OKPOSO DIAGNOSED WITH MILD CONCUSSION
Team says CAT scan clears KO return to Saskatoon
12:55 pm - The Islanders just announced that Kyle Okposo has been diagnosed with a mild concussion. The team said results of a CAT scan clear Okposo to travel with the team back to Saskatoon.
12:30 pm - Tweet from @KatieStrangNYI okposo was taken to the hospital in an ambulance to be evaluated; was talking and moving hands so initial signs r good
11:30 pm - Posted by Adam Gretz of FanHouse, here is Phaneuf’s hit on Okposo.
On Twitter at 10:50 pm - @ nyipointblank Bob Nystrom reports on Calgary radio that Kyle Okposo called his father during the second period to tell him he’s all right. Okposo was crushed by Phaneuf as he was skating with the puck through the neutral zone. Reasonable speculation would be a possible concussion. If true, could be any degree of severity, but it’s a good sign that Okposo called home. Comments.
217 Responses to “OKPOSO DIAGNOSED WITH MILD CONCUSSION
Team says CAT scan clears KO return to Saskatoon”
Please Wait
thank god.
all right as in alive or uninjured?
And this is why we need an enforcer!!!!!!!!
Lets hope this is nothing serious.
our management is lame, how is it us fans see the need for an enforcer but they dont
Agreed, while we try to develop one of our own, we need to have someone who can go out and beat the snot out of guys like Phaneuf when they take liberties.
i’m sorry, i know it’s hockey, but why are guys throwing monster open ice hits in the pre-season?
OUCH~ Please be OK KO! Thanks for the update. I was just checking the score and saw him on the sheet in the beginning of the 2nd. Please keep us posted. Also, thanks for keeping IPB alive while you do great work at Fanhouse. What a great way for so many people to enjoy your talent! Until the Islanders hit the big time again, IPB only reaches so many households. LOL! Been too busy to comment, but believe me I’ve been reading!
GOD BLESS!
Avoid the mistake the Mets made with Ryan Church. Have doctors check him out and don’t fly him until he’s 110% okay.
bush league hit, no doubt.
So right now Nielsen, Weight, Bergenheim and Okposo are injured. Unbelievable.
This is why I have been writing for weeks that Snow is a jack***. The most important thing for this team is to get a capable enforcer or 2 ASAP. This is not funny anymore we are the smallest weakest team in the NHL. We really need 2 or 3 big tough players. I am sick of having a small weak team.
Link to video of hit posted at top of story…CB
Of course Im an Islander fan and a big KO fan to boot so I wanted to puke when I saw that hit. All bias aside why the hell is Phaneauf throwing a hit like that in a pre-season game? What a dirtbag. IMO he left his feet. Hello Snow? Enforcer? Hmmm what do ya think?
It didn’t look like KO had his head down so much as being pushed from behind and thrown off balance rather than him just having his head down
looks to me like he left his feet…we should run iginla NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Looks to me he left the ice just before impact. Not good.
#12 I agree with you a 100 % and I hope KO is ok and can return ASAP but don’t rush till 110%.
Total headhunt. No need for that kind of hit. A lesser player would definitely be sanctioned by the league.
Lafontaine & Both Lindros & Tim Connoly & Eric Daze & Adam Deadmarsh & Jeff Buekeboom ….need i go on ?
Guess what they all have in common—Yep head injuries with symptoms that kept coming back & all those players where never ever the same after the first concussion
Fyi:Phaneuf was 2 feet off the ground before impact-this better be a 3 game suspension asap! If this was Simon when he played for us the NHL would have suspended him already before the game was even over!
110% Dirty hit
Phaneuf needs to be suspended for this!!!
Disgusting showing by Dion!
He left the ice to make the hit, not cool Phaneuf.
Okposo on a stretcher.
Fleury in the shootout.
What fresh hell is this?
1. Hopefylly Kyle is OK
2. DIRTY HIT - Dion has a history of this - multiple suspensions
3. what is he doing taking a running charge, leaving his feet, during a PRESEASON game - he has nothing to prove
4. big positive - isles sticking up after there teammate
5. what must JT be thinking…
A terribly dirty hit. Phaneauf had plenty of time to pull up knowing Okposo head was down and low. Instead he drove his shoulder and elbow into his head.
too bad for Okposo… too bad for Islander fans and the organisation.
DOC
Crack head Theo scores shoot out winner. Just an exclamation point of one hellish game.
I think I’m going to be sick after this game…
I officially hate; Sutter, Giordano, and the entire Calgary Flames (although not as much as the rags and laughs)…and I already hated Fluery…
I hope these 3 games are too much of an indication of the pains (literally) we are going to be going through this season, although I fear the worst.
