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* The NHL has teams play a few regular seasons games over in Europe each season. Next season, it's the Kraken and the Canes off to Finland to play some of their matches there. That'll be cool.
* I've already have some conversations about hockey where I've said I don't have a problem with fighting in hockey, I have a problem with the circumstances that lead to fights. In addition to the Gudas hits, now we've got Greer only getting suspended for 3 games over this shit.
Any hit to the head can always be bad, but players on skates usually can't hit very hard and also players know how to further impede other player's ability to land hits. I don't want to downplay the risks in fighting, especially since my hockey knowledge is very focused on a few teams, but the recent hits from Gudas and Greer show how speed of play can be a lot more dangerous than stopping and grappling. If a team fields an actual enforcer the picture shifts a bit... but if one suddenly does, the role of enforcers is to keep people like Gudas from pulling the shit he's been pulling.
If the NHL's department of player safety keeps being so lax about this stuff, yeah, people are going to start fights with Greer during games to make it clear if he pulls this shit, the players wont let it slide. If you want less fights, do something about DOPS and put limits on 'if the refs didn't see it, no call'. My go to example for that second point would be the Cap's Duhaime smacking the Kraken's Melanson with his stick to end his breakaway, while Duhaime was on the bench. He wasn't even on the ice. When someone who is Not Playing is effecting play and risking player safety, and the refs didn't see it even though two were looking directing at the players, the coach should be able to call for a video review and get the offending player pulled for the game.
After that hit, Duhaime tried to instigate a fight on the ice three more times before Melly turned and took him down. Overall, Duhaime tried to instigate like 8 times that game. That was a prime example of a fight happening because the reffing was shit and because 'no see no call' goes too far. Take out either of those factors, no fight.
* Joey Daccord talking about what he anticipates from various shooters. This was a longer reel on the NHL insta a bit ago, but glad at least part of it was put on youtube, a goalie's breakdown of approaches.
Also, I've mentioned it before, but Joey's youtube channel is great. Gear breakdowns, training sessions, even him getting PT.
* I've already have some conversations about hockey where I've said I don't have a problem with fighting in hockey, I have a problem with the circumstances that lead to fights. In addition to the Gudas hits, now we've got Greer only getting suspended for 3 games over this shit.
Any hit to the head can always be bad, but players on skates usually can't hit very hard and also players know how to further impede other player's ability to land hits. I don't want to downplay the risks in fighting, especially since my hockey knowledge is very focused on a few teams, but the recent hits from Gudas and Greer show how speed of play can be a lot more dangerous than stopping and grappling. If a team fields an actual enforcer the picture shifts a bit... but if one suddenly does, the role of enforcers is to keep people like Gudas from pulling the shit he's been pulling.
If the NHL's department of player safety keeps being so lax about this stuff, yeah, people are going to start fights with Greer during games to make it clear if he pulls this shit, the players wont let it slide. If you want less fights, do something about DOPS and put limits on 'if the refs didn't see it, no call'. My go to example for that second point would be the Cap's Duhaime smacking the Kraken's Melanson with his stick to end his breakaway, while Duhaime was on the bench. He wasn't even on the ice. When someone who is Not Playing is effecting play and risking player safety, and the refs didn't see it even though two were looking directing at the players, the coach should be able to call for a video review and get the offending player pulled for the game.
After that hit, Duhaime tried to instigate a fight on the ice three more times before Melly turned and took him down. Overall, Duhaime tried to instigate like 8 times that game. That was a prime example of a fight happening because the reffing was shit and because 'no see no call' goes too far. Take out either of those factors, no fight.
* Joey Daccord talking about what he anticipates from various shooters. This was a longer reel on the NHL insta a bit ago, but glad at least part of it was put on youtube, a goalie's breakdown of approaches.
Also, I've mentioned it before, but Joey's youtube channel is great. Gear breakdowns, training sessions, even him getting PT.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 06:41 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 08:05 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 09:26 pm (UTC)From:it's the Kraken and the Canes off to Finland
Yup. And the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators will play in Düsseldorf. I'm a poor Southern European and I'm seriously considering trying to buy some tickets and flying somewhere ...
no subject
Date: 2026-03-23 10:49 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-03-26 03:55 am (UTC)From:Definite agreement about safety and instigation and such needing to be taken more seriously. Even though I don't go here, it's a thing I hear about quite a bit.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-26 05:10 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-03-28 01:27 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-03-28 03:21 pm (UTC)From:Also, I think a lot of people picture old-school NHL fights when teams used to field actual enforcers. Guys on skates with no fight training and who are grappling to impede each other's punches, usually you wind up with fights that look like cuddle piles because they are all just grappling each other to prevent hits.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-31 03:18 am (UTC)From:That's probably also true: people picturing something different than what's really the case now.