All About Concussions

[Eleven]

So, Kariya has been forced into retirement, and is partially blaming Kaleta. Link While Kaleta's hit didn't help, I can't think it would have resulted in serious injury had Kariya not been dealt earlier hits by Suter, Stevens, and others. Still, you take your victims as you find 'em, and Kaleta got nothing but a two-minute minor for his elbow in 2009. And his hit was hardly a "hockey play" that belongs in the game. He came from behind, and his elbow was up.

 

Kariya also blames a culture that permits Matt Cooke and Sidney Crosby to coexist on the same team. He's got a point; Lemieux can whinge (it's just funnier in British) all he wants about headshots, but he has no problem paying Cooke's salary.

 

Kariya wants longer suspensions for headshots, but also proposes suspensions for coaches and fines for owners. I prefer the latter. It will make owners think twice about signing goons; a coach, on the other hand, has only three guys he can bench (and that assumes everyone is healthy) if he thinks a player might do something to get him suspended.

 

I also question whether Kaleta needs to be on this team. I'd prefer a pure fighter to a cheap-shot artist, and I don't like the way Kaleta woke Briere up during the playoffs, either. Yeah, he's a local boy and a blue-collar, hard-workin' kid and all that, but he averages about ten points and about fifty games a season.

[spndnchz]

All About is trending on SS!

 

A guy like Kaleta helps slow down the skilled guys. They're always looking over shoulder for him. He just needs to keep it clean

[shrader]

All About is trending on SS!

 

A guy like Kaleta helps slow down the skilled guys. They're always looking over shoulder for him. He just needs to keep it clean

 

Unfortunately he's not capable of it. I get the feeling that his days here are numbered though. If Kassian or Foligno can step up after some seasoning in Rochester, Kaleta will quickly become obsolete.

 

And I hope Kariya makes a ton of noise now that he's retired. He could have been the face of the game if it wasn't for those concussion issues. His talent was undeniable, so maybe he can be the type that people will actually start to listen to.

[Eleven]

Unfortunately he's not capable of it. I get the feeling that his days here are numbered though. If Kassian or Foligno can step up after some seasoning in Rochester, Kaleta will quickly become obsolete.

 

And I hope Kariya makes a ton of noise now that he's retired. He could have been the face of the game if it wasn't for those concussion issues. His talent was undeniable, so maybe he can be the type that people will actually start to listen to.

 

And Kariya doesn't have the credibility problem that Lemieux has.

[Weave]

All that needs to be done is enact a zero tolerance policy on head shots with stiffer punishments. Say, start at 10 games and double it for each offense.

 

I didn't mind Kaleta on the team when he was actually affective, but he lost his effectiveness before last season started. I subsribe to the "do unto others before they do it unto you" line of thinking, and Kaleta fit in well there for a bit. But, opposing players don't respond to his play anymore and his frequent injuries mean our lineup is always in flux. Foligno will replace Kaleta sometime soon and IMO it will be an upgrade. I had the sense from the beginning that Kaleta's career with B-lo would be short. It is nearing it's end.

[bunomatic]

All that needs to be done is enact a zero tolerance policy on head shots with stiffer punishments. Say, start at 10 games and double it for each offense.

 

I didn't mind Kaleta on the team when he was actually affective, but he lost his effectiveness before last season started. I subsribe to the "do unto others before they do it unto you" line of thinking, and Kaleta fit in well there for a bit. But, opposing players don't respond to his play anymore and his frequent injuries mean our lineup is always in flux. Foligno will replace Kaleta sometime soon and IMO it will be an upgrade. I had the sense from the beginning that Kaleta's career with B-lo would be short. It is nearing it's end.

I would hate to wish ill will on anyone and I too feel his career will be short but I do hope he retires a sabre so we never have to play against him. I'd hate to lose a good player to his style of play. That being said we do need players of his ilk ( Perhaps of the slightly cleaner variety ) to put fear in the hearts of opposing players. He was valuable when he was drawing penalties by the boatload but I think teams around the league are onto his antics.

[That Aud Smell]

So, Kariya has been forced into retirement, and is partially blaming Kaleta.

as well he should. you see the look on ruff's face after that penalty that kaleta took - i sensed distaste for what his player had done. i didn't like it either. the league risked destroying, and in fact did destroy, some of its best assets by allowing that sort of nonsense to go on. disgusting.

 

p.s. +1 for whinging.

 

A guy like Kaleta helps slow down the skilled guys. They're always looking over shoulder for him. He just needs to keep it clean

in theory, perhaps. in point of fact, the guy named kaleta contributed to the premature retirement of one of the most breathtaking hockey talents of his generation. it's a shame.

 

Unfortunately he's not capable of it.

QFT. nor can he stay healthy.

[Taro T]

All that needs to be done is enact a zero tolerance policy on head shots with stiffer punishments. Say, start at 10 games and double it for each offense.

 

I didn't mind Kaleta on the team when he was actually affective, but he lost his effectiveness before last season started. I subsribe to the "do unto others before they do it unto you" line of thinking, and Kaleta fit in well there for a bit. But, opposing players don't respond to his play anymore and his frequent injuries mean our lineup is always in flux. Foligno will replace Kaleta sometime soon and IMO it will be an upgrade. I had the sense from the beginning that Kaleta's career with B-lo would be short. It is nearing it's end.

His style of play doesn't lend itself to a long career. And especially as his body breaks down, his talent level won't either.

 

My guess is he's got 1-2 relatively useful years left and then he's either out of the league or converting his career into a sideshow ala Avery. If so, I hope it's the former.

[shrader]

I would hate to wish ill will on anyone and I too feel his career will be short but I do hope he retires a sabre so we never have to play against him. I'd hate to lose a good player to his style of play. That being said we do need players of his ilk ( Perhaps of the slightly cleaner variety ) to put fear in the hearts of opposing players. He was valuable when he was drawing penalties by the boatload but I think teams around the league are onto his antics.

 

And this is exactly why it would be so great if either Kassian or Foligno wind up being the type of player that so many around here are hoping for. They would put that fear in the hearts of opposing skaters AND goalies.

 

His style of play doesn't lend itself to a long career. And especially as his body breaks down, his talent level won't either.

 

My guess is he's got 1-2 relatively useful years left and then he's either out of the league or converting his career into a sideshow ala Avery. If so, I hope it's the former.

 

But then again, Scott Nichol is somehow still in this league. He may find a way to stick around, but I don't see it. And if the league actually does get serious about head shots, then his career will really be in danger.