitive that

I’d rather have a fat girl slap my balls than…

is pretty insensitive to all of us not-so-thin female posters.

by wingsluver4ever on Nov 14, 2011 11:28 AM CST reply actions

I actually wrote that line

I apologize that it came across as insensitive. The purpose of the adjective was to get across that there would be more force behind the slap and therefore it would hurt more.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

Incidental contact...

…does not result in a goalies helmet-less and with a concussion in open ice. Lucic had plenty of time to know what he was doing and arguably chose a course of action with intent to injure. This isn’t like Hasek stacking the pads at the top of the circles against Gaborik – Miller got to the puck a mile ahead of Lucic, and Lucic had his head up the whole way.

by Nim ~ on Nov 14, 2011 2:19 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Shows what I know

Shanahan cites lack of intent in not suspending Lucic. [nhl.com]

by Nim ~ on Nov 14, 2011 2:44 PM CST reply actions

BUUUUULLLLLLSHHHIITTTT

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs

I would love to hear what Lucic said to convince him it wasn’t intentional…

I'm a Homer

by holmstrom96 on Nov 14, 2011 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

“Do you know who I am?”

Winging It In Motown

by Amerinadian on Nov 14, 2011 3:25 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

karma sucks

Considering Boston pretty much lives or dies by goaltending i would be careful running someone elses goalie. (say what you want about their scoring but the good goaltending allows them to concentrate on offense)

by Splints on Nov 14, 2011 4:35 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

also sucks

that Tim Thomas or Tuukka Rask would have to be injured because of Milan Lucic, if that’s what happens. I like Thomas and while I don’t give any fucks about Rask, I don’t want him to get hurt in Lucic’s place.

I’m really disappointed in this decision by Shanahan.

by J.J. from Kansas on Nov 14, 2011 4:40 PM CST up reply actions

I say someone should McCarty his ass next time they play buffalo. Just need to find somebody on that team with a big enough sack. Shanny better let it go too.

by BLOOD RED on Nov 15, 2011 5:35 AM CST reply actions