Line brawl & Crazy Torts - Aftermath

[Ashasx]

Awww, was hoping for more.

[btimbit]

Well, I think it's safe to say Hartley is Burkes 'guy' now

[Frank MetaMusil]

So the NHL is saying teams need to start their first line, otherwise coaches get fined......

Interesting, but glad Torts got what he deserved. Logically he'd want to start his scorers against Calgary's plugs to get a quick goal, but I guess logic doesn't prevail here.

[old-fart]

Seems about to me. Torts is an ass, everyone knows and is a repeat offender. 15 days seems right.

Hartley is fined more to keep the peace than anything. I agree with Burke, Westgarth wasnt sent out to take the faceoff, but went in to do so after the Nucks sent out their AHL callup 6'6 goon instead of Jones who was coming back from injury. Then the Nucks swap in a known fighter, and defenceman, in Bieksa to take the draw... What was Westgarth supposed to think? No real surprise that Bieksa wimps out of a fight with Westgarth and goes looking for one with Smid.

Not a big deal really. Nucks come off looking like idiots and whiners, which is par for the course, and the Flames get a minor fine. If I'm Edmonton tomorrow, I start the Gadzic line against the Nucks. The crying will be epic.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Logically he'd want to start his scorers against Calgary's plugs to get a quick goal, but I guess logic doesn't prevail here.

Tortorella could not stand the fact that Hartley upstaged him. Then when Hartley ignored Torts screaming and ranting on the bench, that sent him over the edge. If I'm other teams (especially in the playoffs) I try to push Tortorella's buttons as much as possible.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

So the NHL is saying teams need to start their first line, otherwise coaches get fined......

.

Or...they don't want an out of position fighter taking the opening faceoff and, as the puck drops, his gloves dropping instantaneously.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by zamler

Tortorella could not stand the fact that Hartley upstaged him. Then when Hartley ignored Torts screaming and ranting on the bench, that sent him over the edge. If I'm other teams (especially in the playoffs) I try to push Tortorella's buttons as much as possible.

Right, but that's deserving of a fine?

I just don't agree with the Hartley "responsibility"

He's basically daring Torts to match lines or deploy his scoring lines and bag one early. Tortorella is too stupid to understand that other teams don't just sent "idiots" out to fight non-4th liners. This is all on John. He can't even coach for matchups anymore. If anything, Hartley's lineup was strictly strategy, Tortorella never intended to put the sisters out.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by timbit

Or...they don't want an out of position fighter taking the opening faceoff and, as the puck drops, his gloves dropping instantaneously.

So who defines what player is a "position fighter"? The NHL fined Hartley for the optics nothing else.

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Right, but that's deserving of a fine?

No I don't think it is. And I think it's complete crap that Torts was "concerned" so he didn't put out the Sedin line. Larf, that would have been a great way to score a goal, you try to match the top line against the 4th all the time. Torts felt upstaged, and came completely unglued when Hartley would not indulge his idiocy.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by timbit

Or...they don't want an out of position fighter taking the opening faceoff and, as the puck drops, his gloves dropping instantaneously.

I agree, they should have put Jones at center. Resolute called it. Westgarth was the reason for the fine, although logically he's still a forward. Does anyone think Hartley would have been fined if Jones was punted from the circle and Westgarth still ended up taking that draw?

They fined Hartley for trolling.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by timbit

Or...they don't want an out of position fighter taking the opening faceoff and, as the puck drops, his gloves dropping instantaneously.

I think you're missing the point tim (can I call you tim?).
By Bieksa taking the draw, it suggests he knows it's go time. He suckered Westgarth in, whose only fault is that he forgot that Bieksa is a cowardly spot-picker, who, all of a sudden, became a willing combatant when he thought he could win a fight.

[timbit]

Sure Iam.

Agree with Zamler...it was the optics. Nonetheless, the NHL was always going to fine Hartley.

Torts got played like a violin by Hartley.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

So these are basically the responses to the punishments:

Gillis: We respect the decision.

Burke: BULLSH..!

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

So these are basically the responses to the punishments:

Gillis: We respect the decision.

Burke: BULLSH..!

Burke doesn't want the brawl to end. Truculence forever!

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by timbit

Or...they don't want an out of position fighter taking the opening faceoff and, as the puck drops, his gloves dropping instantaneously.

One of my favorite Flames games ever, was the one where Neil Sheehy took the opening faceoff.

[AC]

Damn, apparently coaches are paid on a different schedule. So its 15/365 of his yearly salary, so roughly $82,000.

[CaptainCrunch]

Before the game tonight Hartley should fax his line up to the NHL with the question this alright?

[badradio]

Hartley should start the 4th line again tonight to send a message that the NHL can't dictate who he can or can not play. I think all coaches would agree (except fonzie.)

[HotHotHeat]

Why else would anybody love the Canucks? RT @Chris_in_VanBC I am beginning to think that @KeithOlbermann loves the #Canucks just because it gives him something to bitch about.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
#Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke (@Burkie2020) has issued a statement regarding Bob Hartley being fined by the #NHL:


Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
(1/2) I am perplexed by this fine. I stand behind Bob Hartley completely in this regard …

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
(2/2) and remain confident that he acted properly in every aspect of this game.

good to see the Flames management back Hartley I would expect nothing less from Burke. As a fan I support Hartley' decision to go with the 4th line. He gained the upperhand for the game. His team played as a team for one another and they battled every shift.
Hartley went with his gut that the turd Torts would take the bait.
Torts could have very easily flipped the script on Hartley and had his 1st line go out and try to get an early goal and put the the visiting Flames in a bad early situation.
Many coaches would not so easily fallen for that laid trap.
As for Burkes comment it was well said.

Hartley out coached Torts.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Man what an awesome game on Saturday. It certainly has added some spice to a season with a lot of losing.

Good for Burke to defend Hartley, I expected nothing less. I also think Torts is nuts but certainly adds some personality to the league, which I enjoy.

Either way everyone will be talking about the next Flames Nucks game, which is funny because it will be irrelevant in the standings.