Cole's got a broken neck

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Cole's got a broken neck

barry33 · Guru

brooklynhabfan wrote:

No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad...

I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball.

rwp2le · Guru

barry33 wrote:

brooklynhabfan wrote: No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad... I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball.

Well said Barry, is this going to be shades of Bertuzzi and Moore? I think it might be, thanks a lot Gary you weasel.

Key Lime · Guru

brooklynhabfan wrote:

No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad...

Who's the animal who did that to Cole? This is horrible news, he's the 2nd most valuable player on that team. I would love to have a player like that in Montreal.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

I'd love him too. A rare talent, and we all remember all too well what a great competitor he is too.

It would be a shame if a nobody like Brooks Oprik, whose new nick name is "What Oprik" can take that away from the game.

Thanks Brooks, hope that car wash in Harrisburg is good to you in the coming years... I hear circular motions make for the best shine...

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

brooklynhabfan wrote:
No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad...
I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball.

Actually I saw the replay. It was NOT intentional. Cole was turning to his left and then suddenly changed direction to go right and BOOM.

Don cherry even said so on CBC and he was right. Watch it again. It just happened without intent.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Part of it is having the skill to avoid that kind of action. So many teams leads to so many mediocre players cluttering up the ice

ray · Senior Member

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: brooklynhabfan wrote: No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad... I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball. Actually I saw the replay. It was NOT intentional. Cole was turning to his left and then suddenly changed direction to go right and BOOM. Don cherry even said so on CBC and he was right. Watch it again. It just happened without intent.

Yeah Muller I agree with you Orpik had no intention of injuring Cole , it was just an accident, a shift in momentum and whack. I saw Cherry's comments and even McClean agreed. Just bad misfortune for Cole

Key Lime · Guru

ray wrote:

Muller93 wrote: barry33 wrote: brooklynhabfan wrote: No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad... I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball. Actually I saw the replay. It was NOT intentional. Cole was turning to his left and then suddenly changed direction to go right and BOOM. Don cherry even said so on CBC and he was right. Watch it again. It just happened without intent. Yeah Muller I agree with you Orpik had no intention of injuring Cole , it was just an accident, a shift in momentum and whack. I saw Cherry's comments and even McClean agreed. Just bad misfortune for Cole

I'm no physician but isn't a broken neck serious. I usually relate broken necks to paralysis. Can he make a come back? Steve Moore had the same injury right? his career is over...

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: brooklynhabfan wrote: No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad... I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball. Actually I saw the replay. It was NOT intentional. Cole was turning to his left and then suddenly changed direction to go right and BOOM. Don cherry even said so on CBC and he was right. Watch it again. It just happened without intent.

Muller- with all due respect, you are using Don Cherry to back up your argument regarding what is dirty and what is not? Who next? Tie Domi? The truth is that this guy was running Carolina players all night. He is a kid trying to make a name for himself by being tough. I watched that game on the dish because I could not get the Habs game. Carolina had spoken to the ref on 2 occassions before that about this player. He had slew footed Crosby and crosschecked Rechi. I am sorry, but when you play on the edge like that you sometimes cross the line. How would you feel had he done that to Koivu?

habgirl · Guru

BRUTAL! I hope they throw the book at this nobody. This hit may not have looked intentional, but Orpik (who is this guy anyway?) was running 'Canes all night. This game was a very good example of what is wrong in hockey.

I am all for a good scrap, but the league has got to do something about marginal players running top guys head first. Period.

