- The hits were legal as defined by the rule book, which is all that matters. The NHL has no bias towards the Flames or Tkachuk, so they wouldn't pretend they weren't if they didn't think they were. So, now we are in the realm with all this talk about these hits are whether they SHOULD be legal or not moving forward.
- Tkachuk definitely targeted Kassian...........and managed to stay within the rules. He picked the target he thought he'd get the most bang for buck out of, and he was right. It's part of his game. I understand how this pest role is annoying to opposition fans (it would be to us roles reversed), but credit to Tkachuk for doing it masterfully within the rules. That show's part of his growth since Doughty round 1 where he failed to accomplish that perfectly.
- If I was an Oilers fan, I'd be very happy, outside of the result, that Tkachuk is targeting a player more than physically capable of handling the hits Tkachuk is doling out.
Things I believe about this incident.
For the first part of exercise I will replace Tkachuk as the offending Flames player, with Mark Giordano (I know as a D man he might not have the same opportunity on the hits, but this is more about the names).
- If Giordano made the same 3 hits on Kassian..............there might be some minor complaints coming out of Edmonton..............but other than that there would be 0 talk from anyone about whether these hits were suspect. People would be praising Gio for being the physical leader the Flames need and being a difference maker. People be going on about that's why he's the captain and why he won a Norris, so versatile. There would also be 0 talk about him having to "step up" to Kassian in a fight.
- If Kassian would have ragged dolled Gio in the same fashion (I think Gio would respond mind you), he would have received a minimum of a 5 game suspension. He would also be the hands down bad guy in this scenario in the media (outside of Edmonton) and the talk would all be about how Kassian is what is wrong with the NHL.
Now I'm going to replace Kassian with McD.
- If Tkachuk hit McD the way he did Kassian, first of all there would have been penalties on the ice. Tkachuk would have also received a suspension for sure, the NHL would have found a way to flop their stance on the hits.
- If McD started to rag doll Tkachuk (not that Tkachuk would have let that happen), he'd also be praised for sticking up for himself and his leadership.
Point being, nothing out of the ordinary happened in this event. The hits are only in question because of who laid them out. The NHL isn't responding to clean hits with discipline because of who they were on. And the Oilers overreaction to their tough guy taking some contact ignited the whole thing.
I dont disagree with the underlying point but Gio sadly has a rep with some other fan bases as a dirty slew footer which the media would pickup and run with. In his case I bet the result would be the same whether it was Chucky or Gio.
I feel like there is bias for sure. I think a lot of people fail to see the other end of the spectrum. If Kassian laid out someone on our team twice in what is a legal however blatantly obvious targeted hit and didn’t answer the bell we would be clowning on him.
You don’t have to answer for legal hits. But if your going to target a guy and go out of your way to lay him out you should expect to drop the mitts. And at the least when his gloves are off and punches are coming to defend yourself.
Did I personally lose respect for Tkachuk? Nope. He knew what he was doing and he knew he’d get mocked for turtling and I’d imagine he was hoping the result would be the penalties that Kassian wound up getting or more. But I can’t help but wish that he’d of whooped Kassians ass instead either.
And on a whole other note, man am I pumped that Kassian is back for the next BOA. Either way you look at this, it’s an awesome time to be a fan of either team with gasoline poured right back all over this rivalry again. A lot of the games in the past couple years haven’t felt they used too even a decade ago. So I for one welcome all of this as a fan .
This happens all the time, and players don't "answer the bell". It never gets talked about because those players don't have psychotic breaks like Kassian did. This was the Bertuzzi-Moore incedent with everything except the injury. Wonder what these same media pundits would be saying If Tkachuk was hurt.
And to answer your question, if Kassian was skating around targetting Lucic I could care less if he wanted to fight after. It's less runs he is taking at our skilled guys and Lucic is enough of a pro to handle it properly.
Of course that won't happen because Kassian likes to fight smaller players.
I dont disagree with the underlying point but Gio sadly has a rep with some other fan bases as a dirty slew footer which the media would pickup and run with. In his case I bet the result would be the same whether it was Chucky or Gio.
