Legal, but Dirty

[radioactiverich]

Great article. I have noticed a lot lately that when someone gets smoked cause he is skating with his ears between his legs, someone immediately jumps the guys that threw the hit.

The league seems to be coming to a point where you cannot lay someone out cleanly and without have to fight right after it.

Phaneuf seen him coming cross ice and had him lined up. Simple fact he should of had his head up, it is the thing as a defenceman you loose sleep over waiting to have someone in the cross hairs like that.

Guys should stick up for other teammates when a cheap shot is taken. But come on, jumping someone when he caught your buddy with his head down, is making the league in my mind look like no one can take a hit anymore.

This isn't ballet keep your head up or pay the price.

[shaud19]

Originally Posted by radioactiverich

Guys should stick up for other teammates when a cheap shot is taken. But come on, jumping someone when he caught your buddy with his head down, is making the league in my mind look like no one can take a hit anymore.

nicely said

[The Wrecker Fan]

Couple of things - Okposo was backchecked by Nigel Dawes on the play and was offbalance and defenseless. While still a legal hit, Okposo should not be criticized for having his head down. Not that simple. Also, was at the Islander game last night and Brendan Witt caught Ruslan Fedotenko with an open ice hit which hurt him. Three Penguins went after him and Witt (unlike the skirt wearing Phaneuf) dropped his gloves and took on Jay McKee. End of problem. Also, note for the record - this was a REGULAR SEASON GAME. Also, I think you can make the case ( as Ken Daneyko and Dave Maloney on tv last night) that Phaneuf left his feet. A Bullspit hit on our leading goal scorer from last year. Key thing here is that Witt took what Justice the Pens decided to hand out - and arguably - handled Jay McKee in that fight - but at the end of it - the situation was dealt with. Should PITT have gone after Brendan Witt after that clean hit? Well, they dictate that - not the fans. And it cost them a 2 man disadvantage.

[FlyersEnforcer]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Yes, he did.

They're legal hits, by a books' standards.

But, by player standards, and by what you are taught as a player growing up - its a dirty hit. A guy standing a mate up like that, no matter who, should draw that kind of reaction. Its what separates hockey from any other sport... the brotherhood and willingness to stand up for one another, regardless of the situation, against anyone.

Yeah, it may not make sense to a lot of people (the fact of fighting over a dirty hit), even if they have knowledge of the game, or have been around it. But, as players, when you see a brother/mate get smoked like that, instinct prevails - and instinct is to go jump that guy.

I here ya. Its a shame you even see people on here who are against fights occurring do to a "legal" hit. If anyone has ever played the game, or played with people they consider "your bros" than you know damn well you want to fight that guy. Send a message, you can hit us, but you aren't tougher than us. It may prevent your star player from taking a big hit later, which is obviously the point of these fights, some people don't understand that.

[OSHockeyFan]

It was a perfectly clean, amazing hockey hit. Maybe a little over the top for a pre-season game, but better to get the players used to playing against hard hitters earlier rather than later.
And to "The Wrecker Fan" and Andy Strickland and anyone else who says that Phaneuf turtled or backed away or whatever afterwards, have you not actually watched the clip? He takes Morency down after, which doesn't work if he's turtling. If you want to see someone turtling, watch crosby.
Very good article, but please never compare Phaneuf to stevens. stevens was an extremely dirty player who left his feet and/or threw elbows on about 90% of his hits. Phaneuf...well, he doesn't. He hits hard, sometimes a bit excessively, but they're clean hits.
In the NHL, and in all contact sports, players need to pay attention to who is on the ice, field etc. When Phaneuf is on, it's a really bad idea to have your head down, especially going through center ice.

[yippiekya]

Fagnoof clearly left the ice to deliver the hit. This is clearly an illegal hit. Why doesn't Boogard, Thornton, Brashear, Laraque, Chara or some of the newer fighters kick his ass every time he is on the ice?

[Nightshade88]

Originally Posted by yippiekya

Fagnoof clearly left the ice to deliver the hit. This is clearly an illegal hit. Why doesn't Boogard, Thornton, Brashear, Laraque, Chara or some of the newer fighters kick his ass every time he is on the ice?