Key Lime · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Muller93 wrote: barry33 wrote: brooklynhabfan wrote: No matter what you think of him, he's a top flight player, and to get taken out by some boob who'll be shining hub caps in two years makes you think that the message about sucker-hits hasn't been as much a priority as taking care of goalie's playing outside their area.. too bad... I saw the replay and it was ugly. Gary Bettman is an IDIOT. Oh sure..there is no fighting. We do not want a fight. But yet you have marginal players running all over the place taking runs at guys because there is no retribution. But hey...guys carrie doff on stretchers is fine as long as there are no fights..guys beating each other on the head with sticks is fine as long as no one drops the gloves...what a joke this league has become. Message to Bettman. Go back to basketball. Actually I saw the replay. It was NOT intentional. Cole was turning to his left and then suddenly changed direction to go right and BOOM. Don cherry even said so on CBC and he was right. Watch it again. It just happened without intent. Muller- with all due respect, you are using Don Cherry to back up your argument regarding what is dirty and what is not? Who next? Tie Domi? The truth is that this guy was running Carolina players all night. He is a kid trying to make a name for himself by being tough. I watched that game on the dish because I could not get the Habs game. Carolina had spoken to the ref on 2 occassions before that about this player. He had slew footed Crosby and crosschecked Rechi. I am sorry, but when you play on the edge like that you sometimes cross the line. How would you feel had he done that to Koivu?

It's all about the outcome...look at high sticking penalties - 2 minutes for no blood and 4 minutes for blood. That has to be the most ridiculous rule in the book. You can actually see players pressing there teeth on their lips to cut into the swelling, so that blood can gush out. It's all about the outcome. If Moore just got a concussion from the Bertuzzi blow, would Todd be anywhere close to the state he was in and is in right now? Not!

Ok the Bertuzzi incident was intentional. Many high sticks are not. BUT that's exactly my point. We judge the severity based on the outcome. What if it this unitentional "à la Don Scary" incident happened to Huet? 99.9% of you would demand a long suspension.

-- Edited by Key Lime at 13:14, 2006-03-06

macneil · Guru

berry you say carolina was talking to the refs about orpics and then say he slew footed crosby and cross checked recci , orpiks is on the penguins , why would he do that to his teammates , he had cole lined up for a clean hit , cole turned at the last second and tucked his head down , there was no way it could have been avoided .

Key Lime · Guru

macneil wrote:

berry you say carolina was talking to the refs about orpics and then say he slew footed crosby and cross checked recci , orpiks is on the penguins , why would he do that to his teammates , he had cole lined up for a clean hit , cole turned at the last second and tucked his head down , there was no way it could have been avoided .

Hi Mac. Then the rules book is filled with contradicting information. How can you penalize someone for an unitentional high stick and add 2 minutes for the sight of blood but not penalize someone for breaking another's neck? Not the same thing? Yes it is. It's called accountability.

The NHL preaches that players have to be held accountable for there stick and they will get called for something whether it's intentional, semi-intentional, oopps the freakin stick slip due to my moist gloves, my visor is filled up with humidity which hampered my vision. I don't care.

Like I said, as long as they penalize for unitentional high sticks, then that loser who was skating in circles looking to crush someone (Which the refs were warned on 2 occasions) should be held accountable too. If not, it's contradictory; therefore, everything UNINTENTIONAL should not be called.

2 refs will lower the amount of cheap shots or guys trying to get away with cheating...my ass! The NHL has to get their act together and fast.

WHETHER ORPIC DID IT INTENTIONALLY OR NOT...I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BOGUS NHL RULE BOOK.

barry33 · Guru

macneil wrote:

berry you say carolina was talking to the refs about orpics and then say he slew footed crosby and cross checked recci , orpiks is on the penguins , why would he do that to his teammates , he had cole lined up for a clean hit , cole turned at the last second and tucked his head down , there was no way it could have been avoided .

Sorry Mcneil..I meant he slew footed Stahl and not Crosby. Have to stop these Monday morning posts.

macneil · Guru

hey lime , i understand about highsticks , but to me this is just accedental , he lined him up for the hit , expecting him to go along the boards ,then at the last second cole turned , it was accedental , bert was premedetated, a highstick accedental or not is a penalty , im not saying its not a penalty , but cannot be compared to bert , nor do i think it deserves a suspention.

