[News] Kassian to have hearing with NHL **Assessed a two-game suspension**

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rikster

...The Tkachuk hits were in my opinion one of the most cowardly things you can do on a sheet of ice...

That's rich, and utterly, unabashedly hyperbolic.

If you honestly feel this way, then I expect you to begin a campaign against every one of the dozens of players who deliver these sorts of on-the-edge type of hits with significant regularity in a high number of NHL games. This post here (your first in over a year) has much more to do with the fact that you are a Canucks fan than it does with your manufactured indignation.

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The first hit: Borderline but only because the position Kassian is in. Nothing that Tkachuk does here really screams terrible hit (doesn't launch, no elbow, most contact is made with his hip), and live at full speed the announcers didn't even mention it. But when you slow it down you see how vulnerable of a position Kassian is in with his head so low.

I get why the fan base doesn't like this one but really Kassian can't put himself in that position reaching for the puck like that in that area of the ice.

Second Hit: To me this is 100% clean. Shoulder to shoulder, he turns and glides into the hit, and he makes sure he comes from an angle so that it's not boarding. This hit looks way worse than it was because Kassian doesn't know how to tie up his chin strap.

Third Hit: The cleanest of the bunch. Hard, square, and really rocked Kassian. Great hit.

This sums up my thoughts perfectly!

I had to re-watch the first hit a few times to see that the point of contact is Tkachuk's hip into Kassian's shoulder. The snapping of his neck/head makes it look pretty bad but the primary point of contact/force is hip to shoulder.

I suspect people see the first two hits has predatory because Kassian has no idea he's being lined up as his focus is elsewhere. This speaks to the need for situational awareness on Kassian's part. Essentially, "keep your head up" or at least be aware of where your exposure is.

The third hit is, without question, a great body check and I'm happy that Tkachuk didn't change his game up after the altercation. It put a big smile on my face!

As for him turtling? Not that he should ever have to "answer the bell" for throwing big hits (especially on a non-star player but even this shouldn't matter), it's asinine to think that allowable/acceptable play should require that you defend yourself. It's like grabbing someone after they've scored a goal, a completely acceptable part of the game, and going ape#### gorilla on them because you're upset (yes, I understand body checks and goal scoring are different aspects of the game but I'm trying to illustrate that they are both acceptable parts of it and neither should trigger a physical altercation).

[calgarygringo]

I am old school and played more high level hockey than most have in my life. What ever happened to the old saying of getting his number and go out next shift and get even. He is just a big bully and trying to take advantage of his size and fighting ability. How is that going to work if Reeves grabs a hold of Mcdavid against Vegas. Do you really think Reeves is going to be making such a deal like this. He know the guys that are not going to drop the gloves or he may end up doing a lot of damage and get a long suspension. This whole thing is just a lot of bs.

[TheIronMaiden]

Not having your head down when you carry the puck into scoring position is the first lesson of contact hockey. Calling someone 'predatory' for removing the player from the puck when they are in scoring position is laughable. It was a hockey play. The whole Tkachuk was trying to hurt him angle is silly. If he wanted to hurt him, he easily could have, but instead he slowed down and hip checked him last minute, removed him from the puck, and moved into position up ice for the breakout.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Quick look on hockeyfights confirms Kassian has never won a fight vs a Flames player. That's including his time in VAN

Kassian entire fighting strategy is hoping the guy he's fighting doesn't realize he's a lefty and get a jump on the guy.

Originally Posted by btimbit

That's the rumour at least

https://twitter.com/user/status/1213505072232976390

This would suck just for losing Ball/Hrudey.

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I totally agree, it would just escalate and those guys would take their own runs. Rinaldo, anyway - Lucic is more likely to just get in a couple of fights, I think. But that's not much consolation if someone in the Flames' top 6 / top 4 ends up with a concussion or some other injury.

Does this stuff ever happen? A weird myth for a guy named Corsi to believe in.

