NHL 2010-2011: Rick Rypien

Morro wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I'm more upset that the Boston fans were chanting "Go Bruins" while Raymond was lying on the ice, and they didn't applaud when he was helped off. I'm upset that the hit isn't being reviewed and Boychuk won't be suspended, let alone penalized. I'm upset that Thornton can shoot a puck at Luongo and yap it him during warm-up with no repercussions. I'm upset that Marchand can punch Daniel Sedin in the head five times, but Daniel gets the misconduct call.

Boston doesn't deserve to win the Stanley Cup.

On the other hand, the league isn't doing anything to rein in the Bruins' shameful playing. So if that's the kind of hockey the NHL wants, maybe they deserve it after all.

This reminds me of what some commentators have been saying about the Canucks - the Torres hit(s), Edler's rather brutal check last game on an icing race, the Rome hit, etc. I don't think the Bruins are really any dirtier than the Canucks, and neither is any dirtier than half the league. There are teams that could judge the Bruins, but not many, and Vancouver certainly isn't one of them.

Right. Talk about pot and kettles being black and white. Or something like that.

Morro wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I'm more upset that the Boston fans were chanting "Go Bruins" while Raymond was lying on the ice, and they didn't applaud when he was helped off. I'm upset that the hit isn't being reviewed and Boychuk won't be suspended, let alone penalized. I'm upset that Thornton can shoot a puck at Luongo and yap it him during warm-up with no repercussions. I'm upset that Marchand can punch Daniel Sedin in the head five times, but Daniel gets the misconduct call.

Boston doesn't deserve to win the Stanley Cup.

On the other hand, the league isn't doing anything to rein in the Bruins' shameful playing. So if that's the kind of hockey the NHL wants, maybe they deserve it after all.

This reminds me of what some commentators have been saying about the Canucks - the Torres hit(s), Edler's rather brutal check last game on an icing race, the Rome hit, etc. I don't think the Bruins are really any dirtier than the Canucks, and neither is any dirtier than half the league. There are teams that could judge the Bruins, but not many, and Vancouver certainly isn't one of them.

I know I see the Canucks biased, as much as I try not to; that I focus on their European side and less their North American side. I believe the legitimacy of the complaints leveled against the Canucks. But for what it's worth, I believe that in the final tally, the Bruins are a worse offender.

But ultimately, that's neither here nor there. My real complaint is against the league itself. These playoffs have really soured me on the NHL. The black box that the officiating operates out of allows them to be accountable to no one, and because of that I don't have any confidence in them to run a fair game—or believe that they have any intention to do so.

I've only been watching hockey for a few years now, so maybe this is old news. But I play games every day, and if there's one thing I know, it's rules, rule systems, balance, and enforcement. None of this would fly in a board game, online shooter, RPG, in no other game I've any experience with would this kind of willy nilly rules enforcement be tolerated.

Whether it's unfair penalties against the Canucks, phantom make-up calls against the Bruins, or that old saw, inconsistent consequences for players who injure other players, it's really sucking the fun out of watching these games. If I can't trust the game to be played fairly, how can I enjoy it?

goman wrote:

Right. Talk about pot and kettles being black and white. Or something like that.

Okay, I'll regret this but what the hell. Tangent.

I don't play for the Canucks, work for the Canucks, or have any influence on how they play or are coached. I support the Canucks, which nominally means I want them to win—certainly not outside the rules—but as far as Canucks Sports and Entertainment is concerned, as long as I keep spending my money on tickets and merchandise they don't give a crap how I feel about the team. Just because I watch the games on CBC doesn't involve or implicate me personally in any way whatsoever with what happens on the ice.

So why do I get shut down as a hypocrite for questioning another team's conduct as if I'm responsible for the conduct of my local team? Or as if poor conduct on Vancouver's part excuses poor conduct on Boston's?

Jesus, I'm a Debbie Downer. If neither of those last two posts were to your liking, ignore them with this one.

Morro wrote:

I was quite upset that they didn't get him on the stretcher. He couldn't support ANY of his own weight as they carried him out. What sort of medical team allows that? It was one of the more stomache-turning things I've seen in hockey. Backs aren't supposed to bend like that... :

I didn't watch the game (I refuse to watch non-Habs games involving Boston), and I assume Vancouver's trainers were involved and played a role in the decision not to bring out the backboard. However, given the atrocious track record Boston's medical staff have with the concussions (specifically Bergeron) I wouldn't trust them to tend to a houseplant and that's even when I take into account Dr. Recchi skating a regular shift on their second line.

