I have been looking for Gordie all year, and I fucking found him.
Looks like his career lives on with that waste of a first rounder, Nikos Tselios. I don’t speak Swedish or whatever, so I have no idea what this says. I can gather that Wendel Clark is Gordie’s favorite player. Good to know. Good luck Gordie. Bring me back some meatballs eh?
Chris
Trevor Gillies lived Under Power Lines
Trevor. Did you eat a lot of paint chips as a kid? I was at the Devils game in Lowell this past snowy Friday night. Since the game was boring as hell, I was watching Trevor Gillies for most of the third period. My friend Bekah says I am obsessed. Well, no more than she is obsessed with Mr. Kitty. At any rate, I noticed a few things.
The first thing I noticed is Mr. Gillies has fallen a long way from the guy that was wearing an A on his chest last season. Every shift he took, which wasn’t many, Coach Dineen was all over him upon his return to the bench. Coach is all over this guy.
Secondly, he is like a Pee Wee on the bench. No kidding. For most of the Third Period, which was tied by the way, Trevor was fooling around with his helmet, elbowing the guy next to him, punching the same guy in the gut, and pushing his helmet forward. I couldn’t believe I was watching a Professional do that sort of thing on the bench. Maybe he’s just really bored, but it was strange to see a pro do it. Trevor also seemed to be pretty chummy with Mike Hoffman, a guy he has fought a zillion times this season. Anyway, you really had to see what Gillies was doing on the bench t believe it. I really was amazed. If he can’t figure out why he’s in Dineen’s dog house, this may be a big reason why.
Busy Week
I can not fucking believe the Bruins took another too many men on the ice penalty today. Again, while on the Power Play. If this isn’t the most poorly coached team in the NHL, then I don’t know what is.
At any rate. Here is a snap shot of my week last week.
Monday: Work. Outback Steakhouse. Reno 911 Movie. Home.
Tuesday: Work. Quick one at 99 that turned into 5. Home.
Wednesday: Work. Lowell Devils vs. Albany River Rats. Home.
Thursday: Work. Bruins vs. Wild, left at the end of the second because I was so fucking bored. Went to the Fours watched Simon’s tomahawk chop on Hollweg. Home. Poured MOL into bed.
Friday: Work. Quick three at the 99, then the Woo Sharks vs. Hartford, Papa Razzi, Home.
Big whoop. We are all busy. Point I am making is it was a very busy week for me, but it was equally busy for controversy in the NHL. That, ladies and gentlemen, is called a segue.
It actually started last Friday night. For those of you under a rock or without Youtube, New Jersey forward Cam Janssen was suspended three games for hitting Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle in what the NHL deemed an illegal way. I have seen the hit a zillion times, and I think it was three things.
1. It was very late. Kaberle was admiring his pass and Janssen in on the forecheck had plenty of time to turn back up ice. Instead he drilled Kaberle, who wasn’t even looking at him.
2. It was totally unnecessary. I understand Janssen’s role, and what he was trying to do, but he could have really hurt Kaberle, and it didn’t need to be done.
3. It was dirty. Again, I understand what he’s trying to do, but to drill a guy that is prone like that isn’t the way to do it. You want to stir it up, go hit a guy fair and square. Doing what he did perpetuations the notion of hockey and enforcers being barbaric.
What I found most shocking at the time of Janssen’s hit was the half hearted response by the Leafs. Only Travis Green did anything on the ice, and it didn’t look like his heart was really in it. I was reading in the book I have about Bobby Orr, Searching for Bobby Orr, about an incident in Boston many moons ago. Basically Bobby was clipped in the face accidentally by a Maple Leaf, and it started a brawl on the ice, and a near riot in the Boston Garden. After I thought about it for a couple of days, the shock really wore off. This is the new NHL people. There is no emotion in an 82 game exhibition season. I do have March 30th circled on my calendar though, as the Devils and Leafs play each other and there should be some fireworks. Having said that, see the above sentence about the new NHL and most likely nothing will happen.
