Galvanize

I don't really care if he calls me. I don't care (if I hear from him). He doesn't respect me and I don't respect him.

Harsh words from a seemingly gentle soul. Tugs on those heart strings alittle, eh?

Tomas also seems very optimistic in assessing his chances to return to the line up. Which is nice and all, but the last thing Kaberle or the Leafs need is for him to come back too soon and suffer a long term set-back. But don't tell that to him.

I want to be on the ice as a soon as possible. I plan to play this year for sure.

And it is rubbing off. Wellwood, originally slated to return in about two weeks time, then moved up to next Tuesday is now talking about a Saturday night return to the line up. With Pavel 'no time for pain' Kubina coming back while his finger is still mangled, and Tucker's surprise return, either the training staff has their hands on some top notch HGH or Cam Janssen's hit has galvanized this team's resolve.

I think, er more like hope, we'll see what the team is really made of tonight.

Cam "I was just finishing my check" Janssen benched after "clean" hit

You(tube - full unedited coverage) be the judge. Here's a slo-mo version to crystallize it for you.

And if you think I'm a homer, watch this.


I had been hoping Belak would dress for this game, but as my girlfriend noted, the team needs other people beside Belak to step up, and that sparring should be introduced to the off-season training regimen. She also calmed me down as I was furious nobody even touched Cam 'ladyboy' Janssen, raising the possibility the Leafs were more concerned with Tomas' well-being. This may be, but it still felt wrong. Atleast Tucker justified his raise by coming out and giving Cam a piece of his mind. Mark March 20th on the calendar. I know Darcy has.



The head is simply out of play for initial contact. Period.

I don't have much else to say except, 'Fuck you Cam.'

UPDATE - In light of Strachan's article about the contrasting mindsets of NHL fans north and south of the 49th, the fact that Cam Janssen is a favorite of Devils' fans, despite his miniscule average time on ice is somewhat telling. I don't agree with Al's generalizations, but Cam's status in the garden state is intriguing.

UPDATE - Jim Kelley "gets it"

And the blood and gore group is not just alive, they are off the table and walking, now running into anyone who moves.

You could see it when the New York Islanders started kicking the stuffing out of the New York Rangers and the New York Post openly calls for physical retribution. You can see it again when another Buffalo Sabre, Chris Drury, is blindsided by a shoulder to the head by Ottawa's Chris Neil and not only is there no call on the ice, but the powers that be declare the hit is clean even though Neil states for the record that he hits to hurt people and that, should the Senators get the upper hand in the rematch (read get ahead by two or more goals) there will be more of the same. And there was.

Those who taste blood for a living can feel it oozing out of their gums now. Blows to the head are clean as long as they aren't too late. The NHL has declared it so.

Those pain-in-the-butt media types (and I admit I used to be one until I saw the blood red light flash before my eyes) don't like it, especially after one of their own is taken down like a stag at a hunt in the swamplands of New Jersey. It gets a little dicey when media in the centre of the hockey universe gets involved, but that's not a problem for the NHL. They slap a three-game suspension on that Devil Cam Janssen not for the wicked blow to the head that knocked All-Star Tomas Kaberle head first into the boards and out of the rink on a stretcher. They declare the head shot legal, just a little late.

UPDATE - http://battleofontario.blogspot.com/2007/03/finishing-your-check.html posted some comments made by Ken Dryden a few years ago addressing Cam's rationalization. Check it out. It reads like a breath of fresh air.

UPDATE - Mirtle posted the guiltless comments from the shitbag himself. Sounds similar to the title of this post, don't it?

UPDATE - Please read these comments from fellow spofite Mr.Frisby who happens to be one of the biggest Devils' fans I know. His levelheadedness is much appreciated.

UPDATE - Greg Wyshynski penned an imaginary conversation about an imaginary situation that, although originates from the mind of a Devils' fan, highlights the ridiculous nature of the NHL supplementary discipline system, if you can call it a system at all.

If players do not know what the punishment will be, if any, there is less of a deterrent to avoid these types of actions. If a player knows they will be suspended automatically for 10 games for any particular transgression, without the latent uncertainty of a "review" players would be more inclined to shy away from such actions. Simple as that.

If you know the time for the crime, you probably won't become a criminal.