There doesn’t seem to be anyone that is spouting any common sense and that’s not surprising when it comes to Canadian hockey fans.
If you don’t know what I’m referencing, then you’ve been either without power due to the extreme cold or hiding out in an igloo.
What I speak of is the recent clash of Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, and pest, with Edmonton Oilers tough, yet temperamental, forward Zack Kassian.
Kassian blew up and began launching bombs on Tkachuk who covered himself up, following a Tkachuk smashing Kassian with a questionable bodycheck in the second period of a tie game on Jan. 11 in Calgary. Kassian’s outburst earned him a double minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct, which led to Calgary scoring the game winner on the powerplay less than a minute into the third.
More fireworks came in the media scrums after the game, with Kassian calling out the Flames star while Tkachuk was unapologetic in telling the tough guy to stay out of the way if he doesn’t want to take a hit.
However, what’s gone off the rails is the amount of vitriol by both fans and media — on both sides of the equation — being spewed on social media as well as via mainstream print, radio and television.
On the Kassian side, the argument stands that the hit was likely dirty — even if the NHL determined the hit and one previous in the game were not — and that it was fine that the Oilers forward took a pound of flesh in retribution. The group has also been vocal about deriding Tkachuk for essentially not doing the honourable old school hockey thing and answering the bell when another players wants to dance.
Meanwhile, those coming to the defence of Tkachuk have labelled Kassian as a whiner, a goon that can’t handle a legal hit and a less-skilled neanderthal that is only on the team to ensure no one messes with its two superstar players.
Unfortunately, neither side is conducting themselves with any portion of common sense, honour or fairness.
I’ve been involved in hockey for as long as I can remember — as player, official and fan — and am fairly ashamed of how the reaction has demonstrated the people around the game are not as “evolved” as one may have thought.
Back to Slap Shot
First off, I’ll start with many of my sports journalism colleagues — including several long time NHL writers and ones I used to hold in high regard.
Several of them have come out heralding that Tkachuk had to “answer the bell when challenged” or “face some old school discipline” for the hit, which may well have crossed a line regardless of what the league brass said.
Sorry to say, but the days have long since seen the gate closed on players using their fists to, in the words of one scribe “settle a score” especially when the other player is not interested in it. If one wants to reminisce about the old days of hockey, go slap shot that famous hockey movie in the VCR.
So, I do agree with Kassian being suspended. Two games might be one too many, but I think the league took into account his previous history on that.
Kassian, and his team, would have been better off if he had just taken a number and meted out some legal punishment later in the game, rather than costing his club a potential win.
However, apparently Kassian and his supporters still have revenge on their minds, especially given many of the most recent comments.
So expect some big hype and a bunch of fireworks when the clubs meet again on Jan. 29 with Kassian’s suspension complete.
Dirty play
As for those that have gotten behind Tkachuk, those kind of hits were supposed to be taken out of the game and supporting actions like that make you no better than those backing Kassian’s reaction.
Unfortunately, the officials didn’t make a call on the first hit which was the worst of the two. And while the second hit — the one that got Kassian’s goat as it were — was legal, it certainly came awfully close to crossing the line.
The league and players definitely want to maintain the physical aspect of the NHL, but having a player essentially running around and trying to send others into the 10th row isn’t what fans need to see either.
Tkachuk needs to play a smarter game while still being as much of a pest as players such as Ken Linesman and Brad Marchand.
This is supposed to be the new NHL with a fast pace, superstars that are allowed to do those exciting things, physical play is still encouraged and the occasional fight still happens.
However, there is no longer an appetite for things such as old school retribution, dirty antics, busting people’s chops or listening to people that should know better advocating for these.
If that’s where some fans, media, players and the NHL want to go, let me change the channel.
But that is…just an observation.