The second incident was far more fiendish, and sinister carried out by Islander forward Chris Simon. For those of you emerging from a coma, first off welcome back and secondly I will recap. Chris Simon, after being drilled from behind by Ranger forward and super pest Ryan Hollweg, picked himself up off the ice. As Hollweg was coming back at him because the puck was in Simon’s area instead of Simon dropping the mitts and taking Hollweg on one on one, he went crazy for a second, and chopped Hollweg in the jaw with his stick. You no do that. Never never. MOL and I watched it at the Fours after leaving the most boring Bruins game ever. The Simon slash was one of those incidents where the whole bar saw it, and yelled out loud.
I understand what happened here. Simon lost control of his emotions for a second, and instead of doing what he should have done, i.e. drop the buckets and whale on Hollweg, he did something really stupid. I am in no way condoning what Simon did, in fact, quite the opposite. Hockey is an emotional game, and you need to try your best to harness that emotion in the right way. I am sure there isn’t a single guy that has played against Hollweg that hasn’t wanted to chop him in the face with their stick. His job is to be a pest, and he does it well. Having said that, Simon should never, ever have done what he did. I am sure he is very sorry about it, and wishes he could take it back, but that is no excuse. You have to respect the other players out there, even if you want to smash them to death with your stick. You just don’t do what Simon did, and I think the NHL did exactly what they needed to do in suspending him for 25 games.
There is a place for fighting in the NHL, and the stick work shown by Simon is a big reason why. He should have challenged Hollweg to a fight if he felt wronged. People that are against fighting should get used to seeing a guy getting chopped in the face like Hollweg was, because if and when it is regulated out of the game, it is going to be happening all the time.
What do you want for nothing? Rubber Biscuit?
As you guys all know, I think Rob Simpson is a goof. He must have nude pictures of someone somewhere, because he comes off like a total numnut on his in game reports on NESN. As such, I have never really paid much attention to his Rubber Biscuit show, also on NESN. I figure the 15 minutes a week I get of him on Bruins games is enough. However, when I heard that last weeks show was going to be about fighting, obviously I was firing up the DVR, and watching the show. I am glad I did.
For those not in the know, Rubber Biscuit is a half hour program on NESN. Basically what I can gather is it is a wacky behind the scenes look at the Bruins, both on the ice and off. Sounds like Simpson being Simpson, so I have basically avoided the whole thing. The fighting episode was perhaps the finest half hour in television history.
Basically, Rubber Biscuit takes the same stance Goonblog does on fighting, and fighting’s place is the game today. They also mixed in some awesome fight clips, and some quick interviews with Bruins legends, Ray Bourque, Jay Miller, Derek Turk Sanderson, Terry O’Reilly, and number 8, Cam Neely.
There was a common thread with all the interviews. Miller said he fought because he was a local kid and he felt like he was defending the honor of Boston, also, it was the only way he could stay in the show. O’Reilly said that back in his day, fighting was so common, and luckily for him it was, because it was, like Miller, the only way he could stay. Turk said the same thing. Even Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque fought. Said Sanderson. Bourque and Neely both said they did it when they had to. Neely as a product of his rough and tumble style, Bourque, to defend a teammate or retribution on a person that had taken some liberties with the interpretation of the rules.
What Rubber Biscuit said about fighting itself is there is a place in the game for it, in fact, a very big place. They looked at why the NHL in legislating fighting out, and the repercussion to the fans. Stating that people that aren’t watching the NHL now are never going to watch the NHL, no matter what kind of marketing they do. It made me think of basketball. No matter what the NBA does, I am never watching. I understand it is Sales, and Marketing 101, you need to grow the business through advertising, but if you change the product enough, you’ll drive away the existing customer base. See the drop in attendance as an example.
The show also examined the instigator rule. Paul Mara had said he wanted to do something about the cheap shot laid on a mate in Buffalo, but didn’t because he was afraid of getting his third instigator, and thus suspended for two games. It has always been my stance that without the instigator rule, the Todd Bertuzzi incident never happens.
All in all it was a fine program. This league is in deep trouble folks. The regular season has turned into a very long exhibition schedule, with no emotion or meaning to most of the games. Attendance is way down because North American hockey fans prefer North American hockey, not the Swedish Elite League. Rubber Biscuit really nailed the role of fighting in the NHL, and I suggest you catch it if you can
WTF?
