[News] Gaudreau will have surgery to repair fractured finger (out ~6 weeks)

[The Fonz]

Is this a product of no longer having a nuclear deterrent dressed in the lineup?

[transplant99]

Not to get into some deeper conversation or anything...

BUT

this is the entire problem with the way the "game is going".

People didnt like fighting so they instituted the instigator rule...it ruined an entire aspect of the game.

If this team wasnt so poor at the PK, you could dress someone to take care of this stuff but instead you cant because of the worry of giving one up shorthanded.

The cries were loud and long years ago, by many, that taking fighting out would lead to much more stickwork...we are clearly seeing it come to fruition.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Is this a product of no longer having a nuclear deterrent dressed in the lineup?

No because it isn't just a plug hacking Gaudreau, even players like Staal and Koivu were doing it. So you have an enforcer in the line up, it's not like a Staal will fight him.

[flamesrule14]

Originally Posted by browna

JG has to drop his stick everytime he gets a legit whack...but even that gets some refs against the fact that JG is showing them up or trying to draw a call.

This is already an issue too though. How many times this season has Johnny got whacked lost the puck then stops and yells at the ref. it seems like the refs are already against him. They simply just are not calling it.

[1991 Canadian]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Like I mentioned in the game thread, it's time for Burke and Treliving do something, get some clips together and send to the league. Hundreds of different examples shouldn't be hard to make an extensive highlight reel. Totally unacceptable.

Heck, if they're too lazy to do it themselves, they should pay AC or Galaxy91122 (from Reddit) to do it for them.

You would think it is in the NHL's best interest to make sure their most entertaining players are not having their hands chopped off on a regular basis.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Alpine Fisher

I want Hathaway or Engelland to send a message to the next person that does this.

Gio should send a message.

Should be Gio IMO.

[dustygoon]

Bad calls against this team.....still some Wideman retribution by the refs?

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

No because it isn't just a plug hacking Gaudreau, even players like Staal and Koivu were doing it. So you have an enforcer in the line up, it's not like a Staal will fight him.

But I miss him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Bad calls against this team.....still some Wideman retribution by the refs?

I think the Flames had the majority of powerplay time. They missed the slashes and the crosscheck before Monahan's penalty but called pretty much everything else.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think the Flames had the majority of powerplay time. They missed the slashes and the crosscheck before Monahan's penalty but called pretty much everything else.

Except the multiple, blatant slashes to Gaudreau's hands that may have ultimately injured him... which spawned this discussion and thread.

Otherwise, great observation.

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Is this a product of no longer having a nuclear deterrent dressed in the lineup?

Yes I believe so. Coicidence. I think not. Suter or Parise or stall should be gathering their teeth by now.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not to get into some deeper conversation or anything...

BUT

this is the entire problem with the way the "game is going".

People didnt like fighting so they instituted the instigator rule...it ruined an entire aspect of the game.

If this team wasnt so poor at the PK, you could dress someone to take care of this stuff but instead you cant because of the worry of giving one up shorthanded.

The cries were loud and long years ago, by many, that taking fighting out would lead to much more stickwork...we are clearly seeing it come to fruition.

There isn't more stick work. You really think there's more stick work now than before?

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

There isn't more stick work. You really think there's more stick work now than before?

There is less stick work, just more noticeable in today's game. There would be less if the team would answer.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think the Flames had the majority of powerplay time. They missed the slashes and the crosscheck before Monahan's penalty but called pretty much everything else.

Number of penalties don't matter if the refs are trying to stick it to the team (not sure this is the case or not....can't finish watching a game these days to tell). Its the blind eye to slashes like this which would be enough. Or never call anything on Wideman.

Hrudey was so adamant on HNIC of all places that the team got stiffed for a run of 5 or so games by the refs last year after the wideman incident.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not to get into some deeper conversation or anything...

BUT

this is the entire problem with the way the "game is going".

People didnt like fighting so they instituted the instigator rule...it ruined an entire aspect of the game.

If this team wasnt so poor at the PK, you could dress someone to take care of this stuff but instead you cant because of the worry of giving one up shorthanded.

The cries were loud and long years ago, by many, that taking fighting out would lead to much more stickwork...we are clearly seeing it come to fruition.

The instigator rule has been in place for 24 years. Somewhere along the line since then dressing a goon just allowed your goon to fight a staged fight against the other teams goon. That was no deterrent to anything.

The arguments at the time were that stick work was going to be more dangerous to players than fighting was. Well, the science of head injuries has completely reversed that equation. With what we know about head injuries, it is pretty disgusting that the nhl even allows fighting to the extent it does now.

If star players (or any players for that matter) are missing games due to slashes on the hands, then it is time for the nhl to consistently crack down on it, stick to the ruling and let it leave the game. It always amazes me that the nhl cannot bring itself to consistently call its rules and establish thresholds for when they should be called. Instead they follow Bettman's misguided attempts to manage the excitement of games at the expense of the integrity of the game.

[JiriHrdina]

^Great post. 100% agree.
And shocking coming from a user named nfotiu!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Number of penalties don't matter if the refs are trying to stick it to the team (not sure this is the case or not....can't finish watching a game these days to tell). Its the blind eye to slashes like this which would be enough. Or never call anything on Wideman.

Hrudey was so adamant on HNIC of all places that the team got stiffed for a run of 5 or so games by the refs last year after the wideman incident.

Not arguing that they were. I don't think tonight was an example. They certainly didn't call the slashes but overall I don't think they punished the Flames for Wideman tonight.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Except the multiple, blatant slashes to Gaudreau's hands that may have ultimately injured him... which spawned this discussion and thread.

Otherwise, great observation.

Thanks. I was responding to the notion that the refs not calling anything in Calgary's favour. Do you think they've refined their Wideman retribution to just not calling penalties taken against Gaudreau.

[robbie111]

Hope Johnny is Ok. Might need to invent titanium wrist guards if the refs continue to turn a blind eye to all the slashing.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not to get into some deeper conversation or anything...

BUT

this is the entire problem with the way the "game is going".

People didnt like fighting so they instituted the instigator rule...it ruined an entire aspect of the game.

If this team wasnt so poor at the PK, you could dress someone to take care of this stuff but instead you cant because of the worry of giving one up shorthanded.

The cries were loud and long years ago, by many, that taking fighting out would lead to much more stickwork...we are clearly seeing it come to fruition.

Hockey can be dirty in many subtle, and not so subtle ways.

Players will find ways to take out their frustrations on opponents that make them look bad...and I think we all agree that Johnny has the skill to do that. The frequent slashing of Johnny is obviously subtle enough to be disregarded by the refs. And I agree there must be a way to make it stop, or we may lose him.

The most not so subtle, or blatant example of this was Team Canada's Clarke's two handed slash on the Russian team's Kharlamov, which broke his ankle and changed the outcome of the series.

I think the best players are always going to be vulnerable, and there must be ways put in place to protect them. The first step I think is for the the Flames and NHL to immediately alert, and reprimand in some cases, the referees in overlooking the slashes on Johnny.