[Bear]

If Tkachuk were a coward we'd have seen a completely different pattern of behaviour. He'd have gone after Yamamoto not Kassian. He'd have tried to avoid Kassian the rest of the game not continued to seek out further altercations. He'd have avoided the hard areas of the ice himself in fear of retribution, not lived around the crease for the rest of the game.

Chucky can be accused of being underhand, sneaky and a bit dirty but I don't see any basis to accuse him of cowardice. He takes a phenomenal amount of abuse game in game out and is selfless in his conscious decision not to react for the benefit of the team. Even when he was a skinny kid he was happy to stand in the crease getting destroyed by much bigger men. He's one of the bravest players I've seen in Flames silks.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That's rich, and utterly, unabashedly hyperbolic.

If you honestly feel this way, then I expect you to begin a campaign against every one of the dozens of players who deliver these sorts of on-the-edge type of hits with significant regularity in a high number of NHL games. This post here (your first in over a year) has much more to do with the fact that you are a Canucks fan than it does with your manufactured indignation.

Zach Kassian has laid out far dirtier hits in his career, and lots of them, the guy is a complete dirtbag when it comes to giving a crap about other players or having any kind of respect for the whole code thing.


Anyone who thinks that MT track record even compares to Kassian is a delusional idiot.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bear

If Tkachuk were a coward we'd have seen a completely different pattern of behaviour. He'd have gone after Yamamoto not Kassian. He'd have tried to avoid Kassian the rest of the game not continued to seek out further altercations. He'd have avoided the hard areas of the ice himself in fear of retribution, not lived around the crease for the rest of the game.

Chucky can be accused of being underhand, sneaky and a bit dirty but I don't see any basis to accuse him of cowardice. He takes a phenomenal amount of abuse game in game out and is selfless in his conscious decision not to react for the benefit of the team. Even when he was a skinny kid he was happy to stand in the crease getting destroyed by much bigger men. He's one of the bravest players I've seen in Flames silks.

1. Player A lays two legal checks on Player B.
2. Player B attacks Player A from behind, without giving Player A the opportunity to defend himself.
3. Player A lays a third legal check on Player B.

**corrupt database**

5. Player A is coward.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Titan

...Boomer and Sarich think the punishment was adequate as it was 14 minutes in-game and the player was in the box when the GWG was scored. They think that was enough. I don't really agree with that but in that context, 2 games seem to be fine to me...

I really hate this line of thinking that is so frustratingly prevalent in the NHL. League disciplinary action should not be beholden to whatever happens in the game. It's utterly ridiculous that Kassian's actions would be deemed differently had the Flames not scored on the powerplay, or if Tkachuk had been seriously injured in the altercation. The penalty should follow from the action in isolation of the game result. On it's own, Kassian should have at minimum been assessed 2 + 5 and a game misconduct, and then additionally suspended for multiple games.

[Rikster]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That's rich, and utterly, unabashedly hyperbolic.

If you honestly feel this way, then I expect you to begin a campaign against every one of the dozens of players who deliver these sorts of on-the-edge type of hits with significant regularity in a high number of NHL games. This post here (your first in over a year) has much more to do with the fact that you are a Canucks fan than it does with your manufactured indignation.

No, my opinion doesn't have a jersey bias...

As usual you go all drama queen with the bolded comment and in reality you should be directing your comments to the growing list of current and former players who have spoken out against Tkachuk ...

Hyperbolic? That's interesting considering you are the one on the deserted Island when it comes to the general consensus around the league on Tkachuks actions and subsequent turtling...

[memphusk]

I love turtles. Absolutely delicious. Especially with extra salt.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Rikster

Consider me a parrot for the opinion of almost everyone inside the game who has spoken out...

It was dirty and it was cowardly and more importantly it was dangerous which is the reason the NFL took it out of their game...

On that the majority would agree...

On the Kassian reaction, I have mixed opinions...

On one hand I think Tkachuk deserved to be rag dolled and on the other hand I think it was excessive and deserved a game or two suspension...

I think the reason so many current and former players have spoken out against Tkachuk is that he wasn't penalized during or after the game and the players understand how dangerous his play was...