That's why I keep saying outside of Edmonton. You wouldn't see the National media types or former players coming out of the wood work if it was Gio.
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It still absolutely blows my mind that Zack ####ing Kassian has been made out to be the Martyr in this situation. He’s captain leaves-his-feet and a multiple suspension receiver for various disgusting acts. And yet the narrative we hear the most is that he was targeted like a naive little puppy. Even his teammates today were talking about how they were hoping the NHL would suspend Tkachuk for his hits that “made” Kassian react the way he did. There is zero remorse being shown on Kassian’s end and I wouldnt be surprised if he skates around like the Neanderthal he is and seriously hurts someone in further retribution.
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Why do we assume a ref (especially one who retired in 2003 before the lockout changed the rules) knows what a "smart hockey play" is. Paul Stewart wasn't good enough to play more than 21 games in the NHL, for one of the worst teams, in which he got 2 points and 74 pm. Never coached a game.
Paul Stewart wasn't paid for his skills or scoring ability.
the guy was king psycho in the WHA. He was a complete good idiot. So when he's talking about the Kassian thing, you're talking about a guy who's thinking like the nut job that he was, not as a former ref.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
How many articles is Spector going to churn out about this fiasco- just saw another one posted this afternoon. I just picture him sitting in his little cubicle (lined by McDavid signed merchandise) typing furiously like the angry little man he is. I am sure he doesn't read comments about his article- but I had to comment on his article and let him know what an Oilers fanboy he sounds like. How can these Oiler biased articles be allowed on sportsnet? I would rather hear about the leafs all day then his garbage.
He and Staples have come off as emotionally unbalanced, unprofessional fan boys. Spectors still mad at me because I told him I bought his book about the battle of alberta in a discount bin at Walmart for two bucks and I felt ripped off.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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I actually thought Kassian's media response (post suspension) was reasonable. I expect his actions on the 29th will be less rational but who knows. Refs may just call everything and ruin the game. Don't know how to link twitter but:
You play with fire eventually you will get burned. He messed with the wrong guy and I don’t think he realizes we are in the same division. I have a great memory.
Quote:
There is no running away from it eventually he will get his.
I expect that Kassian is going to do what he always does, which is either take a head shot at Tkachuk, or run him from behind because he's a piece of garbage coward. I think we need to Vancouver the Oilers.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
There is also the implicit threat when he talks about Parros explaining why those hits are clean, that he now understands where the line is and will "put that in the memory bank". EDIT: I mean this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kassian
Q: Do you think the league will be watching you closely when you play Calgary?
A: For sure they are going to watch the game, but I think I can do what Matthew Tkachuk did if the league is saying it is clean. I can do exactly that. I didn’t think you were allowed to, but after speaking with George apparently you are allowed. That is fine. That is great news. I’m a big guy who can skate and I can do that kind of stuff.
__________________ "The great promise of the Internet was that more information would automatically yield better decisions. The great disappointment is that more information actually yields more possibilities to confirm what you already believed anyway." - Brian Eno
Last edited by CorsiHockeyLeague; 01-14-2020 at 02:15 PM.
I think you have Lucic ride heard with Tkachuk in the next game. If Kassian even looks at him funny you beat him bloody.
No need. Tkachuk plays with his head up, and can take as good as he dishes out. The Flames won that game because they were composed, not because they engaged in a battle of retribution. Let the Oilers worry about that.
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There is also the implicit threat when he talks about Parros explaining why those hits are clean, that he now understands where the line is and will "put that in the memory bank". EDIT: I mean this.
I love how Kassian talks likes he's some elite player in the NHL. He's a forth liner getting pucks bounced off his stick by McDavid. Give me a break.
You don't think Tkachuk realizes your in the same division? Tkachuk is so far ahead of you in how he thinks the game - he's setting the stage for years worth of bad hockey decisions that may cost you games.
He also said he thinks he plays a pretty honest game. He says he thought blind sided hit were illegal. Seriously? Sam Ganger says hi. Chris Tanev says hi. renden Dhillon says hi twice. And that's just off the top of my head.
Give me a break.
Last edited by Bent Wookie; 01-14-2020 at 02:33 PM.
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