Keeping my fingers crossed for KO…
That absolutely better be a suspension. Garth needs to do something about this. Does Calgary come to NVMC this year.
also…
almost an hour and a half after the hit and not one new twitter update from the Newsday chick? Admittedly this is the first time I’ve even looked for her info but I’m a bit disappointed for sure
They play again on Saturday.
the more I watch this team, the more I think about how bad we are going to be for a few years. it’s tough being an islander fan when you look at the teams in our division. every summer, the four other teams management makes their teams better. can’t say that about garth snow.
Clean hit.
He clearly left his feet. Matter of fact it reminds me a lot of the Mottau hit on Nielsen.
What will Snow and Gordon’s excuse be this time?
COWARDS. Anyone on the ice should have fought.
What was with the one ref holding Morency off Phaneuf until Phaneuf had the advantage?
Gordon makes another questionable choice in his shoot out line up? Three career AHL’ers? I mean ya you want to reward them but how about trying to win on a night you lost so badlY? Throw us a bone Scott? You’ve got Bailey, Comeau, Streit all there and you go with the AHL crew. I like your system and I like many of Snow’s moves but those two have a ton to learn.
I’ve been complaining since last year the Isles need 2-3 big, mean, skilled d-men. Guys who can fight, hit, keep the crease clear to prevent the easy goals in front (see SOuray’s last night or the one MacDonald couldn’t out muscle the guys tonight, play on the PP (ya a entire summer’s gone and the Isles are still going to need to use fwds on the PP point.
If they got those 2-3 d-man and teamed then with Martin and Riechlecz up front they’d be fine. Trade in some of these small not so good players for real men.
It amazes me but I can’t think of another team in the NHL that would have no respose when ANY player of theirs gets treated like Okposo and Nielsen have. It’s hard to watch, this is not Islander hockey.
Just wait tomorrow we have to hear another brilliant explanation from Campbell. It will be something like “the jaw is not part of the head, therefore it wasn’t a hit to the head”.
Many of us on this site have been screaming this for a long time. Snow and Gordon acknowledged what they needed to add (size and toughness). Snow did NOTHING!
I’m starting to think Gordon is a sissy.
3-25-10 Flames at Coliseum…
@Swan:
Clean hit my ass! No, he didn’t leave his feet, but did he hit a defenseless player? Did he not come all the way across the ice to do it? If its OK to hit players when they have no ability to protect themselves, then the NHL will find itself only a goon league.
Come on Matt…how bad?
Before the KO cheap hit the Isles were outplaying Calgary…they actually looked good.
Saturday you line up Reich 1st to go after Phaneuf
Jackman in the second…then finish him off in the 3rd period with the Wrecker.
What is it with these guys leaving their feet and leading with the shoulder/forearm/elbow up high? That’s what makes it dirty. He doesn’t leave his feet and it’s just a check to the chest, wiping out the guy anyway.
I blame this on that sc-mbag headhunter Stevens.
It happened fast, looked to me like he got pushed into Phaneauf. Plus he had his head down. the good news is that he was able to phone home. Lets all hope that it isn’t anything serious. and oh yeah, lets re sign Simon
Saturday Phaneuf isn’t playing, nor will Iginla be playing….NO CHANCE, What a bush league hit
i dont think the hit is that big a deal. did he leave his feet, a little if at all. hitting like that in preseason, guess hes sending a message to everybody in the western conference. KO got unlucky. he was evading the backchecker, trying to skate inside the left defensemen to center ice and the blueline. DionP was cutting from the rightside to close/deny center ice, or the blueline. DP made the right move, while KO was kinda steered into DP while avoiding the two flames defenders. unfortunate, yes. a little unnecessary, yes. but its preseason, and even established players are sending messages. like brawlers brawling, hitters are hitting.
its a contact sport, keep yer head up. sometimes you gotta dump the puck rather then challenge two or three defenders. or should the flames let him skate in unmolested, and get a shot on goal. then they’d get hammered for being passive. i hope our defense is that aggressive and physical.
The hit took place 30 seconds after his team went down 3-1, ergo DIRTY HIT.. he was determinded to make a statement after his team went down 3-1.. its a premediatated act after that 3rd goal, ITS A DIRTY HIT…
and how would okposo go in alone as you are saying?> there was a defender in front and behind him, the guy behind him pushed okposo foward which is why he was in the position he was when phaneuf cheap shotted him… phaneuf hit a guiy without hte puck as he was falling down
Clean hit Swan? Looked like he got his elbow up after K.O. got pushed down from behind. I guess I watched a different video.AS it’s preseason - no need for that it was a bush play.
No matter you’re probably right because Colin Campbell (the league official in a ranger jersey) will say it was a clean hit since it was against an Islander. If this was a clean hit then Doug Weight’s hit last year-during a REGULAR season game mind you - was a clean hit. He took a ton of grief for that one. My memory is failing me but wasn’t that Sutter’s son???
he certainly left his feet causing him to lead with his elbow…would have been clean if he stayed on his feet
Why would any team have any respect for the Islanders with no one to keep them in line or face the consequences.
