Nicklas Kronwall plays hockey the way he believes it should be played and the way that makes him the most effective player he can be.
I agree with this portion of what you wrote, and I maintain that he shouldn't have to fight if he doesn't want to. If he were a dirty player I'd feel differently about him not fighting, but the fact is that Nik plays and hits clean.
While in this particular situation the initial point of contact was indeed the head, I agree with the league in that Kronwall did not target the head. And this is the key here folks so I'll repeat it: Kronwall did not target the head. He kept his elbows at his side, he did not jump up or go high with his hit. The fact that Jake's head was the principal point of contact was on account of Jake having his head down, and keeping it down while he was making his way up the ice along the boards. Jake himself has absolved Kronner and stated publicly that it was a clean hit, and that Jake put himself in that position by putting his head down.
Some of the Flyers fans were upset that Kronwall did not get suspended, and I completely understand the emotional reaction after one of your players gets drilled. Some of the Flyers fans felt their team was being held to a double standard, on account of Rinaldo receiving supplemental discipline from the league for his recent hit on Jonathan Ericsson. I think the league got that one right as well - the replay clearly shows Rinaldo going in on a forecheck, and jumping up to make contact with Ericsson's head upon making the hit. That folks is targeting the head. Had he not launched himself upward to hit Ericsson up high it would have been a legal, and still devastating hit. Here too the recipient of the hit was caught not protecting himself as Ericsson was looking at the pass he had just made behind the net.
Ultimately I've gained much respect for Jake ( Jakub Voráček), and I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
As an added bonus, I have finally figured out that there is an ignore button. I tested it, and it works wonders!
First of all, Kronwall's league accept hit? It was a dead-on head shot. The head was the principal point of contact. Kronwall made NO effort to hit anywhere but the head.
You don't appear to have a very firm grasp on that particular topic. People can be hit in the head, but the head cannot be the targeted point of impact.
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I just interviewed a guy who played in the 70s and 80s. He's a lawyer now. His view? Wouldn't be as many headshots if fighting hadn't been largely ushered from the game.
I'm curious if you have a handle on the fantastic absurdity of that particular statement. I'll wait and see if you do before I explain it to you.
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Third of all, hitting has changed a great deal over the years. Guys didn't wait at the blueline and rush in and launch themselves like a missile at guys with their heads down.
THat's a fairly new element to the sport.
You actually have a decent point here... which is why Shanahan has been cracking down on those types of hit (which IIRC was something you were upset about. Quick change, eh?)
Where you're getting off into the weeds is in trying to make the case that a hitter needs to 'defend' a clean hit by getting into a subsequent fight, said occurrence to be determined by the opponent.
Obviously there are a couple separate but related issues here. One, should a guy be subjected to a fight if he hits a guy dirty? Probably yes. Second, should a guy be subjected to a fight if he hits a guy clean? Not at all.
Beyond that, should a guy who is one of the better (in this case the best) defenseman on the team have to fight in any situation at the discretion of the other team, when doing so has all sorts of major and immediate downsides?
No. That's patently foolish in every strategic way you can name.
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If you think the Boston Bruins or Philadelphia Flyers or Montreal Canadiens or Detroit Red Wings of the 1970s would allow a panzie like Kronwall to deliver a head shot like he did... you're dead wrong. With all those goons every team had?
When I score a goal on you, I am not smashing your head violently.
Violence begets violence, within the rules or not.
And since hockey is sport where fighting is still a small infraction (no ejections/suspensions like most sports) fighting is part of the game's conduct.
Ah.
So why don't you have to get into a fight after you have a fight? Why is only one fight enough? How about a fight after any check? How about making anybody fight and just picking out the best player on the other team and beating him senseless?
So why don't you have to get into a fight after you have a fight? Why is only one fight enough? How about a fight after any check? How about making anybody fight and just picking out the best player on the other team and beating him senseless?
Someone has to be a trailblazer. Nicklas Kronwall plays hockey the way he believes it should be played and the way that makes him the most effective player he can be, and god bless him for that. I'd hate to see him deliberately subvert his game in the name of some vacuous standard of approval from certain self-important fans.