Because Gary Bettman invented this wonderful invention called the instigator rule.

[BullyFan]

Jeff Marek said it best. Players are taught to keep their heads up. Players are also taught to finish their checks.

And he's right on saying that if Phaneuf had of let up on the hit, his coach would've ripped him a new @sshole when he got back to the bench.

One of the main reasons why i'm a huge hockey fan is cuz of big, open ice hits like this. It's a physical sport and players are gonna get hurt. It's always been the case and always will be.

Getting sick of these hockey fans that cry everytime somebody gets hurt. Sure there are times when someone gets hurt as a result of a cheapshot, but there's always someone b!tching everytime a player gets hurt as a result of a big hit.

[yippiekya]

YouTube- Mike Richards destroys/hits David Booth

Note that the skates NEVER leave the ice. It did unfortunately result in a concussion to the recipient. This was pure angle and not an elbow (i.e. Scott Stevens trademark).

[bigjohnson]

Originally Posted by yippiekya

Fagnoof clearly left the ice to deliver the hit. This is clearly an illegal hit. Why doesn't Boogard, Thornton, Brashear, Laraque, Chara or some of the newer fighters kick his ass every time he is on the ice?

This guy really said Fagnoof?

Unreal. Last year were have 'Luchicken' and as bad as that was, Fagnoof is ever worse.


for ROOKIES!

[pistole pete]

"Goal scorers are highly paid. Solid defense men are highly paid. A great goal tender may be worth his weight in gold. Goons are goons and will take a seat on the bench to be used when needed. To play hockey just with the intent to go hit people or fight isn't really playing hockey, but if you have a goon on the ice being a predator to your scorers, the best way to protect the scorers is to beat the crap out of the intimidator." pete 'the vortex' pearce #22 marauders

[rwargo24]

If a hit is legal, then by definition it has to be considered clean. I believe Reid Simpson hit the nail on the head. Yeah it (Phaneuf's hit) was legal. So yeah, it was clean. But, that doesn't exclude him from retaliation. Players should protect their teammates. If you want to label a guy like that, then go for it. It's part of the game. But if you do label a guy like that, be prepared to answer for it. That's also part of the game. If you're not willing to deal with the consequences, don't hit the guy like that. Or go play football. Remember when Jordin Tootoo hit Modano(clean I might add) and Robidas came in to go after Tootoo? Tootoo knew someone would be coming so he turned right away and looked for it. He saw Robidas coming and, knowing if he hadn't turned and saw Robidas coming there would have been no mercy, he laid out Robidas. He laid a clean hit, expected retaliation, and dealt with it. That's hockey. Get used to it, or, like I said earlier, go play football. Don't try and change a great sport into basketball on ice.

[mogwai19]

Originally Posted by OSHockeyFan

Very good article, but please never compare Phaneuf to stevens. stevens was an extremely dirty player who left his feet and/or threw elbows on about 90% of his hits.

Stevens is a legendary HOF d-man, he didn't get there by being a dirty player. Either you're too young to have seen Scott Stevens play or too in love with Phaneuf to admit he's not the hitter Stevens was. Your factually absurd comment reflects that. Additionally, I would wager that Dion Phaneuf would disagree with your ridiculous assertion as well.

[ctscharger]

Scott Stevens buried opponents better than anyone while keeping his elbows down and his feet on the ice. Players like Kronwall and Phaneuf cannot seem to hit anyone except by jumping off the ice. Since when are players allowed to fly through the air to make a hit like a strong safety. Being a defencemen myself, I love the big open ice hits as much as anyone, but keep your feet on the ice, this jumping crap is getting ridiculous, especially since it leeds to skates flying through air at head level.

[ctscharger]

Originally Posted by yippiekya

YouTube- Mike Richards destroys/hits David Booth

Note that the skates NEVER leave the ice. It did unfortunately result in a concussion to the recipient. This was pure angle and not an elbow (i.e. Scott Stevens trademark).

Players are all too eager to watch how pretty their last past was rather than keeping their head up like was mandatory in the past... Older NHL'ers used to break opponents ankles upon the coaches command. Hockey is THE toughest sport around(save MMA). Those who cant handle it should tune into baseball where a blister can keep you out of a game.