#40 I too hope our defense one day becomes aggressive and physical (like the good ol’ days).
Ya’ll think the Isles are going to do anything about this Saturday? Not going to happen Snow and Gordon are too soft to do anything about it. Sutter on the other hand will not dress most of his best players and load up on goons and continue to head hunt Islanders.
If Gordon cared about this team, he would dress Reich, Martin, Wrecker, Sutton, Jackman etc but Gordon is not a man. We saw it last year and get ready to see it again.
Islander hockey never used to be sissy hockey. If they’d just toughen up it would be a good team. For all the guys who stood around and did nothing I wouldn’t ever want to be their teammate or their friend. What stuff goes down you have to have your boys behind you (like Botta on vacaction with the retired Islander story).
If this was the Nystrom, Gillies, Arbour, Vukota, Baumgartner Islanders Phaneuf would have been dealt with.
But since this is the Snow and Gordon Islanders get ready for excuses.
Im with you Strummer….dress what toughness we have and bring the madness Saturday. A message needs to be sent….preseason or not.
This never would have happened when Webb nd Cairns were Islanders
According to CB’s twitter feed Matt Martin went right after Phaneuf a couple of shifts later and Mark Giordano stood in for him…plus if you watch the video Pascal Morency actually jumped the bench and went right after Phaneuf
Props to Morency who came off the bench to take on Mr. Sloppy Seconds. But did you see how the other Calgary D-Man went after Morency’s head before he could get to Phaneuf–without any call?
Even though it’s only pre-season–what hurts even more is that the Isles are out shot 24 -5 in the third period and OT. Show some fight boys!
This did happen when Webb and Cairns were Islanders. Remember that playoff series with Toronto. Peca. KJ. It happens.
No way that type of hit should be happening in a fricking pre - season game! Someone else mentioned it earlier. . these players have no respect for one another. Phaneuf left his feet. . led with his shoulder and went straight for Okposo’s head. And once again - where’s the Isles retaliation? I appreciate #55 Morency coming off the bench to get at Phaneuf, but that was it.
Two of the Isles young stars get absolutely destroyed by cheap shots from Brent Sutter coached teams in the past 2 years. . Coincidence? Maybe. . but maybe not.
The season hasn’t even started yet, and that feeling of anticipation for the Oct 3rd opener is gone.
I understand growing pains with kids and losing games, but the lack of toughness on this team is downright dangerous for our guys.
Someone takes a run at JT, then what?
And i Agree with Brian from Albany. . where is Katie Strang on twitter??
She tweeted every Islander penalty through 2 periods, then disappeared after the Okposo hit.
Very disappointing.
Watched some highlights from other games tonight. One more reason to want big, mean, thudder, skilled Ryan O’Bryne on the Isles is he beat the hell out of Campbell’s son.
Asham stepped up on a hit on a Leafs player (nothing even close to Phaneuf) and Wilson (the Toronto Coach) rightfully said it was a dirty play. I don’t think you’ll hear Gordon or Snow make a whisper about Phaneuf.
I don’t know if the officiating is this bad because it is preseason or not or they are being homers but watching all three Isles games thus far they are getting shafted. 1st game when several Van players engaged Comeau and gave him a face rub Comeau is the only guy with a penalty.
Tonight Haley goes over to Phaneuf and talks to him and is ejected.
Not to mention all the others.
Nd what happened after Cairns baptized Corson all over the ice…What happened tonite…some tiny player no one knows jumped on the ice and got thrown to the ground by Phaneuf?
That’s hockey; has been forever… Tiger Williams roughed up Bossy, James Patrick KO’d LaFontaine… doesn’t matter who’s on the bench/team. Guys get hit; we just don’t have anyone who does the “hitting” unfortunately.
Definitely helps to have a tough guy to make the opposition accountable for their actions…
Watch out JT, coulda been you…
Where’s Lucic when we need him!
MattyB, I agree with you. The Cairns fight and subsequent finger point to the press box is forever etched into my memory. We absolutely need somebody who can take care of business like that. All I meant to say is that it doesn’t prevent stuff like this from happening in the first place.
Also, Katie is twittering again. The Isles were apparently upset that Phaneuf wouldn’t respond when challenged.
Dirty,dirty hit;I hope when the Flames play the Rangers Phaneuf and Sean Avery beat the devil out of each other.
Good to see Morency come out and try to get retribution. It was bad that Phaneuf “turtled” after the hit.
Good news is that FAN960 in Calgary is reporting that Kyle is ok and will meet the team at the airport
Would be nice to have someone who is actually tough on this team. Jackman isn’t it, neither is ” The Wrecker ” as he’s is proclaimed…yet the Rangers go out there and sign Brashear….typical
isles need to clone jethro. and bobby ny.
