Latest Hit On Skinner May Have Been My Last Straw ...

[tarheelhockey]

Isn't it the NHLPA that has stood in the way of mandatory visors? I had thought that was the case, anyway...and if that's true, then the league isn't really to blame. In fact, the NHL would probably *rather* see players in helmets and visors, since it would seem to cut down on typical risk that rich people and bureaucrats don't like to have to deal with.

That's a fair point in regard to visors. Both sides have been dragging their feet for years. The PA has to deal with the fact that most of their membership are peak physical specimens in their 20s who don't necessarily have the broadest view of their own health and safety.

 

[bleedgreen]

On Skinner, I would wager that he's going to see another low production season next year, for one of two reasons:

--He continues to play with a death wish, and is knocked out of the game, or:
--He starts the long, hard road of readjustment and begins to change his game with the goal of not being in a wheelchair when he is 28.

I think if he became a pass first player, he would fix a lot of his problems (as Vagrant or BG said). But changing from a shooting sniper to a guy who is looking to set his teammates up is difficult, and really doesn't make good use of his skillset (his skating).

Also, can anyone think of someone off the top of their heads who had problems with injuries related to playstyle, and ended up changing their game and recapturing some of their form?

I'd disagree about his skating not being made of good use, I think it would help. Most top playmakers have higher end lateral movement, which helps them buy time to find an open teammate whereas straightforward players skate themselves into coverage and run out of options quicker. In my mind 18 year old skinner WAS this kind if player. I think after his rookie year he either got cocky or put the expectation on himself to take guys on more aggressively and score himself that's been part of the problem, when he uses the 10-2 skating to find gaps in coverage and to keep his head up it works very well. He doesn't even have to become a playmaker per se, just use the layers between the d to find holes to make plays like he used to instead of charging straight at them and trying to force a goal impatiently. Just more of using space to find the right play and accepting it as it unfolds instead of holding longer and waiting for an even better one. That's been the problem to me, he either tries to direct every loose puck straight at the net and come out the other side with it instead of spinning away from coverage and finding the open guy, or he already has control and instead of moving the puck to the most open guy he'll try to beat someone who already has an angle on him one on one hoping to find a better open man. He could do these things and make himself a better playmaker without giving up his chances to score goals, instead of being a black hole or turnover machine as a squad we'd maintain more possession and increase the chances of him getting the puck back in scoring position.

I think he can be an amazing player. Just needs to grow up quicker and survive the process of doing so. This is what skill players who are too small learn to do in the minors. This is how Chris Terry learns to play, just not in front of us.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Remember the Couture/Skinner debate, where we said we'd never trade Skinner for Couture?

Yeah, those were the days...

 

[Buenos Necas]

Isn't it the NHLPA that has stood in the way of mandatory visors? I had thought that was the case, anyway...and if that's true, then the league isn't really to blame. In fact, the NHL would probably *rather* see players in helmets and visors, since it would seem to cut down on typical risk that rich people and bureaucrats don't like to have to deal with.

Good point. I guess what I'm driving at is that there seems to be this idea that visors are what keep you safe on the ice, when there really isn't a big difference between visor and no visor. It's like going from a 2 to a 4 on a safety scale, when cages would bring you to an 9.

 

[geehaad]

there really isn't a big difference between visor and no visor. It's like going from a 2 to a 4 on a safety scale, when cages would bring you to an 9.

Can't argue with the idea of that. And, I would even agree that where cages are concerned, the NHL might even be somewhat of a hindrance. The exposed faces of their stars are much more marketable than the masked anonymity of cages, to the extent that the NHL might be reluctant to push for them. But that's just me being cynical...

 

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

I tend to think that when you have marketable players (Crosby, Marc Staal, etc) getting shut down for large portions of a season, that more than counteracts the benefit of being able to see faces. Plus, many of the most popular players are goalies, and they obv. are wearing full masks.

Full cages don't seem to hurt the NFL much.

I do wonder, if with modern materials, some sort of full CLEAR shield with holes in (for breathability/precenting fog build up couldn't be done.

Something kinda like this: http://feeds2.yourstorewizards.com/3161/images/full/itech-hockey-shield-concept-ii-jr.jpg, but strong enough to survive in the pro game. Would be the best both both worlds.

 

[Buenos Necas]

Can't argue with the idea of that. And, I would even agree that where cages are concerned, the NHL might even be somewhat of a hindrance. The exposed faces of their stars are much more marketable than the masked anonymity of cages, to the extent that the NHL might be reluctant to push for them. But that's just me being cynical...

Bingo. You're not being cynical, you're exactly right

The NHL could just run a campaign promoting the use of a cage, but leave the players the choice; no visor, visor, or cage. No need for NHLPA approval. All it would need is one big name player to make the change to a cage, and it might just start to catch on. But who are we kidding, we wouldn't want to hide those dreamy smiles behind a cage

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Bingo. You're not being cynical, you're exactly right

The NHL could just run a campaign promoting the use of a cage, but leave the players the choice; no visor, visor, or cage. No need for NHLPA approval. All it would need is one big name player to make the change to a cage, and it might just start to catch on. But who are we kidding, we wouldn't want to hide those dreamy smiles behind a cage

Chad Larose would no longer be a Hurricane if the cage had been mandatory for the last 5 years.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Chad Larose would no longer be a Hurricane if the cage had been mandatory for the last 5 years.

Where do I sign?

 

[cptjeff]

Bingo. You're not being cynical, you're exactly right

The NHL could just run a campaign promoting the use of a cage, but leave the players the choice; no visor, visor, or cage. No need for NHLPA approval. All it would need is one big name player to make the change to a cage, and it might just start to catch on. But who are we kidding, we wouldn't want to hide those dreamy smiles behind a cage

Hell, just not banning the use of a cage would be progress- IIRC, there are one or two guys who have said publicly that they would be playing in one if they were allowed to. As it is, cages and fishbowls are both prohibited unless you're recovering from a facial injury. The NHL claims it's about safety (the metal of the cage hitting other players), but the ban on fishbowls as well puts the lie to that. It's all about marketing and keeping faces clearly visible.

 

[chrisclark110]

Larose screwed him. That was like a quarterback throwing it over the middle when there is a linebacker waiting. Hope skinner is okay

 

[ONO94]

Hell, just not banning the use of a cage would be progress- IIRC, there are one or two guys who have said publicly that they would be playing in one if they were allowed to. As it is, cages and fishbowls are both prohibited unless you're recovering from a facial injury. The NHL claims it's about safety (the metal of the cage hitting other players), but the ban on fishbowls as well puts the lie to that. It's all about marketing and keeping faces clearly visible.

Don't forget--more cages equals less fighting and who wants to see less staged goon on goon violence?