[https://youtu.be/R0KBzR6R9ic?si=xnVxI-OsgSFZOI5k]
This video makes some really good points about officiating and generational differences regarding checking. I this this is pretty relevant given the recent hits on Luke Hughes.
I don’t want the league to be less physical, however changes need to be made to protect player. Officiating needs to be better, for one. I also think all franchises need to invest time into training younger players how to anticipate and take a hit.
In respect to the Devils specifically, we need a Steven’s like player to compensate for such a young group. We dominate teams who aren’t fast, but we get dominated by teams who are more physical. Obviously, this will be better managed as our young players age, but they need to be protected now, due to risk of injury.
What y’all’s thoughts?
by sethlyons777
8 Comments
They’re never going to get some of it out of the game, things happen too quickly when guys are zipping around on the ice. Rule changes like switching from touch up icing to hybrid icing ~10 years ago is the way to go. Still didn’t stop Luke Hughes from getting plowed earlier this season, but I digress.
Nico got beat up when he first hit the league(and still does). Devils screwed the pooch not getting Trouba and settling for Subban. Miles Wood had promise then got his butt kicked by Lemieux and wasn’t physical after that. The Wayne Simmonds experiment was a flop. Playoff hockey is physical, hopefully the youth grows into it.
This is bahl.
NHL needs to embrace the ’22-’23 Devils style of play. Speed and skill. Not hitting. Not a ‘heavy’ style. NHL should have rules, and enforce the rules, to encourage this style of hockey and for teams to most value that type of roster and style of play.
The top reason to do this is that this is wildly entertaining hockey that highlights the most skilled players in the world. Sorry! But it is just way more entertaining overall than the style when Scott Stevens was around.
The second reason is that we know a lot more about concussions, CTE, etc., than back in the day. And many of the ‘clean’ hits can lead to permanent brain injuries, especially is repeated several times over a career.
Most teams do not have a Trouba. The teams that still do have a Trouba should be encouraged to get rid of them by rules and proper rule enforcement that makes what he often does a penalty. Too dangerous to brains. Suppresses display of the other worldly skills of the most skilled players in the world.
That physical edge is what the team is missing. Teams are constantly roughing up our players without any fear of retaliation. Jack took a penalty the other night after repeatedly hitting a Flyers player who didn’t look like he knew he was getting cross checked. Bahl threw his hat into the ring for it but I don’t know if he’s that guy right now. I don’t know who we could get, but we need someone.
Half the rule changes made in the last 20 years were made to punish the Devils because we won in a way that, they thought, undermined the aesthetic the league was marketing its expansions with. Fuck Bettman. Until he gets on his knees and begs forgiveness to Marty and the rest.
They never forgave us for winning in 1995. No reason the same people would help us now
Go watch fuckin soccer then jesus christ
It’s a bit ironic to say the league needs to clean up its officiating regarding hitting, and then suggest that we need a player like Stevens (or people in the comments mentioning Trouba). Isn’t that the antithesis of the first idea?
On one hand you’re arguing for the new age NHL of protecting the players through stricter rules around fighting/headshots/etc. but then also suggesting the old school approach of letting the players police the game themselves by having a couple players that put the fear of god into the opposing team’s lineup.