The OFFICIAL NHL Video Thread - F Off NBA Fans

[DeToxRox]

[Buccaneer]

I <3 NHL.

[MikeVic]

What a badass. I saw a couple of Jets clips.

Was that him fighting in warmups? LOL.

[Pumpy Tudors]

What the hell is this peace offering shit? What's next? You're going to give Claude Lemieux a reacharound?

[MikeVic]

Can this be an NHL video thread?

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Can this be an NHL video thread?

Done

[MikeVic]

Awesome.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=wumUOxkaqSc

Kinda crappy footage... Summary:
-Bunch of Jim Kyte (at least I believe it's him... has the different helmet and is tall) fights.
-Then some quick Selanne footage.
-At the 5:55 mark I think you can see Pokey Reddick get in a fight, and the the ENTIRE Flames team comes barreling in!!
-Around 7:00, the ref lays the greatest hit on a fan ever (seriously, this one is awesome).
-7:05, Selanne does his famous (at least to me) celebration when breaking Bossy's rookie goal record.

[MikeVic]

Frick, how do you embed the video.

[MikeVic]

There you go.

[Maple Leafs]

This is a great thread.

I'll resist the urge to just post Leaf stuff... how's this oldie?

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

This is a great thread.

I'll resist the urge to just post Leaf stuff... how's this oldie?

What a tilt. Probie could throw hands like no other.

[DeToxRox]

I won't even begin.

[Groundhog]

Is Ice Hockey the only sport where people aren't considered thugs or bad sports if they start beating the shit out of other players?

[MikeVic]

I'm sure there has to be other sports... Is that allowed in Rugby?

[Icy]

Besides the fights, what amazes me is that it seems nobody ever tries to stop those fights, they all just stand around watching including the refs.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I'm sure there has to be other sports... Is that allowed in Rugby?

No.

In a sport like Aussie Rules football there is a fair amount of pushing and the like, but even then if someone starts to actually "fight" rather than shove and yell at each other, it's massive suspensions and fines.

No doubt there is some other obscure sport that does allow it, but I can't think of any examples that are close to the level of the NHL.

From the perspective of an ice hockey outsider, it's just one of those things that will always keep ice hockey (or maybe just NHL, don't know if fights happen in other leagues/Olympic level) as a niche sport, because I don't know how any one can take it seriously when two players start to throw down and every just stands around and watches.

[Coder]

Not NHL per say, but it's hockey.. and it's so funny I laugh every time.. even after watching it a billionth time.. and I can't stop saying pokecheck either..

[Logan]

Couple Ranger-related ones...

I was sitting about 20 feet away when Nick Kypreos' career was ended with one punch:




And one of my favorite beatdowns of all time. Tommie Salo, it's never smart to be the third guy in on a fight, especially when you're a goalie...and there's a much tougher goalie at the other end of the ice:

[MikeVic]

Haha go Cloutier.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Logan

Couple Ranger-related ones...

I was sitting about 20 feet away when Nick Kypreos' career was ended with one punch

Wow a career ending punch? what happened?

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

No.

In a sport like Aussie Rules football there is a fair amount of pushing and the like, but even then if someone starts to actually "fight" rather than shove and yell at each other, it's massive suspensions and fines.

No doubt there is some other obscure sport that does allow it, but I can't think of any examples that are close to the level of the NHL.

From the perspective of an ice hockey outsider, it's just one of those things that will always keep ice hockey (or maybe just NHL, don't know if fights happen in other leagues/Olympic level) as a niche sport, because I don't know how any one can take it seriously when two players start to throw down and every just stands around and watches.

Holy, enough with the NHL bashing.

There's a code though. I don't know how to explain it, but good hockey fights are awesome. Every sport has something that irks others (at least that irks me). If fighting is what is holding down the NHL, I don't want them to get rid of it.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Icy

Wow a career ending punch? what happened?

