Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild GM
Eventually it probably gets pretty close to this. Sports is going to have to evolve and move beyond a lot of the physicality that is part of it today.
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I hope I'm in a grave before I see a day where passionate athletes who spend their entire lives working at their skills, improving their performance and strength, with families who make sacrifices year after year to support them, are reduced to playing flag football, track and field and soccer. While no one likes to see a guy injured, or face concussions, I'd be willing to bet 99% of players in the CHL, AHL, and NHL expect, respect, embrace, and prepare for the physical nature of the game.
The way the league is cracking down on stick infractions, you'd be crazy to expect a hit like Gios to NOT be taken. Chances are any play Gio could have made to strip the puck would have resulted in either hooking, tripping, or Aho making Gio look like a pylon. He did his job perfectly there, and that is a fundamental aspect of the game. It wasn't goonish, hunting, late, or unnecessary. If he let Aho walk around him, then we'd have something to complain about.