I have to take issue w/ that statement. Other than a Cup victory this season, there are few things I want to see more out of this team than to see Kronwall forgo his usual pacifist routine when being challenged, and to thrown down w/ someone coming after him after his teammate was "Kronwalled"- then in the postgame presser, when Nik is asked why he finally chose to engage in a fight, he says "Well, I've been spending a lot of time on hfboards lately, and I decided to heed the words of wisdom dispensed by Capt Bob and defend myself." That would be a top 10 moment of the season for the Wings.
I have to take issue w/ that statement. Other than a Cup victory this season, there are few things I want to see more out of this team than to see Kronwall forgo his usual pacifist routine when being challenged, and to thrown down w/ someone coming after him after his teammate was "Kronwalled"- then in the postgame presser, when Nik is asked why he finally chose to engage in a fight, he says "Well, I've been spending a lot of time on hfboards lately, and I decided to heed the words of wisdom dispensed by Capt Bob and defend myself." That would be a top 10 moment of the season for the Wings.
Maybe I'll see if I can catch Kronwall at a party at the Swedish Consulate southwest of Ann Arbor and tell him what I think of him. Test this whole Swedes are timid thing.
Might not go too well for me I think
Maybe I'll see if I can catch Kronwall at a party at the Swedish Consulate southwest of Ann Arbor and tell him what I think of him. Test this whole Swedes are timid thing.
Might not go too well for me I think
I think we've all heard about those legendary parties at the Swedish Consulate outside of Ann Arbor... off tha hook!!!
Unless Forsberg happens to be there (and why wouldn't he?) and gives you a slash w/ the hockey stick he'd no doubt be carrying around w/ him, I think you'd be safe. From the Wings Swedish contingent, I think the worst you'd get would be some disapproving looks, a few curses in Swedish sent your way, and maybe a face wash... which would be awkward and slightly creepy w/ Kronner and his cronies not wearing hockey gloves.
I think it's actually just some Swede's house that doubles as the Consulate.
That is fantastic- kinda thought you made that up. Upon further reflection, I think it's the Swedish women you'd have to tread carefully around... I saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and those Swedish chicks will mess you up!! They are apparently not nearly as tame as the Swedish Bikini Team led me to believe many years ago.
Which is why he's gonna end up on the stretcher and his assailant may end up getting sued like Bertuzzi.
If I remember correctly Moore actually did fight someone in that game in response to his Naslund hit, prior to Bertuzzi jumping him and brakeing his neck. He was trying his best to follow the 'code' and look what happened to him. Why someone hasnt, on ice-murdered Bertuzzi yet is beyond me, because that would be the logical 'code'-conseqvense, from what he did to Moore. I hate people preaching for violent 'codes'. Theese are the same arguments and logics used by terrorists, bullies, the maffia and other criminals, people driven by negative, destructive violent minds and fear.
If I remember correctly Moore actually did fight someone in that game in response to his Naslund hit, prior to Bertuzzi jumping him and brakeing his neck. He was trying his best to follow the 'code' and look what happened to him. Why someone hasnt, on ice-murdered Bertuzzi yet is beyond me, because that would be the logical 'code'-conseqvense, from what he did to Moore. I hate people preaching for violent 'codes'. Theese are the same arguments and logics used by terrorists, bullies, the maffia and other criminals, people driven by negative, destructive violent minds and fear.
**** just got real. Chock it up to an overdeveloped sense of unbridled vengeance.
Voracek says it was a good/clean hit.
Their coach says it was a good hit.
Jagr says hockey without hitting would be like basketball.
Their players did not jump Kronwall right after the hit, not did they were chasing him rest of the game.
I do not know what is more here to say. We the fans love those hits.
Kronwall is not leaving his position to headhunt anyone. He is a star player leading his team Dmen in points, he is tied for 2nd/3rd in goals among Dmen in goal in the league.
Basicly Kronwall offers us exactly what we love about this game.
“Kronner has to continue to play his game,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “He didn't target the head. (Voracek's) head was leaning forward.
“He's got to be a competitor and play hard. We want that in the game, but we sure don't want anyone getting hurt. Kronner understands that and understands how the game is supposed to be played.
Now that I managed (after five posts only) to get a 'You will soon be kidnapped by car deaththreat' from members of The HF-mob-Redwing posters Its cool to know there's still one named Bench left when Im gone.
You need a Deathrace 2000 pic.
They are apparently not nearly as tame as the Swedish Bikini Team led me to believe many years ago.
