BenBreeg

I can say not predatory from the standpoint of headhunting, but like the Wilson hit on ZAR last year, Anderson was already engaged with Chara and had no way to see that hit coming. The hit was almost entirely to the head. But you are right, there is no major for a hit that they claim to want out of the game, did that change?, no provision for a misconduct, but there is a match penalty. Good job NHL.

Wow, not in any way hyperbole, but the 2:00 to McAvoy for a predatory hit to the head of Anderson may be the worst call I have seen all year from a league that has by far the worst officiating of any sport. This league can’t get out of its own way.

Trotz spent a lot of years not moving past the first round, so I am not ready to call him the second coming of Scotty Bowman just yet. And no, I don't think that just because you have a bunch of good players you just sit back and let them play. Maybe in the NBA or lower levels of hockey but to do what they did in the regular season takes skill. There are a lot of facets to coaching, not just Xs and Os. Carolina seems to play a steady game, something that I think bodes well for the next two rounds.

Trotz definitely is in the top two for me. It is a regular season award so Cooper is my other finalist, not sure which way I land. Wasn’t expecting it to play out this way but then again wasnt expecting the Pens to get swept either. At this point I think Carolina is probably my team except my son has adopted Dallas so I have to tread carefully.

Chewie!!!! RIP Peter Mayhew, May the Force Be With You! i have a signed Chewie picture from him, I remember being so excited to get it.

Not trying to be a d@*k, addressing the arguments. The approach to risk of all type is reduction, not absolute precention because that is a hard if not impossible standard to demonstrate. Their methods and conclusions may be BS, but just because some qualified people disagree doesn’t make that fact either. There is often disagreement in methodology and interpretation of results by intelligent people on both sides. As for the “data whores”... you are veering off the argument and making it personal but more importantly, this is a data driven argument. So it is just natural for some of us who may operate in areas that deal with the engineering and risk to follow the same logic conversations in our domains would, and that is to require validation of assumptions. It is not meant to be personal but if it came across that way I apologize and am going to bow out of this thread so that we can preserve a positive atmosphere on this board.

Most likely because on the internet there is never a shortage of people giving opinions about things they don’t really understand.

1) What data has validated the ideal fit? Should a helmet fit the same everywhere and make contact at the temples the same as the back and forehead? Who says slight fit variation is a sufficiently contributing factor? 2) All research, especially those involving possible harm to humans start on a bench. It is easier to isolate variables and build the data set. Do you know how many subjects would have to participate in random on-ice testing and how much instrumentation would be required to account for all the variables that needed to be captured to make accurate conclusions? Not to mention the ethical issues involved in any kind of study like this. 3) The lack of logic of this statement requires no response. 4) Psychology permeates everything, but again, have you data to show this? One could then argue that without safety ratings cost would just lead to the same conclusion, as the safety is implied by the cost of the helmet.

Since we are debating testing methods then it isn’t a question of meaningless semantics, not that difficult a concept.

You can collect data on whatever you are measuring. Sensors can collect force delivered to a spot, the direction of the force can be measured. That data would be valid. The interpretation of how that data would translate into something as complex as concussion prevention is something different. That is why when you read the news the headline is usually some big leap of logic suggesting that science has found the answer or something ridiculous and when you read the story the scientist merely says, "We have data that could suggest blah blah blah but more studies are needed." People collect valid data all the time and misinterpret the results.

If the data is as collected properly the data is good and valid, you may disagree with the connections made and conclusions drawn. I would ask where the data is that determines proper fit? Should a helmet fit the same on all parts of the head? I would argue that most people don’t try on 10 different models of helmets, the pick a model and buy it. They may find it so uncomfortable they try a second model but as far as perusing model upon model I doubt it. I see college and national teams all wearing the same models, they can’t all have the same shaped melon. Well, football helmets have face masks which can catch on things. I saw a design years ago that was presented to the nfl with a seamless face mask to address this but it never went anywhere.

