Grass&sOIL: I just wanna add that I have my own selfish reason for wanting the gear changed. Now I don’t like seeing players getting injured but my main reasoning for changing the gear is so big hits can be kept in the game without players careers being in jeopardy. I am in shock about those shoulder pads at the 4:15 mark of the above “Coaches Corner” video. They look like something that belongs in a Transformers movie. I didn’t think that they had gotten that bad. If Steven’s had been using those pads when he hit Lindros then Lindros would be dead.

I don’t think that’s selfish as I believe the league would want the same outcome. Somebody has to start listening to the obvious. Thanksfully, Shannahan’s shoulderpads are the same ones he’s had since about age 16. They are like Coffey’s old ones. Basically some stitched together padding and velcro. None of this armor the players wear now.

I am in shock about those shoulder pads at the 4:15 mark of the above “Coaches Corner” video. They look like something that belongs in a Transformers movie. I didn’t think that they had gotten that bad. If Steven’s had been using those pads when he hit Lindros then Lindros would be dead.

*3:40 mark they start talking about the gear

*look at the shoulder pads at the 4:15 mark, are you freaking kidding me???

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/CBC%27s_Hockey_Night_in_Canada/1237534952/ID=1982244711

This past few weeks Don has been real good. I don’t think I recall hearing Don make as much sense as he has and sound so rational. For some reason I think this may be his last year on HNIC(doesn’t want to leave on a controversial note????).

I love big hits as much as the next guy, but when a guy lies on the ice like Horton did, you really got to take a look at the rules again. I’m curious.. would you consider the Stevens on Lindros hit hit a blindside hit? It was incredibly devistating. It was an east/west hit, but the players were basically going head on towards each other… Lindros cut across the ice and skated directly towards Stevens for a bit (not long, granted, but he was skating that way) when Stevens nailed him. The problem was that Lindros had his head down in this case.

So yah, what’s the problem with those hits? (The Horton and the Lindros types) Definitely players have to keep their heads up, for sure. No doubt about it. But it’s also got to be embedded in players heads too (like the stop sign on the back of young players to prevent hitting from behind) that nailing a guy that can’t see it coming is a no-no.

I admit, I could see those kinds of hits all day. But I do hate too that they usually come with a big consequence (the receiving player being injured pretty badly).

It sounds like the league is on the same page as what I said.. (or the GMs are). From what I understand, the majority would like the verbiage changed to not just be blindside hits but also encompass the “unsuspecting” hits. Let’s face it, they’re just as dangerous. They can very easily end careers too or, at the very least, seasons.

As for the body positioning thing, fully aware of this rule (i.e. what is interference and what isn’t).. bang on. But I think when people talk about late hits, they’re obviously talking about hits where the player isn’t just standing on “their ice”. The late hits that people hate are the ones like Chara’s (where he laterally moved and steered Pacioretty towards the stanchion) and Rome’s (where, as you noted, he skated forward and stood up Horton and the blueline).

For me the big issue is any hit that a receiving-end player can’t probably defend himself from (so, blindside.. head down… hit from behind..). The league needs to make a rule to prevent each of those. Blindside and head down (i.e. “unsuspecting hits”) can all fall under one rule, but sure, yes, the severity can be different.

It’s tough though… really, you start doing that, and you allow guys to walk in unharmed into the defensive zone too, which in no way is good either. So it’s a tough thing to really enforce. I just hate seeing guys careers cut short. A lot of the onus definitely needs to be on the hit-ee though, for sure.

/endmastersthesis

YOu likely know better than anyone else on this board that i have always made the horton threads and gone gush over the guy. But Rome intended to hurt? His body language of exploding into the check says so. That can be a subconscious prep to a big hit without an actual knock out thought.

Another thought comes to mind. Late hits have to be ended. YOu have your window. once the window is gone… you DISENGAGE. To me timing doesnt matter as much as position. Everything to me is chess. Its fairly simplistic actually. YOu can change your body position to check until the puck mover no longer has possession (if its in his feet or he is playing it off the boards to himself or putting it to your feet… he STILL HAS POSSESSION and you can take him). After the player releases possession of the puck you can no longer change your body space to engage in a hit. THus Romes hit of lining to nail Horton while Horton took 2 strides… would be no question illegal. Now… If Rome holds his ground and doesnt approach Horton (which he clearly did) and stands Horton up than its legal. THe difference in this part is engagement. Rome clearly changed his body position and defensive retreat to line up Horton. Also Standing Up is allowed… but NOT Stepping up. You cant change body position in an act of engagement to check a player who doesnt have possession.

Hopefully with a bigger focus on body position we can get more consistency in interference calls. Your base is your body position. its yours. Your arms and stick ARE NOT Your body position.

This is actually how everything was supposed to be after the forward pass was allowed.

Blind side hits should be a huge suspension. Not games; weeks, months for plugs.

Rack I believe you and i are on the same page on most of these things so it will be interesting to hear your take on the above. Ive always felt timing should go out the window… it should all be based on body position. IF rome stands there and horton releases the puck and rome maintains body position… i say its Hortons damn fault if he gets corked … EVEN if its 5 hrs later.