Gravey, I can't disagree with you though Vancouver are definitely checkered some. I think the Bruins are the worst in the league for this sort of stuff though I'm a Habs fan so it's not as if I am unbiased. I didn't watch the game with the Pacioretty hit because I was still unhappy with the way the previous game had gone, what with Gregory Campbell hitting Pyatt in the face with an elbow pad, the extracurricular post-whistle BS, and a non-fighter in Spacek getting jumped and the Bruin not letting up once Spacek was off his feet.

Vancouver only has one sh*thead player on the team, and that's Raffi Torres. He has taken runs at people every single night in these playoffs and I don't like it. Rome, by contrast, is a mediocre player who made a dumb decision or two because he is out of his league in the NHL playoffs. Players like Burrows and Lapierre are pests, but have never made an honest attempt at injuring anyone. I don't blame people for the negative perception, however. It works both ways: Since I don't watch very much eastern conference hockey, all I've ever seen Zdeno Chara do is take hard slapshots, take cheat shots behind and after the play, and injure people. Defensively he has not exactly impressed in this series.

Morro wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I'm more upset that the Boston fans were chanting "Go Bruins" while Raymond was lying on the ice, and they didn't applaud when he was helped off. I'm upset that the hit isn't being reviewed and Boychuk won't be suspended, let alone penalized. I'm upset that Thornton can shoot a puck at Luongo and yap it him during warm-up with no repercussions. I'm upset that Marchand can punch Daniel Sedin in the head five times, but Daniel gets the misconduct call.

Boston doesn't deserve to win the Stanley Cup.

On the other hand, the league isn't doing anything to rein in the Bruins' shameful playing. So if that's the kind of hockey the NHL wants, maybe they deserve it after all.

This reminds me of what some commentators have been saying about the Canucks - the Torres hit(s), Edler's rather brutal check last game on an icing race, the Rome hit, etc. I don't think the Bruins are really any dirtier than the Canucks, and neither is any dirtier than half the league. There are teams that could judge the Bruins, but not many, and Vancouver certainly isn't one of them.

I was going to respond to you Gravey but Morro said it concisely and more eloquently than I could. Boston fans and Vancouver fans have things they can complain about. As for Raymond's injury it was horrific but there is a reason the league isn't reviewing it.

Gravey. There are too many teams and players trying to turn the NHL into the NBA. I have seen a lot of players making penalties happen with acting over the past 10 years. We get Toronto reviewing tape and assessing games/fines for dives and flops, I come to your side. But I have seen too many players skate past Chara and fly like they were shot out of a cannon. You see players topple like a deck of cards if their ESP senses a stick near their torso.

The best hockey is uninterrupted 5 on 5 hockey. Keep the refs calling a consistent game, and those hit can hit back.

SwampYankee wrote:

Boston fans and Vancouver fans have things they can complain about. As for Raymond's injury it was horrific but there is a reason the league isn't reviewing it.

Because Gregory Campbell plays on the Bruins. DUH.

Gravey wrote:

I'm more upset that the Boston fans were chanting "Go Bruins" while Raymond was lying on the ice, and they didn't applaud when he was helped off. I'm upset that the hit isn't being reviewed and Boychuk won't be suspended, let alone penalized. I'm upset that Thornton can shoot a puck at Luongo and yap it him during warm-up with no repercussions. I'm upset that Marchand can punch Daniel Sedin in the head five times, but Daniel gets the misconduct call.

Boston doesn't deserve to win the Stanley Cup.

On the other hand, the league isn't doing anything to rein in the Bruins' shameful playing. So if that's the kind of hockey the NHL wants, maybe they deserve it after all.

Thank you for saying what I could not. This series has annoyed me and I have had a hard time putting it into words.

Another part of it, which I had blissfully forgotten about but it was just on the news, is this seemingly sudden revelation in the media that the Canucks are the most hated team in the league; that they are the least deserving to win the Cup; and that they are not Canada's team.

Has everyone always felt this way? Is it being way out here in the west, mostly ignored for years until this month, that's kept this sentiment off the radar? Or is it columnists who don't have their own city's teams to write about anymore but need pageviews, and are being amplified by social media?

