Thread: 25 Games of Raffi Torres

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Hurm...not sure. Look, Torres is a schnook. No argument there. But watch the hit. First off, Hossa should get 5 games for coming out of the corner with his head down. What was he making out his grocery list? He seems to have no idea that a game is going on around him. Yes, Torres charged, and the puck was gone so it was an interference, but Hossa wouldn't have got hit in the head if he hadn't apparently been looking for change on the ice. 20 games for being a repeat offender is extreme. If that is going to set the standard from now on that's fine, but if Shanny wants to set that bar he needs to stick to it. I can see an appeal maybe lowering that number. I am not defending the hit entirely nor am I happy that Hossa was hurt, but at some point the NHL HAS to take into account the victims actions as well. ALL players have a resopnsibility to be...well, responsible. And Hossa's action directly affected the seriousness of the hit. I do not support Doc's argument as well as others that the team should be penalized for a players actions. That's just getting into an area that would cause all sorts of problems.

So you think the onus is on the checkee and not the checker to avoid a head hit? Brilliant.

If players didn't leap out of their skates to hit a player in the head there wouldn't be a talk about the team being penalized.

I'll make a comparison that I like to use. Regarding Somali pirates. Our government should send out a message to the world that if you are caught trying to hijack any sort of vessel our Navy will sink you to the bottom of the ocean. Harsh? Not in my opinion. But to some possibly. What will be the end result of this? Our Navy will get some great target practice, their ships will help start some coral reefs depending on the location. In all seriousness, eventually the dumb **** pirates will get the message that if they attempt to hijack a ship they'll die. It might take a few dozen but oh well.

Now hockey players are probably a little more intelligent that a Somali pirate so it won't take that long. If you do X then the penalty is Y. Very clear. Now it probably isn't fair to make the Coyotes play w/ a roster one short but I'm not opposed to the idea. Maybe if there were some penalties that would effect (or is it affect? **** I never get those right) the team, players like Torres wouldn't commit three penalties on one play. He could have gotten low, kept his skates on the ice and hit him. Still it would have been late but then maybe he would have only gotten an interference penalty and no suspension.

I don't feel sorry for him at all. He clearly hasn't learned and he'll continue to pay. **** him.

Originally Posted by KRC1221

So you think the onus is on the checkee and not the checker to avoid a head hit? Brilliant.

If players didn't leap out of their skates to hit a player in the head there wouldn't be a talk about the team being penalized.

I'll make a comparison that I like to use. Regarding Somali pirates. Our government should send out a message to the world that if you are caught trying to hijack any sort of vessel our Navy will sink you to the bottom of the ocean. Harsh? Not in my opinion. But to some possibly. What will be the end result of this? Our Navy will get some great target practice, their ships will help start some coral reefs depending on the location. In all seriousness, eventually the dumb **** pirates will get the message that if they attempt to hijack a ship they'll die. It might take a few dozen but oh well.

Now hockey players are probably a little more intelligent that a Somali pirate so it won't take that long. If you do X then the penalty is Y. Very clear. Now it probably isn't fair to make the Coyotes play w/ a roster one short but I'm not opposed to the idea. Maybe if there were some penalties that would effect (or is it affect? **** I never get those right) the team, players like Torres wouldn't commit three penalties on one play. He could have gotten low, kept his skates on the ice and hit him. Still it would have been late but then maybe he would have only gotten an interference penalty and no suspension.

I don't feel sorry for him at all. He clearly hasn't learned and he'll continue to pay. **** him.

Not at all what I said...I said players have a responsibility to KEEP THEIR HEADS UP. I am not at all talking about Torres as a victim here. Don't feel sorry for him or do I like him. Like I said, substitute another player for Torres and actually look at the incident without that factor enflaming your judgement.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Facepalm all you like but that really is a poor substitue for arguing actual facts. Would you feel differently if it had been another player instead of Torres? Someone with a spotless rep? Try to take that factor out of the equation.

