OT: Will 2011-12 be a nasty NHL season?

[icehogfan08]

It has been said the NHL is a copycat league. That is, whichever team wins the Stanley Cup will influence how their rivals build for the next season. Based on both the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, that means we’re headed for one dirty year.

In fact, the imitations began much before the 2011 Cup was even hoisted. David Steckel’s “oops, didn’t see you there,” collision with Sidney Crosby - the beginning of the end for The Kid’s campaign - was mirrored almost perfectly by Andrew Ference on Jeff Halpern in Boston’s playoff victory over Montreal a few months later.

But there is no better example of this than new Phoenix Coyote Raffi Torres. Snapped up on Day 1 of free agency this summer, Torres made several runs over the line of good sportsmanship in the playoffs, beginning with his terrorizing of Chicago’s Brent Seabrook’s head while still a member of the Canucks.

It’s a classic case of the guy you hate until he’s on your team. I’m sure Phoenix players saw red on certain occasions when they had to go up against the rock-hard hitter and grinder, but they’re sure happy to see him wearing the color now.

On a related note, if your team still needs a fighter in its lineup, your choices are limited. Players such as Wade Belak, David Koci and Mitch Fritz are still out there, but Zack Stortini, Cam Janssen, Darcy Hordichuk and Ben Eager were snapped up long ago. Meanwhile, skill players such as Kyle Wellwood and Chris Campoli wait by the phone. I’m not saying this is wrong, but it is interesting to see where the market was this summer.

The big question will be the league’s tolerance for the diving and antics that characterized what was otherwise an excellent final (in terms of emotional bang for your buck - the blowouts were a bit weird) between Boston and Vancouver. Yes, finger-biting is never going to be encouraged, but with players finding ever more creative ways to hurt each other - pasting Mason Raymond into the boards after folding him up like a lawn chair, for example - the NHL must be prepared to “think outside the box” when it comes to discipline and how the game is governed.

This week’s Research and Development Camp was a great step, particularly the advent of the “Bear-Hug Rule,” which was posited as a way to curb hits from behind. At this point I think it’s fair to acknowledge the speed of today’s game puts attacking checkers at a disadvantage when they go in for a big hit. The puck possessor can look awfully innocent even when he turns slightly away from his attacker, as the aggressor slams into him for an inevitable hitting-from-behind penalty. But if the checker was allowed to grab said puck carrier and guide him into the boards, he has both neutralized the offensive threat and spared his fellow man an in-game snack of plexiglass.

Is it a return to clutch-and-grab? Nah. Just a pragmatic view on something that is becoming obvious: A lot of these plays are a game of chicken between the puck carrier who dares the checker to hit him from behind and the attacker who probably never liked that guy anyway.

The diving is the biggest thing. The Canucks cried wolf a few times too often and it cost them when the refs stopped listening. It would behoove the NHL to make sure teams don’t go all “soccer” on us in October, because that’s a season of hockey I don’t want to see.

Will 2011-12 be a nasty NHL season?

 

[Uman85]

If nasty = Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup, then hell yes!

 

[TheChicagoFan]

If nasty = Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup, then hell yes!

:yeah:

 

[icehogfan08]

I wish they would get rid of the Instigator rule, that would cut down on some hits of guys who wouldn't normally do it.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I voted Scott FTW just to keep things spicy.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

No.

If the league didn't turn into a slug fest after Anaheim won it all (thugs!), Boston winning it by slapping around a team of soft mental midgets won't change anything either. If anything, all that series did was expose Vancouver to the rest of the league.

Also, depending on what happens with Crosby (if he misses the start of the year or especially if he's injured again), the league could take some drastic measures in favor of player safety.

 

[Jntg4]

I voted for all 3 options...

 

[LonghornBob]

I hate to say this, but because I don't buy into the "like him when he's on your team" crap I'm willing to admit I'm gonna have a hard time warming up to Carcillo. I hate that cheap shot chippy shit.

Good, honest, shouldn'ta had your head down when you carried the puck in, clean hard-checking hockey is what I'm for. Not some European wimpy shit or the goon shit.

My biggest fear is that we lose someone like Kane for an extended period because of something Special person that gets done by Mayers or Carcillo or Montador.

It works both ways. I know we want those guys to protect Kane and Little Ben from cheap shots, but if they tart taking cheap shots, which we've ALL seen some of the new guys do, our kids are gonna be in harm's way too...

For that reason I'm voting yes and I'm scared to admit it but pretty sure that we're gonna go a stretch without somebody thanks to a retaliation hit.

 

[Gunzaan]

Based off the article, my vote is "no." Last year wasn't nasty at all, IMO. The Bruins were "tougher" then Vancouver and hit them around but that really doesn't take much to do. So, sure, it's a copycat league and teams like the Blackhawks bolstered their rosters with "tougher" guys but that in no way means nasty.

 

[Captain Iago]

No.

If the league didn't turn into a slug fest after Anaheim won it all (thugs!), Boston winning it by slapping around a team of soft mental midgets won't change anything either. If anything, all that series did was expose Vancouver to the rest of the league.

Also, depending on what happens with Crosby (if he misses the start of the year or especially if he's injured again), the league could take some drastic measures in favor of player safety.

The Nucks were already exposed and Julien was a slow learner. The introduction of Thornton to the lineup really made a huge difference, but didn't come until game 3 or so.

 

[Captain Iago]

Based off the article, my vote is "no." Last year wasn't nasty at all, IMO. The Bruins were "tougher" then Vancouver and hit them around but that really doesn't take much to do. So, sure, it's a copycat league and teams like the Blackhawks bolstered their rosters with "tougher" guys but that in no way means nasty.

The SCF was kinda nasty both ways.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

The SCF was kinda nasty both ways.

Yep. Both were hitting hard. The big difference was that Lucic, a guy who could hit, was also a guy who could score. The Sedins took punches to the face.

 

[tbo41fan]

Yep. Both were hitting hard. The big difference was that Lucic, a guy who could hit, was also a guy who could score. The Sedins took punches to the face.

Lucic is a boss...would love him wearing the indian head

 

[nwfisch]

NHL is trying to eliminate this sort of thing.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Lucic is a boss...would love him wearing the indian head

I would love Lucic on the Hawks. He's such an awesome player.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

The Nucks were already exposed and Julien was a slow learner. The introduction of Thornton to the lineup really made a huge difference, but didn't come until game 3 or so.

Physicality/tough guy hockey or the lack of it wasn't why Boston dropped the first two games though. Game 1 was a goaltending battle which Luongo won and Game 2 was decided by a fluke overtime goal.

Game 3 is where the series got it's identity with the hit on Horton and Boston.