@MattyB. the Wrecker will be but there will be more guys like Morency etc. I like to have a general team standing up for each other than a hired gun(Brashear). And if Brashear was so great he wouldnt be going from the Caps last year to the Rags this year and probably get traded before his contract is up.
sorry CB, I know this is not a message board.
Islander fans since our GM & CAOCH will do nothing , then it is up to us to flood the islanders customer service # tmrw demanding for a LEGITIMATE TOUGH GUY to be aquired this month…
Do we really want our kids going through a season lokking over there shoulder , not being able to skate through the middle of the ice w/o being gunshy (That leads to offsides & missed passes) im telling you right now , our young guys need to feel comfortable & not be intimadated by another team…Cairns & Webb made sure our guys did not feel intimadated ….What happens when Philly comes in & pronger runs Taveras ????
PRONGER WILL RUN TAVERAS—THATS A LOCK!
But what will we do about it? Please garth tell me
Okposo was engaged momentarily with another opponent when Phaneuf lined him up.It was a high speed collision Okposo never saw coming not this domination that has been portrayed.Okposo is a strong,tough.young player and I am sure he took the name and number. I am sure ”The Wrecker” will bludgeon Phaneuf as well. By the way,,,,Okposo called is father and said hes fine. Hopefully no concussion. Too many of those will ”Lafontaine” a career.
they need a leg breaker, bossy had gillies, gretzky had smenko
Need to have toughness on this team. I just lost respect for Dion Pheanuf. He did leave his feet. Some fighters are needed.
thank goodness it wasn’t anymore serious. the video and the pictures showing up online were just downright scary
Whats this business about Okposo being a tiny player?. Hes a young man,6ft tall,200 lbs. Hes all muscle. Hes built like a young Bryan Trottier. This is a whole lotta nothing. AND the Isles do have some young tough players.They need more but please follow the team and learn not spout off. Okposo said hes fine.
looking at the replay…that was intentional.. Like someone else said, Kyle got pushed into it..A CLASSIC CHEAP SHOT.
I can’t believe anyone would say that was a clean hit. Phaneuf clearly left his feet - no question about it. He caught KO with his head down and had every right to crush KO, pre-season or not. However, he cannot leave his gdamn feet to do so! Colin Campbell needs to step up and send a message, just like Phaneuf sent a message tonight. It is so irritating to see the Isles continually pushed around and mugged.
The comments about Cairns / Corson brought a big smile to my face.
Eff Phaneuf.
There you go Okposo has a mild concussion. There it is. Let’s hear from all the fools now about how Hunter can take care of business. None of these very talented players will ever be a damn thing if they end up with serious injuries. From this point on Okposo is going to have to be watched for concussions.
This happened because Snow & Gordon didn’t teach Sutter (or the rest of the NHL) not to mess with the Islanders last year. How many times do we have to go through this? Okposo missed time last year from a dirty slash to his writst. Nielsen’s knee appears messed up still from the Mottau hit. What is next. The JERK Garth Snow had all last year and all summer to fix it but did nothing. Other then Martin and Wrecker there is not toughness in the organization. Haley and Morecny are great but not going to be Isles. There is not even a heavyweight in Bridgeport. We have one heavyweight in the entire organization when most teams have at least 4.
God I am starting to hate SNow and Gordon despite all the good they’ve done. Just a couple of stubborn jerks. When every team in the NHL is loading up on size and toughness he’s doing the exact oppossite.
Sutter ordered the hit, Phaneuf delivered it without any kind of penalty from the refs or payback from the Isles. I lost all respect for Phaneuf tonight.
Dion here is a piece of advice, if a girl was ever dumb enough to date Sean Avery ya don’t want her, she’s nuts & damanged goods.
This is why you dump all the little softies like Martinek, Hillen, Geravis, Kohn, Katic and some of the forwards and get big & mean. Isles is the only team I ever see this happening to. If an Isle player put that same hit on Phaneuf Sutter would have emptied the bench. If any player would have put that hit on Crosby they’d still be fighting.
Cheap shots and the perpetrator backs down. Morency went after him. How do we derive the Isles are so docile?. They have some young toughies in the minors and the Wrecker is a big boy. I think we will all be pleasingly surprised that the Isles wont be a bunch of wuss’s. They dumped Goddard because he was a limited goon.
i agree w/#70, that wasnt a clean hit…while OK got bumped/distracted, he gets a flying elbow…???? it was a set/dirty play. I curious what Gordons does sat.???
i agree w/#70, that wasnt a clean hit…while OK got bumped/distracted, he gets a flying elbow…???? it was a set/dirty play.
The conversation about needing an enforcer or two has been going on among fans at this site since the end of last season. This hit is exactly the reason why many people supported picking up a legit tough guy like BGL. For those who were anti-enforcer, I’d like to read your opinion now that this KO-Phaneuf hit has happened to see if this has changed your mind and whether you’d like to see this type of hit over and over again all season with no retribution (Nate Thompson, Trent Hunter or Doug Weight sticking up for their teammates is nice to see but not a deterrent and certainly not retribution).
