News Article: James Neal: The Poster Child for What's Wrong With NHL Discipline System

[td_ice]

He was a terrible NHL referee IMO. Whenever he would skate out before the game I swear there would be an audible groan in the Arena. He was a showboat who loved controlling the game. I believe he is a former player as well.

Yep on both counts.

He was a minor league goon. Stewart reefed games as a "champion of the common player", which ordinary players and role players loved him for it, and star players hated him.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

People should play true to what they are...
Neal is seen as an elite goal scorer, so people expect him to do nothing but score, aka take the crap.

In his mind, clearly scoring 40 goals doesn't make up for the crap he gets...it may be sufficient for other players....so at times he bursts and does stupid things intentionally. In his mind, he's making up for perceived abuse.

So either...
(a) tell him to stop doing it, which probably means either he is expected to change his personality, or find another outlet.

(b) teach him how to be an ass the right way (aka ala Marchand, Subban, Hartnell, etc).

I vote for (b). There is a fine line where he can learn to get satisfaction without looking stupid/vindictive/frustrated or getting penalized, and still score 40 goals.

 

[DegenX]

People should play true to what they are...
Neal is seen as an elite goal scorer, so people expect him to do nothing but score, aka take the crap.

In his mind, clearly scoring 40 goals doesn't make up for the crap he gets...it may be sufficient for other players....so at times he bursts and does stupid things intentionally. In his mind, he's making up for perceived abuse.

So either...
(a) tell him to stop doing it, which probably means either he is expected to change his personality, or find another outlet.

(b) teach him how to be an ass the right way (aka ala Marchand, Subban, Hartnell, etc).

I vote for (b). There is a fine line where he can learn to get satisfaction without looking stupid/vindictive/frustrated or getting penalized, and still score 40 goals.

I vote that the entire team take that class.

 

[Bennett Brauer]

People should play true to what they are...
Neal is seen as an elite goal scorer, so people expect him to do nothing but score, aka take the crap.

In his mind, clearly scoring 40 goals doesn't make up for the crap he gets...it may be sufficient for other players....so at times he bursts and does stupid things intentionally. In his mind, he's making up for perceived abuse.

So either...
(a) tell him to stop doing it, which probably means either he is expected to change his personality, or find another outlet.

(b) teach him how to be an ass the right way (aka ala Marchand, Subban, Hartnell, etc).

I vote for (b). There is a fine line where he can learn to get satisfaction without looking stupid/vindictive/frustrated or getting penalized, and still score 40 goals.

Hartnell used to bite people, the only reason why he's not dirtier is because he would get his ass kicked.

Marchand dives and has delivered dirty hits in his career.

Subban is a spineless coward who slewfoots people, backs down from challenges and has intentionally gotten himself ejected just so he didn't have to fight someone (namely Brenden Morrow).

Those 3 are bad examples, Neal is an idiot but not nearly as bad as those 3.

 

[Darth Vitale]

I give zero credence to the source (Hockey Buzz) but the article grazed one point that is definitely accurate: none of our "leaders" are the type of player to take the reigns with another player and tell them to get their head back int eh ****ing game. Sid doesn't do it, Malkin doesn't, Letang doesn't... and Orpik apparently only does it in locker room speeches.

The leadership on this team is suspect at best. Being a super hard worker in practice and a great talent in games, does not make you a "good leader". People on this board way overrate Crosby and Malkin's leadership ability when it comes to reigning in other players. Do they lead by example in terms of work ethic and intensity most of the time? Absolutely. Is that half a deck of cards when it comes to being a good leader? Absolutely.

And the ref is being faire when he said that other guys in the past have been able to do this (reign in emotional stars on their team) when it counts most. Nobody is in control of this team's emotions when we're in the playoffs and on the verge of losing it again. It's always a 100% chance of emotional melt-down when we start losing ugly in a game.

 

[lastcupever75]

Hartnell used to bite people, the only reason why he's not dirtier is because he would get his ass kicked.

Marchand dives and has delivered dirty hits in his career.

Subban is a spineless coward who slewfoots people, backs down from challenges and has intentionally gotten himself ejected just so he didn't have to fight someone (namely Brenden Morrow).

