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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 16, 2005 21:33:10 GMT -5
I guess Ottawa's Martin Havlat is facing a disciplinary hearing for his kick to the groin of Boston defenceman, Hal Gill. This is the link. TSN is reporting that this is Havlat's second kicking incident and this time around he should be getting a longer suspension. Havlat has had a reputation around the league for a while now. Refering to Havlat, I remember Flyer coach, Kenny Hitchcock, saying that, "... someday someone is going to make him eat his lunch. " Too bad that a talented hockey player like Havlat has to stoop this low. I also heard that Zdeno Chara also received a phonecall from the NHL for his sucker punch on Ivanans. As soon as I have a reference I'll post that as well. Cheers. |
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Post by jkr on Oct 17, 2005 14:26:55 GMT -5
He will losing friends on his own team with a move like that.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 17, 2005 17:30:36 GMT -5
And Havlat receives a five-game suspension. Here is the articleI don't think this is over quite just yet. I'm hoping there will be a reckoning the next time Havlat faces Boston. And you're right Franko. Not even his teammates can respect tactics like that. Cheers. |
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Post by blny on Oct 18, 2005 9:59:24 GMT -5
This is not the first time he's kicked someone between the legs. He did it to Cairns a couple of years ago. For all his talent, Martin is making a habit out of turning off his brain.
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Post by Polarice on Oct 18, 2005 10:21:25 GMT -5
Did Hal Gill receive a penalty on the play as well?
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Post by blny on Oct 18, 2005 12:04:42 GMT -5
Did Hal Gill receive a penalty on the play as well? I don't know. IMO whether or not Gill received a penalty is moot. |
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Post by jkr on Oct 18, 2005 18:00:56 GMT -5
This is not the first time he's kicked someone between the legs. He did it to Cairns a couple of years ago. For all his talent, Martin is making a habit out of turning off his brain. Wasn't Cairns the guy involved several tears ago when Corson was suspended for kicking during the playoffs? |
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Post by Polarice on Oct 19, 2005 6:18:28 GMT -5
Did Hal Gill receive a penalty on the play as well? I don't know. IMO whether or not Gill received a penalty is moot. Gill Started it. LOL |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 19, 2005 15:06:57 GMT -5
I understand what Don Brennan is saying, but there's no way he can convince me that what Havlat did was for a reason. I could care less about size differential or whether or not Havlat was being "squeezed." The NHL could have come down much, much harder on Havlat. A kick to the family with skates on cannot be tolerated whatsoever. Five games is not enough for a repeat offender. Havlat did what he had to do
"Yeah, well what would you do?" That was the question a former NHLer posed when it was suggested that Martin Havlat's kick to the groin of big Bruin Hal Gill was the work of a guy who is fast becoming one of the dirtiest players in the league.
"What would you have done in the same situation Havlat was in?" he asked again.
My reply: The same thing.
Now, booting somebody in the balls is not the way you'd teach little Billy to deal with problems in the schoolyard.
It shouldn't even be Option A for the big boys on an NHL rink. But Havlat didn't exactly have a catalogue of choices. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 204 lbs., his weigh-in was clearly done after a hearty lunch at Pestos.
Meanwhile, Gill is every bit if not more of the 6-foot-7 and 250 lbs. claimed in the program, meaning the skilled Senator was giving up a a whole lot of size during their second-period showdown.
Gill's hands were up near Havlat's face, and he was pushing. Gill's reach is such that, if Havlat was trying to poke him in the nose, he'd make it just past the elbow.
Literally, he was between a rock and a hard place -- and being squeezed.
"You've got that pain from the net in your back .... I'm pretty sure it doesn't feel very good, and you've got that big ape on you," said the ex-player. "You've got no leverage, you're pissed off and the only thing free is your feet.
"I'm not condoning his actions, but I'm not exactly sure what other recourse he had."
The thing that will work against Havlat is a rather sensitive two months of his life in 2004. Early that January, he was suspended two games for kicking then-New York Islanders defenceman Eric Cairns in the groin. In February, he was handed another two-game sentence for slashing then-Philadelphia Flyer Mark Recchi in the face.
"He's a reckless player," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said at the time. "Some day, someone is going to make him eat ... his ... lunch. He's going to get it someday and it's going to be harsh."
Recchi had similar criticisms, to which Havlat replied: "They can say what they want. I don't feel good about what I did.
"I was frustrated with the hooking before that. I gave him a shot.
"I didn't mean to hit him in the face. I don't think I hit him with the stick. I thought it was more of an elbow."
Saturday, Havlat didn't bother denying or sugarcoating his actions.
When asked about kicking Gill, his attitude was also a little what-would-you-have-done-ish?
Because he is so fast and so damn shifty, Havlat will always frustrate opponents into either cheap shots or hooks. Personally, I like that he has an edge that makes his responses unpredictable.
It's not his background to drop the gloves and fight -- and Chris Neil, Brian McGrattan or Zdeno Chara aren't always going to be close enough to step in for him -- so Havlat's going to have to use whatever means he has to create himself some room.
That said, he's probably going to wind up with a 3-5 game suspension for this latest bit of dirtiness. But sooner or later, opponents are bound to stop taking liberties with him.Here's the link.Cheers. |
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Post by Polarice on Oct 20, 2005 5:45:34 GMT -5
I understand what Don Brennan is saying, but there's no way he can convince me that what Havlat did was for a reason. I could care less about size differential or whether or not Havlat was being "squeezed." The NHL could have come down much, much harder on Havlat. A kick to the family with skates on cannot be tolerated whatsoever. Five games is not enough for a repeat offender. Cheers. He's my take on this situation, I am in no way condoning what Havlat did , nor am I a Havlat fan, But I know how he felt when he was being roughed up by Gill. I was a small player playing against guys twice the size of me and I got pushed around alot, however, I never "kicked" someone in the balls. But I've thrown elbows and two handed them as hard as I could in the ankles. Eventually they stopped "picking" on me. If the refs were calling the calls they were supposed to be in this "New NHL" this incident would never have happened. If the NHL is serious about protecting its "stars" then they are sending the wrong message with this 5 game suspension!! |
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