He had a history of concussions, and that was probably the worst and the one that forced him out. He was unconscious before he hit the ice.

Want to see another career-ending punch? This was a worse cheap shot than Bertuzzi-Moore, IMO. Watch it thru for the replay at the end, as the video starts right as the punch is being delivered.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Icy

Besides the fights, what amazes me is that it seems nobody ever tries to stop those fights, they all just stand around watching including the refs.

That's exactly what makes the NHL better than other leagues.

In MLB or (especially) the NBA, the players know that everyone will pile in as soon as the fight starts. So there's lots of chirping and posturing and chest-thumping, and almost never any action.

In the NHL today, if you don't want to fight you will virtually never need to. But if you want to go, you're going to have a chance to go, get it settled and move on.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

From the perspective of an ice hockey outsider, it's just one of those things that will always keep ice hockey (or maybe just NHL, don't know if fights happen in other leagues/Olympic level) as a niche sport, because I don't know how any one can take it seriously when two players start to throw down and every just stands around and watches.

That's a popular perception, but I don't think fighting is why hockey is, and most likely always will be, a niche sport. The main reasons hockey is a niche sport are: (1) you need an ice surface to play; (2) the ice surface (unless you live some place cold where ponds/lakes freeze over all the time) and equipment are expensive; and (3) it does not translate well on TV.

I really don't see how eliminating fighting would all of a sudden make hockey appeal to much broader audience. Sure, there are some folks who simply refuse to watch hockey because of the fighting, but I really think that even if you removed the fighting, the bulk of those people (of which, I believe, are few) would simply find some other reason not to watch hockey.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

From the perspective of an ice hockey outsider, it's just one of those things that will always keep ice hockey (or maybe just NHL, don't know if fights happen in other leagues/Olympic level) as a niche sport, because I don't know how any one can take it seriously when two players start to throw down and every just stands around and watches.

The NHL agreed with you in the early 90s, and took steps to reduce the amount of fighting. The theory was that hockey's popularity would increase as fighting dropped.

Needless to say, it turns out to have been a disaster -- as fighting went down, so did ratings (in the US). That doesn't necessarily mean that fighting helps ratings, but it does seem to indicate that the old "fighting is what keeps people away" theory was just plain wrong.

Meanwhile, kids in the States are flocking to stuff like MMA (e.g. UFC). So in an era where interest in violent one-on-one fights is taking off, the NHL reduced it. Yet another in a long list of marketing disasters.

[Icy]

I would like to enjoy hockey as i do football and baseball, but as there is no coverage in Spain, i had to watch it by internet streaming and i had big problems following the puck. I just saw guys skating around until some of them raised their arms, meaning a goal was scored.

I think there was a TV channel (Fox maybe?) that colored the puck and some inches more around it in TV, making it way easier to follow.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Icy

I would like to enjoy hockey as i do football and baseball, but as there is no coverage in Spain, i had to watch it by internet streaming and i had big problems following the puck. I just saw guys skapting around until some of them raised their arms, meaning a goal was scored.

I think there was a TV channel (Fox maybe?) that colored the puck and some inches more around it in TV, making it way easier to follow.

High definition is the best way to watch hockey on TV. It's pretty easy to follow.

I can see where people have a tough time following the game. I've never had a hard time, but I grew up watching it. After you watch enough hockey you just sort of know where the puck is, where it's going, etc. It's not so much seeing the puck as it is reading body language and having a general sense about the flow of the game.

One of the big problems with hockey on TV, other than the size of the puck, is the fact that the ice is white. White is a very difficult color to get right on TV. Green is easy. Green looks great on TV, but getting the right contrast and shade for white is difficult. Many times to tone down the white, the lower the contrast so the arena looks dark. I used to watch a lot of Caps games when I lived in DC. Their production was awful. The ice was bright it seemed to be glowing.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

The NHL agreed with you in the early 90s, and took steps to reduce the amount of fighting. The theory was that hockey's popularity would increase as fighting dropped.