How are three clean body checks, albeit targeted, dangerous? Or cowardly for that matter. He's just doing things that he's well within his rights to do.

[Robbob]

Every big hit is targeted. It is called playing the body. This whole targeted hitting is dangerous stuff is just ridiculous. It happens, players get blown up like that. There is probably a hit like that every night a game is played. What that game was is a playoff officiated game. If they hated that then they must not watch playoff hockey.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Rikster

No, my opinion doesn't have a jersey bias...

Nonsense. Every single one of us suffers from a jersey bias.

As usual you go all drama queen with the bolded comment and in reality you should be directing your comments to the growing list of current and former players who have spoken out against Tkachuk ...

If I had the platform to do so I most certainly would. But you are here so that will have to do.

Hyperbolic? That's interesting considering you are the one on the deserted Island when it comes to the general consensus around the league on Tkachuks actions and subsequent turtling...

Popular opinion can be hyperbolic. The issue here is not what Joe Media or Bob Hockey Player thinks. The issue is the rather bewildering level of indignation that a handful of public figures have stooped to in their assessment of the situation. Labelling three legal body checks as "the most cowardly things you can do on a sheet of ice" is the very definition of melodramatic hyperbole.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Rikster

No, my opinion doesn't have a jersey bias...

As usual you go all drama queen with the bolded comment and in reality you should be directing your comments to the growing list of current and former players who have spoken out against Tkachuk ...

Hyperbolic? That's interesting considering you are the one on the deserted Island when it comes to the general consensus around the league on Tkachuks actions and subsequent turtling...

That's because the only people who care enough to talk about it are Flames and Oiler fans. Everyone else is either mildly amused, or doesn't have strong enough of an opinion to share it. The Oilers are one of the most popular franchises in hockey, there will be a 'consensus ' because their bias is the majority.

The reality is, that outside of some good banter, and entertaining hockey, it is a discussion of zero consequence. Fortunately, because no one was hurt, and because no one was hurt (except for Kassian's and Oiler fans feelings). It is not a big deal.

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

For what it's worth, Tkachuk the turtle, is Keanu, the resident CP baby Reeves Turtle's favourite player. For obvious reasons.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

For what it's worth, Tkachuk the turtle, is Keanu, the resident CP baby Reeves Turtle's favourite player. For obvious reasons.

Can you write this in English so the rest of us can understand what point you are trying to make?

[Rikster]

Every single one of us suffers from a jersey bias.

Because you have a bias doesn't mean that we all do...And your bias is on full display...

Popular opinion can be hyperbolic. The issue here is not what Joe Media or Bob Hockey Player thinks. The issue is the rather bewildering level of indignation that a handful of public figures have stooped to in their assessment of the situation. Labelling three legal body checks as "the most cowardly things you can do on a sheet of ice" is the very definition of melodramatic hyperbole.

No, they are and the fact that those who have played the game at the highest level agree puts you on that deserted Island...As for the hits being legal, it will be interesting to see if the league uses this incident as a catalyst for rule changes similar to what the NFL owners did...And I didn't label them, I gave my opinion...

And for a young player, Tkachuk is developing a disturbing resume of questionable conduct on the ice ...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Rikster

And for a young player, Tkachuk is developing a disturbing resume of questionable conduct on the ice ...

Really? He hasn’t been suspended in more than two years.

McDavid has been suspended for questionable on ice conduct more recently.

And Tkachuk’s last two suspensions, both for unsportsmanlike conduct, would be hard to define as dirty, never mind disturbing. They were unsportsmanlike conduct sure, but neither of them had even a 1% chance of injuring anyone - they were both fairly gentle taps.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Rikster

Because you have a bias doesn't mean that we all do...And your bias is on full display...



No, they are and the fact that those who have played the game at the highest level agree puts you on that deserted Island...As for the hits being legal, it will be interesting to see if the league uses this incident as a catalyst for rule changes similar to what the NFL owners did...And I didn't label them, I gave my opinion...

And for a young player, Tkachuk is developing a disturbing resume of questionable conduct on the ice ...

Why would a rule change be required if you think the hits are illegal?