Another Opportunity missed

Matt Cooke was informed, along with the Penguins organization, that he will not be suspended for his blindside hit on Marc Savard. Colin Campbell's reasoning was that since Richards was not suspended for his hit, out of fairness and equality, Cooke will not be suspended either. He wasn't going to suspend Cooke based on is history and rather based on the hit. Now, it's all good and fair to say it's all in equality and fairness given the argument that depth players and stars are disciplined different but in a case like this, especially with the league looking at a rule change to penalize this type of hit, the league missed a chance to set a precedent. In hindsight, given the way the league is trying to go, Campbell's statement should have gone a little more like this:

"We have informed the Pittsburgh Penguins and Matt Cooke that he will be suspended for 10 games for his blindside hit to the head of Marc Savard. This is the type of hit we are trying to remove from the game in order to prevent concussions. It is a dangerous play in that we are looking to further penalize during the game when it occurs. This hit was similar to the one Mike Richards made on David Booth and in hindsight should have warranted a 3 or 4 game suspension. Due to Matt Cooke's history, we feel that it warranted a longer penalty."

Not only would this have set precedent to repeat offenders but it would have put star players like Richards on notice saying you got away with it but next time you won't. Though Campbell's decision to make Cooke's punishment equal to that of Richards in the name of equality was a step forward to giving the disciplinary board some credibility in stating they will punish all players equally, they took a step or two back in not making a suspension to prevent the blindside hit.

Olympic Cheaters and No More NHLers in the Olympics

It seems that in the wake up the Olympics ending, controversy and debate have been brought up. A Russian columnist has accused the Canadian men's hockey team of doping and others question whether or not NHLers belong in the Olympics at all.

To start, the accusation against the men's hockey team is that given the history between Canada and the USSR/Russian Federation resulting in close games, the 7-3 blowout must undoubtedly be a result of the Canadian team using performance enhancing drugs for the game against Russia. One might find merit in this had the Canadian team been blowing out every other team in the preliminary round. The columnist looks at the underwhelming performance the Canadians put forth against the Slovakians and thus argues that since they didn't blow out the Slovakians, they doped up for the Russia game and the Russia game alone. It almost makes you scratch your head wondering why not dope up against the Americans in the preliminary round? Had the Canadians won the US preliminary round and forced the US to face the Russians, would we have the same argument? Ryan Miller was a stone wall throughout the tournament and ignoring the Crosby goal in OT, had not let in a goal worth questioning all tournament long. Do we argue HE was on some form of performance enhancing drugs? Is it really unbelievable that the Russians were simply outplayed? After the score hit 2-0, it us hard to argue that the Russian team was amounting to any push back of any kind. You could hardly say the same for the Slovakians who stuck with their game plane and ultimately fought back to a 3-2 end result and almost tying it late. It sounds more like a case of sour grapes for the columnist than anything else. Because the Russians lost a game where they got blown out, the Canadians were then doping for that game alone. I really find it hard to believe they were on performance enhancing drugs let alone on them for that game alone.

Now, the debate for NHLers in the Olympics has been a big one and will always be argued. I remember after the 2006 Olympics, Dominic Hasek's mysterious abductor strain the prevented him from suiting up for the Playoffs with Ottawa. I would have to think the result of that playoff run would have been very different had Hasek been healthy. That being said, are we not willing to watch the best of the best play in a big tournament? With the arrival of the KHL boasting big contracts, the premier players in the world will be torn between the NHL and KHL resulting in a split pool of the worlds talent. It's the Olympics that now bring the highest talent together in a big tournament. I know that's what I want to see but I also acknowledge the strain the NHL players gain from the Olympics. The condensed schedule has already taken a toll on many players resulting in several injuries over the early part of the season. The emotional toll is equally high especially when players like Paul Stastny and Brian Rafalski playing the night after losing the Gold Medal. I would like to see a two day break right after the game but I highly doubt that'll happen. Many of the Russian players have already stated that regardless of the NHL's decision, they will go to Ochi, Russia in 2014. As with most things, it comes down to money. With the NHL trying to grow the game by playing preseason games in Europe, why wouldn't they want to send players to the Olympics? Showcasing the best players in the world for all the world to see would certainly grow the game. The NHLPA will most likely vote to continue sending players but GMs, Owners and the NHL will likely push against it as many teams will want their players fresh and healthy going into the playoff run rather than banged up coming out. I for one am all for the NHL players going to the Olympics. Big stage, every game is vitally important and in a short Tournament format, any team can win (Just ask who thought Slovakia would make it to the medal round).

Golden Moment

I would like start off by congratulating all the Olympians who competed throughout the last two weeks giving us a very good Winter Games as well as a particular thumbs up and cheer to the Canadian Athletes who may not have owned the Podium in total medals but owned the Gold Podium completely.

Now, as for the hockey, I think it's time for Crosby to retire. Now don't get me wrong, I don't want him to retire but what else is there for Sid the Kid to do? A World Junior Gold Medal, Stanley Cup Winner, Olympic Gold Medalist along with various other personal awards. In what has been a young career for the 22 year old, he added to his pedigree by scoring the game winner in the Olympic Gold final against the United States.

The Gold Medal game was definitely an exciting one with all the intense drama only Overtime can give us. A showdown between Toews and Kane, Kesler and Luongo, Crosby and Orpik. Teammates going head to head in a very entertaining game. Going into the game, the USA were riding the best goalie in the world and playing as a better team. If it's any indication as to the expectations for the US team were, the IOC had booked their return flights home for 9:30 that morning. Clearly nobody expected them to get to the Gold Medal game and yet they came together and played in a manner that would be best described as Canadian Hockey. Despite going down 2-0, the young US team never looked out of the game and rather looked like they were calm and cool. The black cloud over the Canadians was goaltending and not spotting a goal to the Americans. That's exactly what happened when Ryan Kesler tipped in a point shot that went through Luongo. Tip or not, it was a bad goal that went through Luongo and brought the Americans within one goal. Though in the end they only got a Silver Medal, there is certainly a bright future for American hockey. Zach Parise tied the game with a clutch goal while Patrick Kane factored in on both US goals.

On the side of the negatives, many will wonder where the Sharks line was throughout that game. Though they produced points throughout the tournament, one has to wonder where Thornton was in general? In viewing the gold medal game, Only Marleau seemed noticeable, throwing himself in front of pucks and playing a physical game. A line consisting of Getzlaf, Perry and Morrow seemed to be the most effective line along with another line of Toews, Nash and Richards. When those two lines were on the ice one felt assured that they would play well and generate chances. The same cannot be said of the other two lines and despite Crosby getting the winner, his line couldn't bury chances. Iginla looked Snakebitten the whole game. In the end, all it takes is a bounce and Canada came out on top. In a tournament where goaltending was the US strength, Ryan Miller made his one and only mistake and it cost him the Gold Medal.