Those 3 are bad examples, Neal is an idiot but not nearly as bad as those 3.

you can bet if those 3 were on the pens, fans here would be complaining that they're too dirty as well

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Hartnell used to bite people, the only reason why he's not dirtier is because he would get his ass kicked.

Marchand dives and has delivered dirty hits in his career.

Subban is a spineless coward who slewfoots people, backs down from challenges and has intentionally gotten himself ejected just so he didn't have to fight someone (namely Brenden Morrow).

Those 3 are bad examples, Neal is an idiot but not nearly as bad as those 3.

The difference is Neal idiocy doesn't gain us anything. At least if you want to be an ass, do it in such a way as to help your team.

Teams like Philly and Boston have that down to an art. They know where the line is and how to tread it, or not get caught.

On the Penguins you have guys like Neal, and at times Malkin and Crosby trying to do the same thing without any training, so basically they look vindictive and frustrated, instead of looking "hard to play against" or "tough".

If Neal wants to do it, at least train him to do it the right way. He'll probably get greater satisfaction as well.

 

[Miss Ausguins]

Looks like James made one of the News Websites here in Australia - and it is extremely rare that Ice Hockey makes the news here unless it is the Olympics. This website stated that James is American not Canadian.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/more-s...-fails-miserably/story-fndukor0-1226866325109

 

[radapex]

Looks like James made one of the News Websites here in Australia - and it is extremely rare that Ice Hockey makes the news here unless it is the Olympics. This website stated that James is American not Canadian.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/more-s...-fails-miserably/story-fndukor0-1226866325109

That's fine. The Americans can take credit for the bad stuff.

 

[Shady Machine]

Hartnell used to bite people, the only reason why he's not dirtier is because he would get his ass kicked.

Marchand dives and has delivered dirty hits in his career.

Subban is a spineless coward who slewfoots people, backs down from challenges and has intentionally gotten himself ejected just so he didn't have to fight someone (namely Brenden Morrow).

Those 3 are bad examples, Neal is an idiot but not nearly as bad as those 3.

Those 3 are great examples because their trolling/dirty play is actually effective. It gets the other team really pissed off and focused on that player rather than the game. Marchand and Hartnell both crossed the line a bit too far earlier in their career but have seemed to find the line better later on (particularly Marchand).

Neal's dirty plays aren't to get other players off their game. Rather, it's when he's frustrated from someone else. When he is playing like that, it's always in a selfish manner. I'd rather Neal cut the **** out and focus on scoring goals, but if he could effectively be an agitator, I'd be pleased.

 

[cheesedanish87]

I give zero credence to the source (Hockey Buzz) but the article grazed one point that is definitely accurate: none of our "leaders" are the type of player to take the reigns with another player and tell them to get their head back int eh ****ing game. Sid doesn't do it, Malkin doesn't, Letang doesn't... and Orpik apparently only does it in locker room speeches.

The leadership on this team is suspect at best. Being a super hard worker in practice and a great talent in games, does not make you a "good leader". People on this board way overrate Crosby and Malkin's leadership ability when it comes to reigning in other players. Do they lead by example in terms of work ethic and intensity most of the time? Absolutely. Is that half a deck of cards when it comes to being a good leader? Absolutely.

And the ref is being faire when he said that other guys in the past have been able to do this (reign in emotional stars on their team) when it counts most. Nobody is in control of this team's emotions when we're in the playoffs and on the verge of losing it again. It's always a 100% chance of emotional melt-down when we start losing ugly in a game.

Great post.

I think this is one of the reasons the pens went after Kesler, we hear from the media that Kesler is a player that isn't afraid to speak his mind, he seems like a player that could help the pens in this area.

 

[Mr Wu]

So you're okay with having this on your team?

Lupul did the exact same thing during 24/7. Where was your outrage then?

Ragging on the Pens is a proven traffic booster. This is because the Pens are a perennial contender and have Crosby. It's a "It's lonely at the top"/"Haters gonna hate" type thing.

Hockey teams all have dirty players because it's a dirty game. We have all seen (even the most gentlemanly) players try to get away with cheap stickwork when they think nobody is looking.

Every discussion on egregious dirty play in the current NHL starts with the Bruins. Anything else is offside.