Hockey Ad Hoc

Now that the hoopla over the Marty McSorley love tap to Donald Brashear has run the gamut, the primary question that a few of us have is, “Will Gary Bettman & Crew nudge Andy Van Hellemond even harder to enforce rules which detract from the game?” During the Montreal-New Jersey game (Jersey’s opener), Bettman was featured speaking to the totally reverent Gary Thorne and Bill Clement about such diverse topics as the weekend back-to-back meeting between the Predators and Penguins in the Land of the Rising Sun, and the need to protect the “skilled” element of the NHL by cracking down on those who are in violation of a variety of infractions. Makes one wonder if this is all tongue-in-cheek after Paul Kariya somehow escaped the wrath of the League, with his slash of Aaron Gavey on the next to last game of pre-season. Or is it, as we suspect, more evidence of the elitist policies of the League that enforce rules just a little harder if you are not a marquee player or ahem, a goon? It probably wasn’t the most vicious slash the Lady Byng recipient could have given, but what the heck; Gavey isn’t Teemu Selanne now, is he?

After more cue card questions by the two announcers, Bettman gleefully added that fighting is on it’s way down. Thorne added that power plays were up 50 %, compared to the previous season at the same time, albeit, it is the first week of the season. Not good news for us as teams certainly will pull back on unleashing the hounds on those in need of a good whomping.

Lastly, this recent jaunt to the Orient may warm the hearts of a few people, but not the vast majority of us who could not care less. If the skilled and ungrateful like Alexei Yashin, Jason Arnott, ad nauseum, won’t play in North America, why in the heck does the League think they will in Japan or Europe, where the exchange rate is perhaps worse than Canada, for the money they are offered now? Anyone really want to stay up to 4 AM EST to see games involving their favorite teams? This inconvenience would not matter to the profiteer mentality, so why ask. How about the stellar treatment of American baseball players over in Japan in the past? Branded forever as gaijin, eternal outsiders, one has to wonder how Peter Worrell, Tie Domi, or Gino Odjick would handle the culture shock, should they, God forbid, be sent there! Hard to see how settling over there would be possible for many players. After all, American baseballers went to Japan to play in baseball’s version of the AHL, not NL or AL. They weren’t part of the Major League and were more than grateful just to play for pay. They did not have the likes of current NHL holdout types. Imagine the resistance of players who would be traded over there!! Forget being sent to a cellar dweller! You’re going half way around the world for Gary B. and crew!!! Imagine, since hockey would really be just a fad in the Orient, the rapid turnoff by the Japanese fan to Alexei Yashin! I can see the Suits squirming now! Hey, maybe it isn’t such a bad idea!

Bottom Line: Bettman and the anonymous suits should pay much more attention to Canada, the potential Land of the Setting Sun, than Japan. That would seem to be more of the pressing priority, eh? Time will tell.