Jagr's Illegal Stick

[donkey87 0]

In the Atlanta/New York game tonight, Jagr was given a penalty for using an illegal stick. At the beginning of the shoot out, Jagr's stick is measured, and it's illegal :lol: You would think after being caught once, he would switch sticks.

[tiki21 0]

i think he knew his stick was illegal when the ref was measuring it before the shootout, looked like he was yelling at the ref..

[Fletch 219]

Was he able to particpate in the shootout?

[#96 0]

No. If you get caught, you can't shoot. 3 players getting caught means 1 person misses a complete turn.

Kinda stupid if you ask me. Alot of shootouts are over by the 3rd shooter anyway.

What Jags was thinking, I dunno. I think there was an issue of where the measure was taken from, or where the curve started or something like that. There was alot of talk between the ref and the Rangers bench.

Either way, you just don't do it. You already hurt your team once, now you know they are measuring sticks, and you do it again!?

[jrhky36 1]

a few years ago in the playoffs (wings v avs) hasek's stick was measured. and the camera goes to the wings bench and you see paul boyer (wings equ guy) taking a bunch of sticks (most likely brett hull's) back to the dressing room.

you would think the rangers equ guy would tell jagr to change sticks and not let him have his illegal ones back.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Every team playing the Rangers this year and down a goal in the 3rd should call for Jagrs stick.

I bet he gets caught 2-3 more times before the year ends...

And, for the record...I agree...I think they should get rid of the curve rule. But, until they do it's still a rule.

You can say the Equipment guy had the sticks wrong..but please...Jagr knows which sticks are illegal. Even if Equip Guy says "Hey Jaromir...here's your good stick..." and hands him an ILLEGAL one, Jagr should have known.

[Chadd 916]

Every team playing the Rangers this year and down a goal in the 3rd should call for Jagrs stick.

I bet he gets caught 2-3 more times before the year ends...

And, for the record...I agree...I think they should get rid of the curve rule. But, until they do it's still a rule.

You can say the Equipment guy had the sticks wrong..but please...Jagr knows which sticks are illegal. Even if Equip Guy says "Hey Jaromir...here's your good stick..." and hands him an ILLEGAL one, Jagr should have known.

If you have a legal and illegal pattern, chances are they are marked with different codes from the manufacturer. Most likely the problem is with the mold at the manufacturer. That said, someone should actually measure them so they know for sure.

[DarkStar50 679]

Theo,

what would be your take on goalies using oversized equipment and getting caught? "Bushcrap rule" or its in the books so don't act stupid? IMO, the stick rule has been there since 1965 so whats the problem? Friggin pros can't play with a legal curve? What is that about? Use a legal curve and don't screw your teammates because you think you need some illegal curve to play the game.

[Chadd 916]

Theo,

what would be your take on goalies using oversized equipment and getting caught? "Bushcrap rule" or its in the books so don't act stupid? IMO, the stick rule has been there since 1965 so whats the problem? Friggin pros can't play with a legal curve? What is that about? Use a legal curve and don't screw your teammates because you think you need some illegal curve to play the game.

It has to be hard on the Euros who grew up without curve restrictions and generally got away with it in the NHL before this year. I've seen a marked increase in illegal stick calls this season.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think it's funny they were playing Atlanta.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think it's funny they were playing Atlanta.

Did anyone who saw the game notice any reaction from Kovulchuck when Jagr got called *L*

[DarkStar50 679]

Theo,

what would be your take on goalies using oversized equipment and getting caught? "Bushcrap rule" or its in the books so don't act stupid? IMO, the stick rule has been there since 1965 so whats the problem? Friggin pros can't play with a legal curve? What is that about? Use a legal curve and don't screw your teammates because you think you need some illegal curve to play the game.

I disagree with you here. 1965 goalies had crap equipment, yet with a wood stick a huge curve could be an advantage or actually hurt them. 40 years later goalies equipment has improved 10 fold. Yet, I would venture to say that the best shooters then would get relatively the same shot speed as the best shooters today- Perhaps that is totally wrong though.

There is not need for the rule anymore. Goalies don't need to be protected by limiting curves since their equipment is so good.

Some Euros has had these cruves for the first 18 years of their lives. I don't blame them for being hesistant to change. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know hockey habits can be hard to break, and I am on their side.

The 1965 goalie/shooter thing was not where I was going with but that doesn't matter. However, the Euro learns to play with an illegal curve so it should be acceptable because thats how he learned to play? Thats a bit weak. The Euro learned to play by cheating or breaking the rules so now it should be ok because he doesn't have to follow the rules of the league he plays in? We are definitely stretching this discussion but your side seems a bit silly. There is a rule in the book on curves, either follow it or accept the penalty for breaking the rule. Hey, I used to slash everybody that went by me playing defence but I knew it was a penalty, not just "the way I played the game."