Which are what and how have they been validated to give usable results? I don't think that there is a lot a helmet can do against concussions (and that is just my opinion as someone who isn't an expert but a lot of the data presented seems to lean that way), but since forces are delivered in many ways, I can't say zero. There may be a debate out there for and against this testing protocol, but I want to hear the arguments with data to back up assertions.

Wow, never heard of some of these brands. C&B must make amazing tshirts and hats too for the ridiculous prices they are charging for them. The Ts must rival the Three Wolves Howling at the Moon... My old Easton bag is made of really thick whatever, it must be almost twenty years old with no real wear. Wish it would die, I would get something with more organization. Playing in the morning and having to take everything to shower and leave straight from the rink to work makes forgetting stuff too easy.

Wow, couldnt stay up so just finished watching this morning. Great OTs, Carolina just wouldn’t quit.

I honestly don't see how the NHL can't get their officiating in order. I didn't see the video until this afternoon. I assumed the worst then couldn't believe they called that. Love the sport but their officiating is the worst in pro sports and it isn't even close. Others have their controversial calls but the NHL is consistently a joke.

I think he gets no love from US because he isn't from a hockey hotbed, and no love from Canada because he is from the US. The goal can't go in but it has to get out of the zone on one of the three chances they had prior to the shot. The second was a reverse behind the net to nobody (well, a Bruin) and Boston just walked out and scored.

Brutal turnovers leading to the early Bruins goals. I don't love Toronto by any stretch but would have loved to see the Matthews-haters to eat a little crow. But seeing Marchand win makes me sick any day of the week. So at this point I am just anti-Capitals, maybe pro-Stars since my 8 year-old adopted them as his new team after Pens game 3. Would love to see the Caps out but it would be pretty awesome to see the Islanders do it.

I think some version of old Vapors (Vapor 10?) had that steel, not sure what others.

I dont judge anybody by their equipment. You want custom skates and that makes you happy, go for it. You just like to play and still use wooden sticks go for it. It’s a game. I have always been a gear guy, wearing out Great Skate, Ocean, and Kemps catalogs when they showed up in the mail. I still like researching stuff I need but once on the ice I don’t pay attention to it (my bad play keeps me distracted...)

Canes have played well and the series could easily be 2-1 the other way. We'll see if the 'Canes can keep it up. Anything to give jackass Don Cherry heartburn would make me happy.

You have Recchi and Martin in the room. Most accounts dont point to Sullivan as a figurehead. And they got beat last year by thr SCC, they didn’t lay an egg.

Murray cannot, no matter how many great saves he makes, give up that short side goal. It is a soul-sucking mistake. And Simon has to go. Guys like Hornvist and Pete Rose take limited talent and wo k thei tails off for success. Dominick Simon represents the exact opposite.

Pens played up and down a lot this season. Had a great last month and a half except the last week they lapsed into the downside. Isles are clogging it up but really exploit mistakes. So a combination of both, Pens have another gear or two but there is no guarantee they can get there.

I know it has been said before but maybe you need to get out of beer league. I play pickup a few times a week and they are good skates where people work hard and hustle but nobody is trying to win the Cup. Me and a buddy signed up for an adult skills class. I have neen playing since I was a kid but took some time off and while most of the guys there are beginners, it is still fun because when do you get to go and do 1 1/2 hours of drills with other players? And to top it off, I didnt know it when I signed up, it is run by probably the best skating coach in the area. What about splurging for some private lessons with a local goalie coach or organizing a weekly invite-only pick-up game? For me at this point I realize that at 45 I cant go like the 20 year olds but I am still I good physical shape and can move ok. I want to take advantage of that so that I don't think at 55 or 60, “I wish I hadn’t wasted the past 15 years sitting on the couch.” Just another thought for you. Having blowups on the ice isnt healthy but it is probably more the circumstances than the sport.

Intresting that while pointing out one (potential) shortcoming in their test methodology claims are bring made that while may sound common sense are likewise backed up by no data (or at least no data presented).