What a joke cutting the suspension by four games was. I'm sure Rafi will be a different player.
Cutting it didn't make any sense at all. Neither did having the playoff games count. He should've been suspended for the remainder of the POs + a number of regular season games. Would've made a lot more sense.
Cutting it didn't make any sense at all. Neither did having the playoff games count. He should've been suspended for the remainder of the POs + a number of regular season games. Would've made a lot more sense.
are you able to suspend a player for an abstract number of games? i.e. can the NHL suspend someone "for the rest of the playoffs" - don't they have to fix a game #?
iirc...the length of torres suspension was an attempt to make sure he was suspended for the entirety of the playoffs - i think it was based on assuming the Nordiques played every series as a 7 game series through to the end of the SCF...meaning that there was no way that Torres could play again during the playoffs - but, as it worked out, they were eliminated in the next round so there were games that carried over to the next year. maybe someone can confirm or do the math...or i'll try myself.
eta: i think i'm right re ^^. the hossa hit happened in game three of the series and torres got a 25 game suspension. if (for mathematical purposes) you assume the Nords won the series in 7 games (4 games after the hit) and went to 7 games the next three rounds (21 games in total...which would take you to the end of SCF) = then you're at 25 games. so, as above, i think NHL was trying to ensure he couldn't play again in the playoffs - but likely didn't have the authority to "suspend for the playoffs" in an abstract sense).
Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
After guiding the Hawks to their first Cup win since 1962 back in 2010, veteran coach Joel Quenneville has been one-and-done the past two playoff seasons. Yes, were it not for a couple of brain cramps by netminder Corey Crawford in the first round against Phoenix, Chicago might have written a different ending last spring, but that's not how it played out. Perhaps more concerning for the talent-laden Blackhawks was their dismal performance on special teams, as they were tied for 25th on the power play and 27th on the penalty kill. There were rumblings that Quenneville was in trouble in the offseason, and he'll need his team to start strong and show improvement on special teams to keep those rumblings from becoming something more.
Yeah, it still doesn't make any sense. I get the special teams need to be better but man, this team just cannot move forward without goaltending. If the goalies play well and there are still problems, fire Q. If the goalies are bad again, what does the rest of it even matter?
Nevertheless, it is beyond pathetic that a team with Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, et. all should be that bad on the powerplay. The coaching takes a big hit on this count.
The PK was brutal as well and we could all see how awful the coverage was. Another coaching issue.
10 confernce rivals but yeah, that's what it will be.
Yes, my bad. Almost guarantee we get Detroit and St. Louis 5 times. Hope we get the Canucks at home twice. Who and where you play 3 times is going to make a big difference. Would much rather play Vancouver twice at home than twice up there. Ideally we'd play most of those Pacific teams once and only have to make one trip out west.
With the Hawks starting out on a long road trip, it would make sense for it to be a West coast road trip. Ideally we play through Phoenix, Colorado, California and one in Vancouver then go back through California again leaving Vancouver open to play 2 here and then 1 each against the Cali teams here. The Cali teams are weaker than usual and with the long road trip, it would make sense and be beneficial.
I'm stunned at the way this went down. I've complained endlessly about him and thought he should have been turfed a while ago...but no way I thought it would come about like this.
I'm stunned at the way this went down. I've complained endlessly about him and thought he should have been turfed a while ago...but no way I thought it would come about like this.
Agree
Why not fire him after last year? Why have him in charge of your 2012 draft?