Needless to say, it turns out to have been a disaster -- as fighting went down, so did ratings (in the US). That doesn't necessarily mean that fighting helps ratings, but it does seem to indicate that the old "fighting is what keeps people away" theory was just plain wrong.

Meanwhile, kids in the States are flocking to stuff like MMA (e.g. UFC). So in an era where interest in violent one-on-one fights is taking off, the NHL reduced it. Yet another in a long list of marketing disasters.

That was definitely the league's stance. The league created this fictional fan-to-be in their heads, who would embrace hockey, go to the games, watch it on TV, if there just wasn't any fighting. I have never met such a person. There may be a handful that exist out there, but they would no way make up for the legions of die hard NHL fans who would leave the game if fighting was banned. If fighting were banned this fictional "fan-to-be", who probably lives in Candyland with elves, gremlins, and eskimos, would just find some other reason to not enjoy hockey: I can't see the puck on TV, I don't know the rules, I can't pronounce the names, etc.

[johnnyshaka]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

(or maybe just NHL, don't know if fights happen in other leagues/Olympic level)

I'd say there is probably more fighting in the lesser North American leagues...Canadian Major Junior leagues included...than there is in the NHL, especially after all the recent rule changes to create more room for skilled players and the instigator penalty.

I used to love watching Junior hockey growing up. While living in Ottawa we had the 67's and just over the river were the Hull (now Gatineau) Olympiques...two very well run teams who seem to be in the thick of things more often than not. There were some years I remember watching the likes of Peter Worrell and Colin White (who during a two year stretch, 95-96 and 96-97, had a combined total of over 1500 penalty minutes!!!) literally kick the shit out of opposing teams. Don't get me wrong, the rough stuff was fun to watch, but those teams were complete hockey teams. Over those two seasons they won 100 games during the regular season and also grabbed the Memorial Cup.

Good times.

[johnnyshaka]

Originally Posted by Icy

I would like to enjoy hockey as i do football and baseball, but as there is no coverage in Spain, i had to watch it by internet streaming and i had big problems following the puck. I just saw guys skating around until some of them raised their arms, meaning a goal was scored.

I think there was a TV channel (Fox maybe?) that colored the puck and some inches more around it in TV, making it way easier to follow.

Yeah, Fox experimented with ways to make the puck easier to follow. Personally, I thought it was retarded but I've never had an issue following the puck so I had/have no use for gimmicks like that. But, if it could help a new/casual fan gain appreciation for the game, by all means, go for it.

It is pretty tough to watch hockey via the internet. I tried to watch my little brother's games that way while he played in some crappy Dutch league and even though it was my little brother, I just couldn't do it.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Logan

He had a history of concussions, and that was probably the worst and the one that forced him out. He was unconscious before he hit the ice.

Want to see another career-ending punch? This was a worse cheap shot than Bertuzzi-Moore, IMO. Watch it thru for the replay at the end, as the video starts right as the punch is being delivered.

Wow, isn't that penalized? one thing is a fight but that cheap shoot??? he should be banned from hockey forever for ending another player career being that dirty and coward.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

That's exactly what makes the NHL better than other leagues.

In MLB or (especially) the NBA, the players know that everyone will pile in as soon as the fight starts. So there's lots of chirping and posturing and chest-thumping, and almost never any action.

In the NHL today, if you don't want to fight you will virtually never need to. But if you want to go, you're going to have a chance to go, get it settled and move on.

Not to mention, that if you want to be a tough guy in the NHL and start some shit by throwing a high, late shoulder at the opposing team's best player, you better be prepared to drop your gloves and defend yourself when the time comes for one of his teammates to stand up for him.

In baseball, if a pitcher wants to be a tough guy and start shit by throwing a fastball into the back of the opposing team's best player, one of 3 things will happen to him:

1. He will get thrown the same pitch in his back the next time he comes up. He'll have a black and blue for a week. Poor baby.