I don't give a flying pig who it is. It's a careless-idiotic-goonish-selfish play on Torres' part. Torres deliberately targeted Hossa and deliberately left his feet. If the jackwagon doesn't leave his feet to hit Hossa he hits Hossa in the chest or shoulder, not the head. Those are the facts.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

Not at all what I said...I said players have a responsibility to KEEP THEIR HEADS UP. I am not at all talking about Torres as a victim here. Don't feel sorry for him or do I like him. Like I said, substitute another player for Torres and actually look at the incident without that factor enflaming your judgement.

Come on brother....these were your words....
"First off, Hossa should get 5 games for coming out of the corner with his head down. What was he making out his grocery list? He seems to have no idea that a game is going on around him. Yes, Torres charged, and the puck was gone so it was an interference, but Hossa wouldn't have got hit in the head if he hadn't apparently been looking for change on the ice."

You CAN'T be serious that you think Hossa should be suspended. Even if he was making his grocery list, it doesn't matter. It was illegal on three fronts. Are you not saying that if his head was up that HOSSA would have moved to avoid the head hit? If so, that is clearly putting the onus on the checkee.

And if Hossa didn't have his head elsewhere he could have avoided it. So Torres deliberately targeted Hossa as opposed to? Launching himself across the ice hoping to hit anyone? Once again, not arguing Torres Jackwagon status just trying to make a point that Hossa should have had his head in the game. Does that justify the injury...NO. Emphatically NO. We are arguing two different things here. And you are SO hung up on Torres that you seem to be having a problem seeing that.

Originally Posted by KRC1221

Come on brother....these were your words....
"First off, Hossa should get 5 games for coming out of the corner with his head down. What was he making out his grocery list? He seems to have no idea that a game is going on around him. Yes, Torres charged, and the puck was gone so it was an interference, but Hossa wouldn't have got hit in the head if he hadn't apparently been looking for change on the ice."

You CAN'T be serious that you think Hossa should be suspended. Even if he was making his grocery list, it doesn't matter. It was illegal on three fronts. Are you not saying that if his head was up that HOSSA would have moved to avoid the head hit? If so, that is clearly putting the onus on the checkee.

No, I wasn't serious. I will label my sarcasm from now on(sarcasm). And yes I do believe all players should responsibly keep their heads on a swivel for their own safety. Not blaming Hossa for getting hurt...but he damned well could have avoided the severity if he had his head in the game.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

And if Hossa didn't have his head elsewhere he could have avoided it. So Torres deliberately targeted Hossa as opposed to? Launching himself across the ice hoping to hit anyone? Once again, not arguing Torres Jackwagon status just trying to make a point that Hossa should have had his head in the game. Does that justify the injury...NO. Emphatically NO. We are arguing two different things here. And you are SO hung up on Torres that you seem to be having a problem seeing that.

I don't care if it was Kopitar, it should be a big suspension. But it wouldn't be as bad for Kopitar b/c he doesn't have the rep. Which is fine. I'd be ashamed if a Kings player did that. Even if it was retaliation for something. You DON'T do that. He was trying to hurt him and he did. Dustin Brown and Mike Richards had huge, clean hits w/o launching in ANY way. Torres clearly made up his mind how he was going to hit Hossa. This is one of those things that we're clearly not going to agree on. And that's fine. I still respect your opinion even if I think its a little crazy.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

No, I wasn't serious. I will label my sarcasm from now on(sarcasm). And yes I do believe all players should responsibly keep their heads on a swivel for their own safety. Not blaming Hossa for getting hurt...but he damned well could have avoided the severity if he had his head in the game.

I think we need to create a sarcasm font! I was pretty sure you were being sarcastic but I just needed to make sure.

You can't ignore the player involved in the hit when he's been subject to discipline 5 times in 6 seasons or whatever it is.

Time to start penalizing teams and executives who keep these guys in the league.