Strummer’s Army - very well said. I agree with everything you’ve said on this thread. The sad part is that enforcers are among the most cost-effective players to sign, so the Islanders should’ve jumped at the chance to pick one up in place of a spot for someone like Thompson or [take your pick of small and soft players]. Wang couldn’t be the one holding Snow back from spending that kind of money given the Isles are constantly at the salary cap floor.
Why should a cheap shot and a subsequent punk out have anything to do with the Isles toughness?. Does there have to be a bloody brawl after the instigator showed he he was gutless by chickening out?. Should some of the Isles tougher players come off the bench?. Payback is a female dog in heat. The Islanders are not a bunch of volleyball players. They will back up JT and others,,,,they can and will during the regular season!!!!.
“A thunderous start for Phaneuf”Dion Phaneuf makes a jaw-dropping hit to start off his season………Good thing thats a headline on the calgary website….I hope Phanuef tears his acl
How about bringing Simon back for the next Calgary game?
mark that regular season game on the calendar…….phaneuf is a sis….wont even put up his dukes after a cowardly hit like that…..thank god okposo is okay…..go isles….they better retaliate but not as low down dirty as that
I agree with Strummer…this is a disgrace because this really is our fault. Why not take a run like this? There’s no one to be afraid of…and anyone talking clean hit is out of their mind. are you even islanders fans..check out webb’s hit highlights…those are clean hits.
Phaneauf is trash…since him and Iginla won’t be dressed I say take everyone else out. Oh but who do we have to do that?
So nervous about this being a recurring issue for KO now.
this is a f*cking joke. Dion lined him up for about 7 seconds prior to impact. I got headache just watching! Lets hope KO is OK!
People need to realize that Snow probably tried to get an enforcer.
Nobody wants that kind of job though. Who the heck would want to defend a bunch of young prospects who give them no chance to win in the next few years. An enforcers only real motivation has to be to protect those who help him win. Does anyone really think that a player will stick his neck out night in and night out for a team that probably will dump him when they develop their own grit?
First of all guys stop saying
KO IS ALRIGHT…JUST STOP IT
When you have a concussion the next 3 days are when we can tell if he is ok , right now he could feel 90% but when he wakes up or has to skate absorb another hit , is when we can tell if he’s ok..
Also ISLANDERS why the heck is he on a flight anywhere tonight ???? Did you guys not see what happened to Ryan Church of the Mets last year when he had a collision last year & the next day they let him fly to colorado…HE WAS GONE FOR THE YEAR!!!! Every doctor in this world thats worth something , will let you know if you have any brain swelling (Concussion) to never ever get on a PLANE!
Am i dreaming or did they let Kyle on a flight tonight ?? UNREAL…..
If they are letting him fly tonight then we dodged a major bullet. Im no doctor but I know they dont let people on planes if they have any brain or spine injuries because the change in blood pressure can exacerbate the injury. The nhl has to really look at these kind of hits and look toward the NFL to limit such hits. There needs to be a intent to injure rule added, because someone will eventually be paralyzed or killed by a hit like this.
Am i dreaming or did they let Kyle on a flight tonight ?? UNREAL…..
Clean hit. He kept his elbow in and the momentum of the hit carried his feet off the ice.
The crime was the pussy Phaneuf backing up the rest of the game, not wanting to engage. Scott Stevens would never do that.
as a trauma resident i can weigh in a little bit here. His diagnosis of a mild concussion means he lost consciousness and is experiencing minor bouts of vomiting and will be watched for signs of vertigo. Him being cleared to fly is a very good sign however because it shows he’s obviously stable. This however does not mean he’s out of the woods as he may have post syndromes that can come and go, not to mention the psych. affect this may have on his game. Hope this helps clear up any questions
What a dirty hit from Phaneuf. He left his feet and would defenetiv hurt okposo. So i hope at saturday we going also “headhunting”
One of your stars get hit, and his teammates rush out onto the ice to…
…hug and dance with the guy who hit him?
#44 said it best: Why should anyone respect this team?
the Phaneuf’s of the league rarely fight the other teams designated goons
what the islanders need is a Steve Ott type of nutty guy who’s actions throughout the game are unpredictable thus keeping the opponents skilled players antsy throughout the game
opponents will think twice before delivering big hits or generally anything dirty towards your team if they know you have a nut like Steve Ott on your roster who wouldnt think twice before leveling your skilled players
yo watch the replay you can see the guy behind ko kinda pushes him toward dion and it makes the imact bigger tooo eager for preseason play
I just saw the video. That was a *CLEAN* hit. Kyle had his head down and got smoked. Simple as that. Elbow was down and he led with his shoulder. The impression that he left his feet is wrong. He was doing backwards crossovers and at impact his left skate was off the ice while pushing off his inside edge on his right skate. Clean hit all the way. Scary…but clean. Perhaps a bit much for a pre-season game, but everyone is trying to make an impression.
