Comments on: Ruff Fined $10,000 for Goon Squad Line

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:20:59 +0000

Good summary Jim. I agree with much of what you said.

Lifting an elbow after a hit is often pointed to as evidence of an elbow. It was clearly a clean hit. If the moaners want a penalty (read the comments to the youtube clip), what should it be? It is not charging, interference or roughing. There would have to be a new rule specifically against hits to the head which is very subjective as football has discovered.

I’m not sure if Murray is sheepish about putting the Spezza line out or not.

As for the NHL’s presence in America, they are trying to appeal to the NASCAR crowd, but it doesn’t matter, support is way down now compared to 10-15 years ago and they are more established in the southern US markets where they should be able to draw that NASCAR crowd they think is their market. Instead of speaking out of both sides of their mouths, loving the violence and downplaying it at the same time, they should run it like a normal league. Suspend people who should be suspended. The fact is people understand what hockey is down there, and playing it up as one thing or another won’t change its image.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:06:12 +0000

My thoughts are…
I think the hit was fine. The hit occurred immediately after Drury released the puck, and with the speed of the game a player cannot be expected to change his intentions in that short of a time frame. As can be seen on video, there was no elbow.
After the hit, fight breaks out… fine. Part of the game, clean hit or not.
Then Ruff goes all ballistic saying that there was an elbow. Referee was right on this one and the coach is wrong (if it’s the other way around the Ref is in deep trouble, but I guess a coach can spout off as much as he wants and be wrong, and never have to admit afterwards that he was wrong).
Then Ruff wants revenge so he sticks out the ‘meatballs’(I believe the game was in Buffalo so he gets last change). Murray makes the mistake of not having any ‘meatballs’ on the ice, and in fact has the exact opposite of ‘meatballs’ on the ice. Murray still feels sheepish about this error.
Whoever Buffalo’s center is goes after Spezza, and it’s on.
Anyways, I guess the NHL doesn’t have objective rules about multiple fights. The goalies fighting is just silly (why is the cameraman paying so much attention to them?) and the Buffalo skater fighting the goalie is stupid and you would think something more severe should happen to him with it being a second fight. Again I’m surprised that there aren’t rules in place for this.
Anyways, I guess all I’ve done is summed up the brawl. :(
Ruff should be suspended, especially for making the ‘run ‘em’ statement. He should also offer an apology because this all occurred because he thought he saw something that he didn’t see (yeah… like that’s gonna happen).
Me thinks there’s more behind all of this. I don’t follow the NHL really, but one guess is that Ruff has been harping on his team to be tougher or something and this is how he chose to get more from his players.

In the end, I personally don’t mind stuff like this. It’s entertaining to me. I really don’t care what American fans think about hockey, and I think the whole ‘hockey is too violent for Americans’ is a big joke (they’re some of the most violent people on earth). Hockey is a violent sport. You have to watch yourself, play smart, and not admire your passes. Guys don’t skate around trying to hit other players in the head… but it’s gonna happen sometimes. The games too fast and a sport where players hold back is hardly a sport at all.
You’d think the NHLPA would be a little more concerned about head injuries (develope a better helmet, wear mouthguards properly). And if players don’t want to do their helmet straps up…. then I guess they don’t value their career very highly, so why should I?
Maybe Ruff should direct his anger at Drury.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:47:16 +0000

Yes, this one is the longest and starts with the hit Ottawa-Buffalo Line Brawl Feb 22/2007 I liked Emery's post-game comments about Ruff throwing three meatballs in the ice (not included in above clip). Ottawa got their revenge last night, winning 6-5 with a couple fights between the meatballs.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:09:57 +0000

ahhh…. youtube… of course.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:00:54 +0000

Is there video of this somewhere on the net?