A little over a year ago I wrote this little piece. For those of you not inclined to re read it, I will re hash. Last season Keith Aucoin almost started a brawl, and got his fucking head kicked in for being a smart mouth. I don’t like Aucoin, never have. He is mouthy and can’t back it up. I have never liked players like that. Well today, I got this comment from new reader AJ.
WAHHHHHH!!!!! Are u pissed that Aucoin is a better hockey player than you.Talk about Sour grapes.Pansy
While I appreciate the comments from any one, I gotta call AJ out on this one. First off, I don’t think I am crying here. I call them as I see them AJ. I was psyched to see the violence, and was hoping a brawl started. I don’t care who started it. I was simply making a point. Ask anyone who has seen Aucoin play, and they will tell you the same thing. He is mouthy.
Secondly. I am not pissed Aucoin is a better hockey player than me. I think he is outstanding as a player. He has a great scoring touch and a knack for scoring big goals. Tom Rowe definitely loves the guy as he has had him on his roster a couple of times. I also have a lot bigger things to worry about than if Keith Aucoin is a better hockey player than me. He sure fucking is. Know what? A lot of people are. I think I am over it. I sell IT equipment. I don’t play pro hockey. I am cool with it. As far as the sour grapes and me being a pansy? I don’t see it. I love the rough stuff, obviously as this blog isn’t called PrettyGoalblog. It’s fucking Goonblog. So AJ thanks for stopping by. Feel free to read all the posts, and as always, comments are welcome. Even if they are way off base.
Super Sunday
This season marks year three of Goonblog HQ being wired for the NHL Center Ice Package. I had it the year before the lockout, and the two seasons since. In each of the three I have had it; I have sort of adopted a team I watch if the beloved Bruins aren’t playing. I don’t really do it consciously, it just kind of happens. The first season, it was Dallas. I like Billy Guerin, and they were a fun team to watch. Plus MOL liked them too. I think she had a crush on Mike Modano. Can you blame her? Last season, was a bit more on purpose. My team was the Harford Whalers. I had been watching a lot of those guys for a couple of years in Lowell, and when the lockout ended, it was natural to follow them to the NHL. This season, I have been a rabid Pittsburgh Penguins fan. They are fun to watch, and the color schemes are just similar enough to the Bruins, that it throws MOL off her game. As in, Hey wait. This isn’t the Bruins.
Why Pittsburgh? Well, like I said. It really isn’t on purpose. I saw the first couple games of the season, and I like the way they play. Say what you will about Sidney Crosby, but the kid is legit. No question he is the future of the NHL. Throw in Jordan Staal, and Evgeni Malkin, and you have three of the best young forwards in the game. Then, throw in the guys that have to stick up for the big three. Colby Armstrong, who can play some hockey, Ryan Malone, who I’d love to see in the Black and Gold, and Eric Big Daddy Cairns are all on the roster and can be counted on to drop the mitts if required. Plus, Brooks Orpik hits like a train, and can be a bit dirty. So, if you have the Center Ice Package, I suggest any Penguins game. I guarantee a good time.
Bruins Suck. But Great Wings.
I sold a couple of Tees tonight. One to Kara, and another to Michelle. We may have our first contestant in the Goonblog Thong Contest. Or perhaps a restraining order. Michelle agreed to pose in her new small with her best thong. Stay tuned boys!
I watched the Bruins slaughter eating Buffalo wings, no coincidence, at the Texas BBQ in Northborough. Not a lot to say abut the game really. The Bruins suck. Alberts is a tough fucking customer though eh? If you are in the Northborough area, swing by and say hi to Dave, and Don. They’ll set you right up. I am watching the late games waiting for MOL to return from the germ factory. I owe her from last night, so stay tuned.
Avoiding GDS
I had given up. I’m not kidding. I wasn’t watching my Center Ice Package. I was barely paying attention to the Bruins, and I had most assuredly given up on my beloved Lowell Devils. Look at the posts I have made over the last couple months. Aside from me announcing my engagement, trying to sell T-shirts (buy some fucking shirts by the way), and giving detailed recaps of how sick I’ve been and my slight drinking problem, there has been little posts about hockey fights, or fighters.