It's like suddenly finding out that after all these years your friends never actually liked your girlfriend. Except that your girlfriend won the President's Trophy and is a legion of Hart, Art Ross, Jack Adams, and Vezina winners and finalists.

Anyway, it'll all be decided tomorrow evening, so f*ck it.

Gravey wrote:

Another part of it, which I had blissfully forgotten about but it was just on the news, is this seemingly sudden revelation in the media that the Canucks are the most hated team in the league; that they are the least deserving to win the Cup; and that they are not Canada's team.

Has everyone always felt this way? Is it being way out here in the west, mostly ignored for years until this month, that's kept this sentiment off the radar? Or is it columnists who don't have their own city's teams to write about anymore but need pageviews, and are being amplified by social media?

It's like suddenly finding out that after all these years your friends never actually liked your girlfriend. Except that your girlfriend won the President's Trophy and is a legion of Hart, Art Ross, Jack Adams, and Vezina winners and finalists.

Anyway, it'll all be decided tomorrow evening, so f*ck it.

I think the Bertuzzi incident and the way it was handled plays a big role in how the Canucks are viewed.

Though it's not like the Oilers were "Canada's team" during their cup run. CBC was trying to sell everybody on the narrative, but it didn't seem like much outside of Edmonton. Calgary's a little different because it was the first time a "Canadian team" had been in the Finals since 1994.

CBC isn't doing Vancouver any favours with the commentary on the game, not that they ever do a good job these days. Calling for the Canucks to run Thomas isn't all that great of an idea. I do find it incredible that Boston is in a series against a team other than the Maple Leafs and they aren't getting the broadcast homerism, but I stopped watching the channel about 5 years ago because of the poor quality of their hockey coverage.

For me, I really like the Sedins, like Luongo, Kesler is a quality player but I despise Burrows and Lapierre. Tally it all up and I'm probably even but slightly negative because Vancouver's based in Canada and we get the faux-club-hockey patriotism shoved down our throats as a part of that. You can say the same about any of the Canadian teams and most of the media so that's not a strike specifically against the Canucks, but against all teams other than Montreal in my books :P.

Gravey wrote:

Another part of it, which I had blissfully forgotten about but it was just on the news, is this seemingly sudden revelation in the media that the Canucks are the most hated team in the league; that they are the least deserving to win the Cup; and that they are not Canada's team.

Canucks hated? Not around here. I think the main feeling people have towards the Canucks is 'meh'. Like to see a Canadian team win the cup, but honestly there isn't anybody on Canucks that I really like. Or dislike (other than Lapierre, and that's based on his time with the Habs).

There really isn't a Canada's team - that's an idea that is brought up all the time that I just don't understand. I mean, other than the Leafs, can you think of a team that is loved and respected all the way across Canada?

We have the "CANADA'S TEAM!?!?!?!?" debate every time someone makes it halfway through the first round, and on each occasion we determine that people like the teams they like. I think it all has more to do with bitterness over the fact that every Canadian team besides Vancouver and somewhat Montreal is terrible at the moment. Why expect the support of Flames, Oilers and Leafs fans? Why even desire it?

It just occurred to me how bogus all this 'dirty play' stuff is. It is no one's fault but the league's. They could easily have had their refs actually call penalties and put a stop to everything as early as game 4, and by failing to do so they demonstrate that this is how they want the playoffs to be.

nihilo wrote:

I mean, other than the Leafs, can you think of a team that is loved and respected all the way across Canada?

We in Vancouver take every opportunity to lambast the Maple Laffs.

4xis.black wrote:
nihilo wrote:

I mean, other than the Leafs, can you think of a team that is loved and respected all the way across Canada?

We in Vancouver take every opportunity to love and respect the Maple Leafs.

Fixed that for how Leafs fans prefer to think about it.

I dunno. Subtract the smack talk coming out of the Northeast and there is still a lot of it being said against the Canucks.

All of which I enjoy immensely.

Thanks for the responses, everyone, and for letting me rant and vent all afternoon. I'ma move past it all. Go Canucks, go Burrrrrrrr! (Sorry, Roke.)

IMAGE(http://www3.telus.net/public/me8428/files/weddingjerseys.jpg)

^ My wedding, last playoffs.

Gravey wrote:

Thanks for the responses, everyone, and for letting me rant and vent all afternoon. I'ma move past it all. Go Canucks, go Burrrrrrrr! (Sorry, Roke.)