How about some *MAJOR* props for Moresy for coming off the bench? Clean hit or not…Moresy stepped up for a teammate after seeing no one on the ice was going to do anything about it.
I’m really sick and tired of being an Islander fan. We root for a team with a bunch of nin-cum-poops. I’m disgusted and this BS has been happening to the Isles ever since Vukota and the Baumer left. We need a friggen goon on this team.
Chris, please, get us some answers. WTF will Garth do to make these guys think twice before trying to violently hit or hurt our young stars???
Garth, WTF are you gonna do!?!?
Do you need any more proof to show that the Isles need a legitimate enforcer? Snow should take the blame if this continues to happen to us this season.
Not for anything, and I know it doesn’t make a difference with the way KO was hit, but I remember a few times last year KO losing his helmet - definitely more often than other players on the team. If it stayed on and was worn the right way, could the severity of the injury have been lessened? It is only speculation but it just came to my mind.
Guys, you can watch the reply frame by frame. I’m an Isles fan since 1981 but Phaneuf’s skates were on the ice at the moment of impact and he led with his shoulder. Feet left the ice after the collision because it was a biggie. Okposo was “distracted” by contact with another player just seconds before the hit and then was guilty of having his head down. Phaneuf did line him up and it was preseason so that’s the only area I might have a problem with but if it was the other way around it would be us defending Okposo.
Phaneuf was *this* type of player before the KO hit. The fact that it is preseason against a team on the other side of the Planet really, really sucks. I thought the Isles stuck up for each other nicely though and have not one complaint about needing an *enforcer*. Dion passed up a chance to take on Martin (I am sure that there were other off camera invites) and passed it up …not surprising. Phaneuf can just as easily (well maybe not cause he plays defense) recieve an open ice season/career ending hit as anyone else. If that isn’t enough to give the guy a conscious then having some big goon warming our bench certainly aint going stop him. I like Reich, The Wrecker and so on. I want courage, class and honor and The Islander will have it.
My biggest beef is with the League overall.
Go Isles!
Looks like he left his feet to hit KO — that’s bs.
To everyone who is going crazy about an enforcer; Phaneuf has become one of the top defenseman in the league and is the modern day Scott Stevens when it comes to open ice hits. The Isles could have Evander Holyfield on the ice and he’s still making that hit. Let’s just hope Okposo has a quick and full recovery.
I have three issues…
1) Phaneuf is not a bubble player trying to show he can play defense. He does not need to play in a pre-season game with that kind of intensity.
2) Look just before the hit. It looks like Giordano pushed Okposo from behind, and sent him sideways slightly which contributed to the hit.
3) Having an enforcer would be nice—however, I would add that the enforcer would likely not have been on the ice when the hit was made, and KO would still have a concussion. Sure the enforcer may have gone out and tried to fight Phaneuf or Giordano, but the end result of our young star would still be—he is concussed.
What I really dont like—the push from behind that put KO off balance and sliding into Phaneuf.
All of this aside—sometimes this is what happens in hockey, and I am just glad he seems okay.
Is this normal during preseason with all these injuries starting already?
Enforcer, please … If Tavares starts putting pucks in the net, he’ll be the #1 target for hits like this in case he’s caught admiring a pass or skating with his head down. We actually have some valuable on-ice assets that we need to protect (true, retribution always comes after hits like this, but we don’t need other teams to think that it won’t be coming and they can get away with this crap).
Gretzky always had muscle on his teams, and we seriously need it too.
Teams will take runs at the Isles all season long as long as we don’t have a bona-fide enforcer. Let’s get used to it. It’s gonna be another looonnnggg season.
Hockey Guy in Canada-
its called a cheap shot.
As Biron said-if youre going to play like that man up.
Only saw the clip not the game. Phaneuf showed no respect. He’s not fighting for a spot on the team so no need for this type of hit. Props to Pascal for showing he’s the ultimate team player. Guy was sitting down and jumped up immediately after the hit. No hesitation and made b-line to Phaneuf, who is much bigger and can drop the gloves. Too bad he slipped. Boxscore shows Haley had two fights and Martin had one. How’d they do? Next game have to play Reich, Wrecker, Martin & Haley to send a message regardless if Phaneuf is playing.
I looked at the replay a few times and he does leave he feet which makes it an illegal hit. Kudos to Morency for going right after him. More importantly, I’m glad Kyle is ok. What is worse is that while watching the TSN highlights, one of the studio announcers laughs after the hit. Real classy. Maybe The Wrecker and Reich should both make this team to keep the liberties to a minimum. It’s not like having them in the lineup will hurt out playoff chances.