[#96 0]

I think it's funny they were playing Atlanta.

Did anyone who saw the game notice any reaction from Kovulchuck when Jagr got called *L*

I was watching the Rangers feed, and all I saw was the Atlanta guys with their helmets on backwards.

Did he do something funny?

I think the stick in the SO was marginally illegal. The ref took his time and took several measurements. During the OT, it was clear it was illegal. The ref swiped the guage once or twice and that was it.

I still think you can tell what's illegal and what's not. To me, anything at 1/2 is apparently a hook. It's when players use alot of flips and open blades that makes the measuring harder.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think it's funny they were playing Atlanta.

Did anyone who saw the game notice any reaction from Kovulchuck when Jagr got called *L*

I was watching the Rangers feed, and all I saw was the Atlanta guys with their helmets on backwards.

Did he do something funny?

Atlanta has made a habit out of the guys not involved wearing helmets backwards during shootouts.

I hadn't heard if Kovo did anything, I just thought since he'd been caught this year with a Illegal stick (he was wasn't he???) They might cut to him for a reaction.

[Hidious 0]

Hey, sorry bout interrupting your discussion but i'm suprised to learn many NHL players are using illegal blades. Could someone show me an example of an illegal pattern? Is it THAT obvious?

[Chadd 916]

Hey, sorry bout interrupting your discussion but i'm suprised to learn many NHL players are using illegal blades. Could someone show me an example of an illegal pattern? Is it THAT obvious?

No, it's not always obvious.

[mack 44]

I have Kovalchuk's posted and there are other shots of it around here somewhere. That's just overkill tho.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Did the ref take Jagr's tape off for the SO guage? The quick shot I saw looked like the stick was untaped, and that may have made a difference.

[Jason 65]

Who cares if European players grew up using illegal curves.

Many of the curves available on the retail level here in North America are illegal. Kids use those all the time. However, when they get into a league where their is a penalty for using an illegal stick, they either use a legal stick or suffer the consequences.

Most have no problem using a legal curve. Some of the best players in the world have used nearly flat blades. Gretzky, Gilmour, Ryan Smith, Crosby (I think) just to name a few.

I'm not sure whether it would be in the best interest of the NHL and other leagues to get rid of the restrictions on curves, but I play with a legal curve and I think any pro can play with one succesfully. How do these Europeans shoot backhanders with these massive toe hooks?

The NHL should definitely look into getting rid of the rule, but until they do, I'm not going to feel sorry for Jagr, Kovalchuk, etc. In my opinion, for the sake of keeping things moving in a timely fashion, they should just make it so a team loses a shot in the shootout for one infraction.

[mack 44]

How do these Europeans shoot backhanders with these massive toe hooks?

Because it's a toe curve and the majority of the blade is flat.

[DarkStar50 679]

Good morning Theo

Hull's blade wasn't illegal until they made the curve measurement rule. It was because of the curve greater than 1.5" that the first rule was made for 1.5" being legal. The legal curves then became smaller to .5" I understand goalies have equipment 10x better than 20, 30 years ago. I just go with the old theory that its a rule in the book so follow the rules. If you are caught, suffer the consequences. Now if Mario was using an illegal stick.........Whoa Nellie!!!!! :lol: We know where you would stand on that!!!!!!

[EBondo 233]

I think it's funny they were playing Atlanta.

Did anyone who saw the game notice any reaction from Kovulchuck when Jagr got called *L*

I was watching the Rangers feed, and all I saw was the Atlanta guys with their helmets on backwards.

Did he do something funny?

Atlanta has made a habit out of the guys not involved wearing helmets backwards during shootouts.

I'm pretty sure Atlanta was doing the helmet thing as a "rally cap" type thing also?

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Afterward, an angry Jagr insisted that his sticks were legal and that Koharski had erred in how he measured them.

"I'll bet all my money I've got legal sticks," the NHL's leading scorer and highest-paid player said. "I know they're going to measure it. What do you think I am, stupid? It depends on how you measure it - you have to measure it from the bottom."

Koharski conceded that he places one end of the measuring device "where I deem the shaft and blade meet." But the veteran referee told the Daily News: "It wasn't close. No matter where I put it, it wasn't legal."

[SR27 0]

I don´t get you guys saying how "euros" grow up using illegal curves. We do have that friggin illegal curve rule over here, too in case you didn´t know. Sure many guys especially the older generation of czechs and russians either use banana styles or the typcial eastern europe toe-hooks a lá Prospal but without going into details I´m sure those curves are legal.

[crutesie 0]

in my eyes, i would say a banana curve would be a DISADVANTAGE. hell, if they want a curve like that so be it, its a crappy rule