Posts Tagged Darcy Tucker
Afternoon rumors involving Gagne, Savard, Sharp, and a list of UFA’s
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 14th, 2010
Pierre LeBrun via Twitter: The Flyers have given Simon Gagne’s agent permission to speak directly with teams, nothing yet.
Jimmy Murphy via Twitter: One GM said this morning, “As far as I know, Bruins aren’t actively shopping Savard at this moment. That has been quiet.”
JT Bourne (Puck Daddy, USA Today) via Twitter: The Islanders should be offering “mad prospects/picks” for Patrick Sharp. Isles need the talent, gives the Blackhawks the cap space, and they are in a different conference.
Dennis Bernstein via twitter: The longer the Kovalchuk saga drags on in Los Angeles, the better a Patrick Sharp trade looks.
Puck Daddy Greg Wyshynski: Titled: “Some clarity on Kovalchuk, Kings and contract demands.” Your afternoon Kovalchuk fix.
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Free Agent rumor round up from yesterday. Brendan Morrison: Has turned down one offer, and waiting on own ‘priority list’, cap issues and trade possibilities are slowing the process down. Eric Belanger: Could be top center on the market, has been told by some teams to wait, Washington and Tampa could be interested. John Madden: “evaluating the possible situations”, once Kovalchuk and Kaberle situations finished, the free agent market will open up (My guess is that he’s referring to NJ or LA as possible destinations, with NJ as the preferred destination). Darcy Tucker: Nothing would happen before the end of the month, location and chance to win are key factors. Raffi Torres: A handful of interested teams, no firm offers. Arron Asham: Getting lots of interest, and has offers, but would like a raise. Ruslan Fedotenko/Miroslav Satan: Both have interest, but teams waiting for other things to happen first. Pavol Demitra: Getting interest from KHL and NHL, and hopes to get something done soon. Mike Mottau: New Jersey is still interested. Marek Svatos: Could get a one-year deal at good value, a fit for Pittsburgh? Brian Pothier: talking with team, but hasn’t moved on anything.rci
Around the Boards: Some under-achieving Avs, DUI for Chelios, Ference out 6 weeks, Burns Skating
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on January 7th, 2010
- Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post: The Colorado Avalanche continue to roll on, but there are several players that aren’t living up to expectations. “The Avs are getting next to nothing from Darcy Tucker, Marek Svatos, Ruslan Salei and Liles, whose combined salaries exceed $12 million”…. “John-Michael Liles produced an assist on a goal against the Islanders, but when I asked Sacco to evaluate the highly-paid defenseman’s performance, it’s seems to be no secret that the Avs would like to trade Liles to Mystery, Alaska, for a bag of pucks.”
- Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Talks between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang are ongoing, but they don’t appear to be close to anything.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Confirmation that Henrik Zetterberg and Danny Cleary will return to the Red Wings lineup tonight.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: After an impressive run at the World Juniors, earning the top defenceman of the tournament, Alex Pietrangelo earned himself a ticket back the OHL. Blues management felt that rather than play spot duty or be a healthy scratch, playing big minutes with Niagara was better for him.
- Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minnesota Wild defencemen Brent Burns has been skating for the last 2 weeks. He is still awaiting medical clearance for his concussion, but there is hope that he is able to return soon.
- Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe: Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference will be out 6 weeks with a groin injury.
Tuomo Ruutu Suspended for 3 Games
“Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu has been handed a three-game suspension by the National Hockey League for his hit on Avalanche forward Darcy Tucker in Friday’s 5-4 Colorado victory.
Tucker was slammed into the boards by Ruutu as he tried to play the puck in the Hurricanes’ end in the second period of friday’s action. Tucker’s face hit the glass hard and he fell backwards to the ice. He was unconscious as Avalanche doctors and trainers attended to him.” (Source:TSN Staff)
If you haven’t seen the hit in question here’s a link to view it courtesy of You Tube.
As with all hits and infractions there will be endless debate as to whether the punishment fits the crime, there’s lots of possible comparisons to other situations that might or might not have deserved more or less than the 3 games Ruutu recieved.
I’d like to take a look at the root problem here, and in my mind it’s a respect issue. I’m not going to try to paint Darcy Tucker, of all people, as a saint (we all remember the cheap hit on Micheal Peca delivered by Tucker when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs) but the culture in the NHL needs to change. The “win at all costs” attitude is what drives the players to do whatever it takes to get the job done, regardless of the example they are setting to the younger audience, the same audience who grows up to become NHL players and push the bar of respect even lower. The responsibility needs to be on the players to make the right decision when a player has his back turned, and no amount of subsequent discipline will change the play after the fact.
In comparision, if you watch some mixed martial arts fights you’ll actually see a fighter help an opponent to his feet at the end of a match, sometimes even holding the opponents hand in the air in a show of respect. In the NFL, you routinely see opponents help each other to their feet at the end of a play. I realize this isn’t always the case but when have you ever seen this kind of sportsmanship displayed in the NHL?
In sports that are so steeped in violence, a small show of humanity goes a long way when developing future players impressions of, what is in fact, the most important thing.
Around the Boards: Sat. Oct. 24th
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on October 24th, 2009
- Damien Cox of the Toronto Sun: Leaf fans are marking Nov. 3rd down on their calenders. Ron Wilson said that is the day they expect Phil Kessel to receive clearance for game action. That would be a little earlier than expected, mid-November was what they were hoping for initially.
- The Denver Post: Darcy Tucker was hammered from behind by Tuomo Ruutu last night, and was carted off on a stretcher. He looked like he was knocked unconscious before he hit the ice. Tucker was alert while being examined at the hospital.
- Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Atlanta Thrashers goalie, Kari Lehtonen, continues to experience pain in his legs following his July back surgery. There is no time table for his return.
- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Good news for Cristobal Huet fantasy owners, he’s still with the big club, and expected to start tonight.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: 3 new lines for the Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux centering Gagne and Ian Laperriere, Mike Richards centering Scott Hartnell and Aaron Asham, Danny Briere centering Jeff Carter and James van Riemsdyk. Ray Emery starts tonight, Brian Boucher starts tomorrow.
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