With no one in the Islander lineup to be fearful of, hits like this will continue all season. Snow and Islander fans shouldn’t be surprised that something like this happened. Without a legit enforcer (not Jackman or the Wrecker)and players that are willing to do the same other teams top players(Webb)this whole team will be on injured reserve again by the all-star break.
While I am surprised someone would go headhunting in a pre-season game, this is going to be a regular occurrence this season. The entire league is going to take liberties with these young kids and I remain very confused why Snow would allow a young team with Tavares in the fold to be exposed to this type of nonsense. It’s only going to get worse unless Snow does something. Maybe he’s waiting to pick off a tough guy that gets cut/sent down and get him on the cheap, but to go into the season like this is a death wish.
Totally agree 100% with #93!! its only a matter of time , before Tavares gets hot and someone runs him like KO last night!! Its good to see Morency and Haley and even Biron step-up for KO , but come on Garth , we need a PROVEN enforcer to be out there!! There is NO reason to let them off the hook on Saturdays game! Someone needs to send a message that we are NOT gonna be pushed around and be able to have our stars be run at!!!
1. Bergy, groin strain
2.Nielson,knee sprain
Okposo, concussion.
2. ???
Who’s next, Garth, before. “you act like man”! As
Don Corligone would say.
Clean hit? Maybe. Cheap shot? Absolutely.
No need for a hit like that in a preseason game when your spot on the roster is secured, Mr. Phaneuf.
Should get a game or two for headhunting, but won’t. Colin Campbell. Motteau, anyone?
Isles need a NHL regular tough guy in their lineup. I grew up watching Mick Vukota, Ken Baumgartner and Rich Pilon.
They were a NECESSITY to protect the skill guys on the team. Lafontaine, Turgeon and Palffy benefited from them being on the team.
Snow was always a “tough” goalie. Why hasn’t he become a tough GM?
Looked borderline dirty… What’s up with Giordano jumping into Morency???? This is what we get for not signing an enforcer… Kyle is probably out for a month or two and Tavares will probably get run too… We are in serious TROUBLE, IMO…
You had a choice of Orr or Brashear among others and the clueless one (Snow) did nothing but sign and draft 20 goalies. Wake up Snow before someone gets seriously injured by one of those cheapshots!
The hit was legal within the letter of the law - but dirty within the spirit of the law ( pre-season games are not for headhunting for an established NHL player)
Brent - PLEASE dress Phaneuf in the next game. Please dress Fleury. This is why we needed to pick off a legitimate GOON…..and not have to hope the Avs cut a guy like Fritz (for example) - I hope they dress Matt Martin and all our physical guys tomorrow. We have way too many smallish guys in “role player/checking line” types -not enough guys who can keep a guy like Phaneuf honest. He thinks twice about running a Flyer with Pronger………thinks twice about running a Leaf with all their goons…..etc.
Just saw the video tape. I bleed orange and blue, clean hit, NO place for it in pre-season. KO was clearly being checked by two other Flame’s players and did not pose an offensive threat, you could see a line change on the fly, as I am sure once he got to the red line, it was dump in and back to bench. Obviously,that’s not the way it ended up. If this is going to be the blue print of other teams, then we have problems, AND this should of been adressed by Snow and the brass. Within our own divison, all hated have bulked up (rags/flyers). What gets me is that an enforcer of today is not and enforcer of say from the 70’s that could barely skate. Most of these guys nowadays can skate and be a productive 4th liner while still filling their role, and they come ALOT cheaper than a 1st or 2nd line quality forward. Ya hear that Garth, CHEAPER!!!! Go get somebody, NOW!! What’s it going to take, more head hunting to our team???!!! Or are you waiting for blood to come pouring out??? Putz..
Let him sit, its the friggin preseason. Please don’t pull a New York Mets and put the poor guy on a plane or something else dumb that only our Isles could dream up.
How can you say that K!! He left his feet to make the hit!! Mark March 25th as pay back here at the Coliseum!!! Phaneuf is a hard hitter but that was cheap! How would they like it if Sutton or Witt hit Iginla that way!!
I know its pre-season, but Snow has set the stage. The Islanders where totally out playing the Flames up 3-1. Nice to see but what happen?, total cheapshot. This will be the formula teams will employ against this squad. And we arent even in our division yet. Hockey is a tough game. We do not have tough players. This not being addressed in the offseason is a crime. Props to the kid who jumped off the bench, and Baily was ejected in the 3rd for confronting Phaneauf. However fear is the motivator. The Islanders are in a position to send a message to the rest of the league Saturday. Its pre-season and the message is more important than a win IMO. Dress every player with any stich of toughness and let them go head hunting. Oh and Snow….sign a f’en goon already.
Thats what happens when you have no size up front. Isles did not get an enforcer in the offseason and they don’t have any big D-men. The injuries are going to pile on for this Islander team all season so get used to it. Welcome back Theo!!
