Hockey Trash Talk & BS thread

Unintentional head hits happen. When they happen often by the same player it’s not unintentional. This missed hit by Trouba clearly shows his head hits are intentional.
https://youtu.be/8pNIJiWf9eQ

 

I think they are unintentional, I think that's just his style of play and occasionally he tags a head, this is only a small % of his hits and we are basically pulling them into highlight reels. Trouba is a big guy so hes already taller than most and he's putting his shoulder out and leaning in to hits to protect himself as well. don't get me wrong, I'm sure everyone gets mad and stretches a bit but it's not that common.

In the video above they mention the attempted check on Palat was a dirty check and I disagree. Trouba has already committed to the check while Palat ducks down to avoid it so if the hit connected it's just as well Palat's fault. This is the same issue we see in the NFL with helmet to helmet hits and roughing the QB, a player will often commit to the tackle only for the QB to slide or a player to duck their head at the last moment however, the the offensive players is always given the benefit.

 

Palat and Trouba’s shoulders were even initially. Had Trouba remained at that position for a shoulder to shoulder hit that would have been a clean hit. Instead Trouba launched himself upward and swung his elbow and shoulder up for a head hit - a fact you totally ignored. Palat knew his dirty play and smartly ducked.

Trouba is a dirty player, I agree with the proof in the video and the reviewers comments stating the same, and disagree with you.

 

That’s not ignored it's completely moot, that basic technique for a check, nobody just skates stiff and coasts into someone else. You extend legs and lean into the check, we see guys extend their arms on check all the time as well.

Palat didn’t duck because it was dirty he was simply side stepping a check, again this happens ALL the time. It’s normal for players to do this.

It' a basic shoulder check, he tucked his elbow tight initially and only extended it in anticipation of the hit, super easy and super lame to be overly critical of a super slow mo replay

 

In a typical shoulder check legs are extended when contact is made but not to the extent you yank your shoulder and arm up so high even before contact as to contact the head. I know the difference in an extension and jumping up lol. In one video you see Trouba’s skate leave the ice as he jumps up, call that leaning in if you want but I go with the reality of the videos. You’re blowing smoke here imho.

 

I can't look at every incident and use that to decide the one we just saw. A guy like that usually walks the line of being dirty. Not every hit is dirty but not every hit is clean. He kind of reminds me of a modern day Kronwall. He looks to punish guys, he sometimes take a shot when they are vulnerable, so in that respect it is predatory. but that doesn't mean every time someone gets smoked, that he is in the wrong. The lightning hit would've been bad. Def went with the elbow/forearm leading at the head. The Sid hit I thought would've been clean but he chicken-winged his elbow up. If not for that, I had no issue with it. The other ones seemed fine. I may not have watched them all. But point being, in my opinion, Meier doesn't get a free pass to enter the zone, because he was looking at his skate laces. When you cross the blue line, you need to know a hit can be coming. and being bent forward, looking down etc is only going to 1) make you a target 2) probably get you hurt since you are not aware the hit is coming. Head up and likely that hit is just routine or a non-factor.

 

Yes, I agree to some extent. It potentially looks worse because the arm is expecting body contact. So it rising up just could be because he wiffed and his arm kept going. That's why I would need to see the actual hit to judge. Basing it off of "could be's" accomplishes nothing. Also Even if that one was bad, it shouldn't change whether or not another instance follows the rulebook completely. Certainly some guys shouldn't get benefit of the doubt. And if it is clearly dirty, then he shouldn't but this time it's a clean open ice check within the rules. it just looked way worse because Meir got too comfortable and didn't anticipate a potential hit.

 

I’m sure JoeCova will be along shortly to explain why Trouba’s chicken wing hit on Crosby was totally legit.

 

Ya I mean, like I said, he certainly walks that line and does cross it. No doubt about that. I'm not defending him necessarily, but a lot of noise online about "getting those hits out of the game." I just dont see that particular hit as anything wrong. Meier skating head down, not paying attention is partially on him. The hit was through the center of the body, if his head isn't down. If that becomes illegal then fwds have free reign to enter the zone, puck watching and dmen can't make hits. It just wouldn't work, so you'd have to essentially remove open ice hits, to be able to ref that. I don't think it should go down that road but maybe I'm in minority at this point.

 

I wouldn’t kick either of em outa the bed if you asked me to

 

Youre not in the minority, hockey fans know it will ruin the game.

If you are referring to the YT video you linked, its a really hard angle to see but looks completely clean, ya his elbow flaired vertical but you cant see actual contact and have you actually tried putting your arm in that angle? It's pretty damn hard much less actually have any force on it. It's pretty petty, most players play on the edge.

Also know that elbowing is a minor penalty so its not like its being thrown indiscriminately.

 

lol knew you wouldn’t let me down.
The only thing “hockey fans know” that’s actual fact is that they frequently don’t agree.
On to the games for me now.

 

Theres only a couple of hits that I would consider dirty which are pretty limited to defenseless players, checks to the back, checks to blind side, any kind of boarding etc.

20 years ago I would watch John Lynch wreck people on a football field yet no one called it dirty, today they would almost all be illegal.

If we start calling some flaired elbows dirty then we might as well take the pads off and give them dresses. Instead of Hockey we could call it puck dancing, maybe instead of sticks we give them ribbons.

 

Pretty hilarious that Timo’s highlight of that series was getting trucked by Trouba. Didn’t have a goal and maybe 1 assist? Otherwise he was a ghost.

I agree. Keep your head up and you won’t get crushed.

RIP my Rags , but TBH Devils wanted it more. Oilers now are my team for the rest of the playoffs.

 

You can’t stop can you. I’ll make this my last post and then you can throw out a final smoke blowing straw man comment.

Rules changes and stricter enforcement by Player Safety is needed and many are calling for that. Hockey will always be a rough sport, no need for so many unnecessary injuries by players who are know to inflict far more than the average.

Using your flawed logic for what is manly let’s just allow whacks with the stick, blind side hits. A Real battle fest, less some random dude on an internet forum start talking girlie and dresses. lol

 

If you ladies are done swinging your purses for today

fuck all your teams

Go My Dallas
Go My Jamie Benn

Your #1 long time fan here

 

Now this was funny. A rarity from you. lol

 

It's a tough call. I for sure think times evolve. I don't expect today's hockey to be like 90's hockey. I think the game in general has already changed to a more skill game, for better or worse. But there have been some measures taken targeting player safety. I still don't like most hits from behind, boards, slewfoots, knee on knee, high elbows etc. To me, stuff like that is usually relatively easy to call out as unnecessary. But open ice hits when you are square to the player, are where it's not as easy to police as ppl make it out to be. You can't make a ref decide if a hit is too hard. You can't just say "no head contact" because in hockey the puck is sliding on the ice, so there is tendency for players to look down etc. Also, I just don't subscribe to the idea that fwds can advance into your zone skating head down, puck watching and make it so D-men can't hit you square. It just doesn't make sense and would be harder to ref than it is now. The rule now is pretty clear. It has the added point, knowing that players skating-position, especially if puck watching, makes it impossible to avoid head contact if you are even attempting to hit square. That being said, Trouba is very good at catching guys in those moments and sometimes crossing the line.

 

Dallas always in the mix. Kinda would love to see Pavelski get a cup, but McJesus deserves it more at this point. I want to see him and Leon go on a little run like the 80’s oilers with Gretz and Messier and get a few this decade.

 

I’m going with home ice advantage (for the little it’s worth) for tonight’s picks, So Leafs and Stars.