2. He'll get charged, where the batter will swing and miss and he'll be tackled, while his teammates come to his rescue.

3. Nothing, because either a) the other team would rather throw at his team's best player instead of the pitcher, b) he's a reliever so he'll never step up to the plate, or c) he's an AL pitcher and he has no accountability at all.

Give me hockey's rules any day. Cheap shots would be much more prevalent if fighting wasn't in the game.

[Icy]

Damn guys, you are making me to want to fire up EHM07

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Logan

Want to see another career-ending punch? This was a worse cheap shot than Bertuzzi-Moore, IMO. Watch it thru for the replay at the end, as the video starts right as the punch is being delivered.

I don't have access to You Tube at work, but I assume this the Matt Johnson hit on Jeff Beukeboom? That was horrible. I really liked Beukeboom and not only because he has one of the greatest hockey names ever.

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I don't have access to You Tube at work, but I assume this the Matt Johnson hit on Jeff Beukeboom? That was horrible. I really liked Beukeboom and not only because he has one of the greatest hockey names ever.

The guy who hits has "Johnson" written in his jerey so i guess so.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I don't have access to You Tube at work, but I assume this the Matt Johnson hit on Jeff Beukeboom? That was horrible. I really liked Beukeboom and not only because he has one of the greatest hockey names ever.

Wow, well done sir. That was it. Did you at least see the Cloutier frozen image on the Rangers?

I don't remember what Johnson's career path was after that hit, but he should've been kicked out of the league (he was suspended for 12 games). Here was his quote after the incident (which he said was the result of Beukeboom "slew-footing" Glen Murray three minutes before):

''I'll accept the punishment, whatever they hand down,'' Johnson said. ''What I did was probably wrong. But I felt I had to do something. And what I did, whether it was right or wrong, I did because, in the end, I have to protect my players. I take that on myself.''

[Johnny93g]

Ron Hextall vs. Felix Potvin

[Johnny93g]

Leafs/Hawks brawl

[Johnny93g]

Leafs/Hawks #2

or

Stu Grimson snaps!!

[sabotai]

I went to the Flyers-Capitals game (Club Seats!) on Feb 6th when they inducted Ron Hextall into the Flyers Hall of Fame. Here's the tribute video they showed.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Johnny93g

Leafs/Hawks #2

or

Stu Grimson snaps!!

Hahahaha.

[Dr. Sak]

[MikeVic]

Awwww I thought Roy and Hextall would go at it!

[MikeVic]

I can't find the Emery fight where he's all smiling.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I can't find the Emery fight where he's all smiling.

Are you referring to the fight against Andrew Peters? Or his battle against Ottawa's drug bylaws?

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Are you referring to the fight against Andrew Peters? Or his battle against Ottawa's drug bylaws?

Har. I forget who it was, but it was a player. Not a goalie. And he was smiling either during or after the fight.

[Maple Leafs]

As you wish...

[Maple Leafs]

Here's another fun Ottawa one, this time with the Flyers.

Only downside of this one is the refs crapped the bed and gave everyone misconducts on top of their fighting penalties, making this the highest PIM game in league history even though there have been many games with multiple bench-clearing brawls.

[Fidatelo]

I'm late to the party, but I love the Salo-Cloutier fight because even though Salo is turtling and Cloutier is just pounding the ever-loving snot out of him, the refs just let him take the beating! (I assume as punishment for deciding to be the third man in on the other fight). Cloutier actually just stops wailing on the guy of his own accord, you don't see that very often.

As for the Clark video that started this whole thing, that was great, although there were a couple of dirty plays in there. He leaves his feet on a few of the big hits, but the worst is where he cross-checks a guy in the face as he's being hit into the boards, then sucker-punches him in the face before the guy can drop his gloves. Lovely.

[MikeVic]

Thanks Maple Leafs.