Burr=Burrows? Given that the Canucks play Boston I hope he gets the winner.

At the team level, my hierarchy of not wanting to see win goes:

Boston
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Toronto/Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver/Ottawa
Philadelphia
Carolina
Don't Care

(edit: ugh, forgot Ottawa. Figures)

I just noticed that I am working during the game. So will here it when I am back.
Am not a die hard hockey fan (yet). But find the NHL quite fascinating.
Hockey is also nicer to watch then soccer....so I might switch in that regards.

SwampYankee wrote:

As for Raymond's injury it was horrific but there is a reason the league isn't reviewing it.

Funny how often that seems to happen to players facing the Bruins.

Frankly, I agree completely with Gravey. The rules and the threshold for what is acceptable seems to be made up as they go along. The more successful team seems to be the one who is better able to game the system and play the line with the refs. It happened to Vancouver when they stopped calling goaltender interference last playoffs, and its happening to them now with Boston basically having their way with them and Vancouver getting called every chance they get to respond.

This isn't making excuses for the Canucks. Frankly, the way they've played, they don't deserve to lift the cup. But neither does a violent, reckless team like Boston.

Dysplastic wrote:

This isn't making excuses for the Canucks. Frankly, the way they've played, they don't deserve to lift the cup. But neither does a violent, reckless team like Boston.

Here we go again.

I'll be watching the game tonight at a bar in Metro Detroit. It will be interesting to see who the crowd is rooting for. I'll be rooting for 'Couv'.

All the teams eliminated dont deserve to win. Stop sucking and make the final crappy teams.

jowner wrote:

All the teams eliminated dont deserve to win. Stop sucking and make the final crappy teams.

Oh, I don't disagree. The whole "deserve to win" idea is kind of dumb, now that I really think about it. I mean, it's a game, you play it how you play it, and the winner wins. I'll rephrase that idea to say that I think its sad reflection of our league that a team that plays the style that Boston does (and that Vancouver has been playing this series) could win the championship with almost no repercussions for playing that style.

But, as they say, hate the game, not the player, right? Well, I am.

I don't even care anymore. I want this all over and done with. All the NHL has done has made it very difficult for a die hard fan to watch the game and continue to watch it.

My dream scenario: Canucks win the Cup and then I move to Japan. A Cup would be a nice gift in exchange for not being able to access hockey easily.

4xis.black wrote:

Vancouver only has one sh*thead player on the team, and that's Raffi Torres. He has taken runs at people every single night in these playoffs and I don't like it. Rome, by contrast, is a mediocre player who made a dumb decision or two because he is out of his league in the NHL playoffs. Players like Burrows and Lapierre are pests, but have never made an honest attempt at injuring anyone. I don't blame people for the negative perception, however. It works both ways: Since I don't watch very much eastern conference hockey, all I've ever seen Zdeno Chara do is take hard slapshots, take cheat shots behind and after the play, and injure people. Defensively he has not exactly impressed in this series.

Actually Raffi has really kept his cool this series. I do find it funny that you don't see Marchand and company pulling that BS after the whistle on guys like Torres.

4xis.black wrote:

Vancouver only has one sh*thead player on the team, and that's Raffi Torres. He has taken runs at people every single night in these playoffs and I don't like it. Rome, by contrast, is a mediocre player who made a dumb decision or two because he is out of his league in the NHL playoffs. Players like Burrows and Lapierre are pests, but have never made an honest attempt at injuring anyone. I don't blame people for the negative perception, however. It works both ways: Since I don't watch very much eastern conference hockey, all I've ever seen Zdeno Chara do is take hard slapshots, take cheat shots behind and after the play, and injure people. Defensively he has not exactly impressed in this series.

Actually Raffi has really kept his cool this series. I do find it funny that you don't see Marchand and company pulling that BS after the whistle on guys like Torres.

Even thought I'm rooting for Boston, I have a feeling Vancouver takes it tonight. I think Boston is going to play overly aggressive and not get away with some of the calls they have been this entire series, thus creating power plays that Vancouver will take advantage of. BOOK IT.

Vector wrote:

I don't even care anymore. I want this all over and done with. All the NHL has done has made it very difficult for a die hard fan to watch the game and continue to watch it.

My dream scenario: Canucks win the Cup and then I move to Japan. A Cup would be a nice gift in exchange for not being able to access hockey easily.

Turn off the TV, stray out of the thread and stop reading the paper perhaps?