Key Lime · Guru

macneil wrote:

hey lime , i understand about highsticks , but to me this is just accedental , he lined him up for the hit , expecting him to go along the boards ,then at the last second cole turned , it was accedental , bert was premedetated, a highstick accedental or not is a penalty , im not saying its not a penalty , but cannot be compared to bert , nor do i think it deserves a suspention.

wow...alright...I respect your opinion. Hope you undertsand mine.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Muller93 wrote:
Muller- with all due respect, you are using Don Cherry to back up your argument regarding what is dirty and what is not? Who next? Tie Domi? The truth is that this guy was running Carolina players all night. He is a kid trying to make a name for himself by being tough. I watched that game on the dish because I could not get the Habs game. Carolina had spoken to the ref on 2 occassions before that about this player. He had slew footed Crosby and crosschecked Rechi. I am sorry, but when you play on the edge like that you sometimes cross the line. How would you feel had he done that to Koivu?

Not saying the guy is not a tough guy trying to make a name. But in isolation, look at the hit. It was not intentional. If anything it was a pretty harmless play.

Remember Begin's hit on a guy not too long ago. That one was WAY WAY worse. I still think it was clean.

In hockey you are going to have unfortunate events. This was one of them. We can't go calling for a guys head on a play like that. I bet even Cole would agree when he looks at the replay.

Muller93 · Guru

By the way, Don Cherry is no dummy. I respect his opinions. He called for the no touch icing which is brilliant.

Barry...what is wrong with Don Cherry? I rarely disagree with him.

Key Lime · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

barry33 wrote: Muller93 wrote: Muller- with all due respect, you are using Don Cherry to back up your argument regarding what is dirty and what is not? Who next? Tie Domi? The truth is that this guy was running Carolina players all night. He is a kid trying to make a name for himself by being tough. I watched that game on the dish because I could not get the Habs game. Carolina had spoken to the ref on 2 occassions before that about this player. He had slew footed Crosby and crosschecked Rechi. I am sorry, but when you play on the edge like that you sometimes cross the line. How would you feel had he done that to Koivu? Not saying the guy is not a tough guy trying to make a name. But in isolation, look at the hit. It was not intentional. If anything it was a pretty harmless play. Remember Begin's hit on a guy not too long ago. That one was WAY WAY worse. I still think it was clean. In hockey you are going to have unfortunate events. This was one of them. We can't go calling for a guys head on a play like that. I bet even Cole would agree when he looks at the replay.

That's my point, Begin should of been suspended for that. The rules are contradictory. You have some rules whether intentional or unintentional, you get penalized. The guy broke his back. His back, man.

Look at the hypocrisy:

Bloody nose caused by an unintentional high stick = 4 minute penalty

A BROKEN BACK caused by an unintentional hit = Nada

Someone unitentionally breaking Orpics leg caused by a collission (UNTENTIONAL, OF COURSE) = Priceless

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

By the way, Don Cherry is no dummy. I respect his opinions. He called for the no touch icing which is brilliant. Barry...what is wrong with Don Cherry? I rarely disagree with him.

You did not answre my question. Would you feel the same way if it had been Koivu who got his neck broken? Or is it simply ok because it was Eric Cole? It is all about respect..or lack of respect. Too many players today with no respect for their colleagues. You are supposed to be responsible for your stick. The same goes for your body. As for Begin's hit, yes it was worse and YES he should have been suspended. Guys like Begin who play on the edge all the time need to think twice before they try running guys through the boards. Suspensions do wonders for that. My hope is that when that idiot comes back that there is retribution from someone in a Canes uniform..oh ya! Wait!! Cant do that!! May get an instigator penalty. The joke is that a coach gets fined 10,000 if one of his players gets in a fight in the last minute.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

You did not answre my question. Would you feel the same way if it had been Koivu who got his neck broken? Or is it simply ok because it was Eric Cole? It is all about respect..or lack of respect. Too many players today with no respect for their colleagues. You are supposed to be responsible for your stick. The same goes for your body. As for Begin's hit, yes it was worse and YES he should have been suspended. Guys like Begin who play on the edge all the time need to think twice before they try running guys through the boards. Suspensions do wonders for that. My hope is that when that idiot comes back that there is retribution from someone in a Canes uniform..oh ya! Wait!! Cant do that!! May get an instigator penalty. The joke is that a coach gets fined 10,000 if one of his players gets in a fight in the last minute.