It wasn’t a conscious decision. I really wish I had more to say. In fact, a lot has happened enforcer wise. George Parros was waived and picked up. Todd Fedoruk got his faced caved in. Brashear has been active. Those are just a few things that have happened. You see, I just didn’t have the heart. The two teams I follow the most, The Boston Bruins, and Lowell Devils, seemed to be very happy playing within the confines of the new rules. Boston has virtually no one that can do any fighting, and the Devils seemed to be the same old same old Lowell hockey club. They were once again a team that had capable guys on their roster, but no one seemed willing to drop em.
The Lowell theory goes back to the Ron Thou shall not fight, you’re a fucking joke Smith days. For years they loved to get pushed around even though they had guys capable of sticking up for themselves and teammates sitting on the bench. Even when Tom Rowe took over behind the bench and vowed they wouldn’t get pushed around, they did. Look at guys they had on their roster in Rowe’s tenure as head coach.
Brantt Myhres: 687 PIMS in 154 NHL Games. Only 77 in 29 injury plagued games in Lowell. He told me flat out he wanted to fight.
Sean Curry: Possibly the biggest pussy in the whole league.
Stephen Peat: Played 3 games. Has a mysterious leg injury.
Cody McLeod: Undersized for the role he was asked to play.
Mitch Love: Showed tons of promise before he was hurt last year.
Gordie Dwyer: One of the greatest guys I have ever met. Seemed totally unwilling to be that guy in the A.
The point I am trying to make, is I was done. I could not care less what the Devils of Lowell did. As such, I didn’t even notice when Cam Janssen was reassigned to Lowell from New Jersey. Two years ago, I would have been foaming at the mouth. Oh, I noticed when he was assigned for conditioning of his shoulder and he didn’t fight. I hoped his lack of physical play was not Gordie Dwyer Syndrome. I.e. I don’t want to fight because it’s just the A. When Janssen was sent back down after the holiday, I didn’t even notice. So when he had 3 fights in two games over the weekend, I was excited.
I really don’t think Cam is going to suffer from Gordie Dwyer Syndrome, or GDS. He had a spirited fight with Riley Cote Friday that featured the longest square off in history. I think he was the winner. He got jumped by Lowell PD’s favorite player, Martin Grenier, in what could be called a draw, and lost to Worcester’s Jonathan Tremblay yesterday. The point is, Janssen seems to really relish his role and has no signs of GDS. Cam has renewed my interest in gooning, and thuggery, and I thank him for it. So, Mr. Janssen, if you keep it up, I will keep the faith. You have the chance to become the most beloved Lowell player since Trevor Gillies. If there is a pill or a lotion you need to apply to avoid GDS, I will supply it. Hopefully all you need is the cheers of the fans, and a few cold ones after the game. Hey, I can supply that as well!
Will the Real Bruins Please Stand Up?
That was a decent Bruins game last night for about 10 minutes. I really don’t understand this team. I spent all week talking how they are a better club than people think, and I get validated by Thursday’s come from behind win. Then, Saturday’s stinker gets laid, and I look like an A hole. These fuckers are starting to make me look bad. I was encouraged by Hannu’s play, although he let up a softie, and a juicy rebound goal. All in all, I think he played pretty well, and even managed a few spectacular kick saves. I think he needs a start from Coach Lewis. Get him a little more confidence eh?
I got an e-mail from Versus Friday, and they asked me to do a little plug for them. I guess they saw my post about them getting better, and Doc being the best in the business. At any rate, Monday will be the first nationally televised game between Crosby and Ovechkin. These are two teams I watch a lot on Center Ice. For hockey fans you have Alexander the Great, and Alexander Semin. The Pens feature Sid the Kid, Malkin, and rookie Jordan Staal. For the players we care most about, The Caps have Donald Brashear, and John Erksine. Pittsburgh has Eric Cairns, and a host of other guys willing to step up and protect the franchise. I think it’ll be a great tilt. Now that I plugged it, it’ll probably suck. Either way, what else are you going to do Monday? Watch football?
NHL Opening Night
Hal Gill looks AWESOME in a Leaf uniform. Why? Because it’s not a Bruins uniform.
