Monday, February 9, 2009

Blogging News

I've got some exciting news. Well, exciting for me.

I've been picked up as a blogger for the Maple Leafs Hot Stove run by Alec Brownscombe. Most of my insightful posts will be put up over there. Anything else, I'll still put up here. I'm not going to double post.

So check out Maple Leaf Hot Stove for future posts of mine and other very insightful Leaf fans and writers.

Thanks for reading my blog up to this point. I really appreciate it.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

I propose a rule change

Not that it matters much on my little blog, but I'm getting quite peeved with the amount of fighting that goes on directly after a crushing body check.

It has happening all over the league and enough is enough.

I don't know when over the past 5 years it became the norm for a player to go after someone who through a big hit. It's time the NHL does something about this.

Luke Schenn has been on both sides of this equation. The first time occurred way back in October. I can't remember who was involved, but Schenn immediately went over and started a fight with the player who delivered the hit. Then last night, Schenn after destroying Malkin (easily one of the highlights of the season BTW), had to face the music against Tyler Kennedy.

This sort of behaviour is going to lead to less and less people delivering hits, as the middle weights on teams will be afraid of having to go toe to toe with a guy like Brashear, Laroque, or Boogaard.

Here's what I propose. Simple and sweet. Anyone who initiates a fight with someone who delivered a big body check for remainder of the game receives a 2 minute penalty and a 10 minute misconduct. If it happens in the last 5 minutes of the game, they are suspended for the following game.

It penalizes the team, sits down the goon for a period of time, and encourages players to enact retribution the way it is supposed to be done: catching the player with his head down and delivering a bone crushing hit in return.

Of course, we all know that won't happen with Schenn. He is omnipotent afterall.