Well in this case...since it was a fluke, I would not be calling him an idiot. Just watch the replay Barry. I'm sure it's an opinion thing, but I don't see it as a intent to injure hit. Same way I did not see Moore's "hit" on Naslund as an intent to injure.

I have seen some blatent hits from behind which I do consider terrible and unsportsmanlike. Just not this one. So to answer your question...no I would not be head hunting if it were Koivu. I recall when Savage broke his neck from a hit. Savage's head was clearly down...should that player have backed off the hit? I did not think so. Unfortunate...not dirty.

I think Plouf( I think) made a good point. I don't think it is so much intent to injure here, but rather the large variation in skill level out there. A more skilled "checker" like a Carbonneau lets say, would have had the ability to quickly adjust his positioning on that hit and avoid the damage. This plug just could not adjust to the quick move by Cole. But just because he is "unskilled" does not make him an idiot. Watch the replay.

barry33 · Guru

Perhaps idiot is an unfair term to use. However the kid has a history of playing with reckless abandon. What if the result had been different? WHat if it had been Koivu and he was parylized for life?!?? He deserves to be suspended just as Begin should have been suspended. Is it the same as teh Bertuzzi thing? Of course not. Bert was premeditated. This was not. But Muller, you know as a player, that there is still that split second when a guy turns his back to you that, although you can not completely avoid hitting him, you can ease off. To put all of the blame on Cole for putting his head down is as unfair to Cole as me calling Propik an idiot. The puck was in Cole's feet and he was looking for it. He has the right to do that without the expectation of being plowed head first into the fiberglass.

As for Don Cherry., as entertaining as I find him I do not respect the influece he has on young players. Kids watch Cherry say a hit like that was ok and they go out an dplay accordingly. I have seen it time and time again. Of course, this is the same guy who applauded a goon like Tie Domi for playing 1000 NHL games.

Nil d · Guru

I just saw the reply of the hit on TV. It was unfortunate, but the hit was not that dirty, I don't think. Cole made a little move to one side (towards the boards) just before he was hit and Orpik was already in motion. It happens so fast in the heat of the moment, it could have happened to anyone any night. I note Orpik was suspended for three games, so the league brass doesn't agree with me - or the refs, who did not call a penalty, if I heard correctly.

Muller93 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Perhaps idiot is an unfair term to use. However the kid has a history of playing with reckless abandon. What if the result had been different? WHat if it had been Koivu and he was parylized for life?!?? He deserves to be suspended just as Begin should have been suspended. Is it the same as teh Bertuzzi thing? Of course not. Bert was premeditated. This was not. But Muller, you know as a player, that there is still that split second when a guy turns his back to you that, although you can not completely avoid hitting him, you can ease off. To put all of the blame on Cole for putting his head down is as unfair to Cole as me calling Propik an idiot. The puck was in Cole's feet and he was looking for it. He has the right to do that without the expectation of being plowed head first into the fiberglass. As for Don Cherry., as entertaining as I find him I do not respect the influece he has on young players. Kids watch Cherry say a hit like that was ok and they go out an dplay accordingly. I have seen it time and time again. Of course, this is the same guy who applauded a goon like Tie Domi for playing 1000 NHL games.

Actually Barry, I think Cole had the puck and turned abruptly to the left. Propik was following through and caught him. with what would have been a clean hit had Cole not made that snappy move. Propik could not stop the momentum I don't think.

Also I actually think Don Cherry always has a good message for the kids. He ALWAYS harps on not hitting from behind and respecting other players. He beleives in taking the body hard, which is fine. Cherry likes tough players, but hates the dirty guys.

And Nil'd I think the Brass suspended the guy because Cole brokes his neck and why not simply suspend "Propik"( who?). It sends a message to "be careful". It was a smart choice to suspend him really. But I doubt if it was Iginla who nailed him...he would have been suspended...