This is clearly that gutless puke Sutter’s attempt to get revenge for the hit that Weight put on his son last year which in my opinion was a clean hit. This hit was dirty! Leaving your feet? C’mon.
We should’ve kept Goddard when we had him!!
I’m glad Snow signed Biron, we needed an enforcer. :rolleyes:
Another piece of evidence that Sutter is behind this was the hit on Nielsen last year in New Jersey. That cheap shot was taken just weeks after his sons hit. Sutter is a classless human being and I’m surprised that nobody else is talking about this. It’s far from a coincidence. They should take his son out agian in the next game.
1. I hope Kyle is okay, and the Islanders [err] on the side of caution with him. A team destined for a top 5 pick doesn’t need to rush a young star back to play in front of western canadien (and BBQ state) fans.
2. I only saw the TV replay (many times) and I’d have to say if Sutton or Witt did it, I’d defend them here. It looks to me that Dion was sliding across to deliver one of his above average body checks and Kyle had been knocked off balance a split second before. Phaneuf’s arms were down, and his stick was on the ice. The only thing that lifted him off the ice was the sheer impact of the hit. It was just a bad circumstance for KO.
3. Kudos to Pascal for his passionate reaction and not being told he was “ready”. He will probably be the only one who gets days for this. If the behemoth showed the same lack of restraint (passion), last year in NJ we’d all all be chanting “MITCH FRITZ” when he hit the ice… Morency shows this side of his game night after night in BP (most likely will continue to do so) Hopefully Martin will bring this with him to the NHL.
4. Theo Fluery… REALLY?
5. It looks like one thing hasn’t changed. OUTSHOT 17-4 in the third period. How long before Gordon adapts to the NHL, or somebody tells Snow that his emperor is buck naked.
You don’t get that airborne if you make a hit with your feet on the ice!! He definitely left his feet. IF you can’t see that you need glasses!! He looked 2 feet in the air after the hit!!
I haven’t read all the posts, just the first few. I want to comment on the enforcer issue. I’ve said this in previous blogs crying for an enforcer. What did Phaneuf do when our goons came after him? He didn’t fight. Do you think he would fight laraque? Orr? So, how would an enforcer have prevented this?
We need to sign more players like Matt Martin, not little 6 foot wingers. That kid was a beast last night, and stood up for his teammates. Phaneuf wanted NO part of Martin’s 6′2 frame and refused to fight him. Here’s to the isles getting more size. What do ya say?
Like it has been mentioned, if it was Witt, Sutton, or any other Islander taking out Iginla, Ollie, or whoever then the Canadian media would be ripping the Isles to shreds. Anyone remember the Webb hit on Fleury at MSG where Fluery thought he woke up in Betty Ford? I will take about 10 of those tomorrow night.
I dislike Sean Avery as much as everyone else out there, but Sean is spot on about Phaneuf. Gordo? Garth? Let’s do something about this. Immediately. As in Saturday night.
*** STOP WHINING GUYS** IT WAS A CLEAN HIT!! Thats how NHL hockey was/is played, anyone every watch Scott Stevens? i dont like it but It was a clean hit..
_____ #71 GREAT POST!!!!!!
_____ I have been SCREAMING from the rooftop on this great blog about how the Isles need some size and beef! You need some grit and toughness (and of course skill!) the Isles are a smallish young team, they will be tested for sure…
___ Props to Morency for at least trying to go after Phaneuf - it looks like Matt Martin also “”tried” to get at Phaneuf but a teamate stepped in. Hey Phaneuf its preseason, if u are going to throw big hits, be ready to answer the bell or ill make fun of your girlfreind and “sloppy seconds”…
The next game (sat) will be interesting for sure!!!
Couldn’t agree more with all the posts. That’s hockey, you take and you gotta dish it. We need players like Phaneuf. Wait till the first big one on Tavares. What is Snow waiting for.
OMG - this is preseason? Since Pfaneuf saw KO already being jostled by 2 defenders, what point to this whole bit? Is he a rookie fighting for a spot? And I agreee with all the previous comments re if it were John Simon he would have been suspended for the year. How come our clean hits are always called foul? Where is Steve Webb - we need his clone. And most of his hits were “clean” and w/o penalty. Steve, where are you? Can you take one of our kids and teach him the trade. Aside to Chris, if it weren’t for PB still on line, I would be clueless. The Isles web site has been unchanged for months. And I couldn’t find you on nhl fanhouse. Thanks for keeping us going.
” …thank god okposo is okay …”
we don’t know he’s okay. that’s the problem with concussions. maybe he goes on with little or no affect and no more concussions, but as someone noted above, this has to be watched and thought about from now on. concussions end careers, but more often they change them. we have no idea how this will affect the kid, tomorrow, next week, next year. at the very least,it’s something he has to think about it other than scoring goals. like just about everyone else here, i was really surprised that the g.m. didn’t grab a so-called enforcer. shocked really. i thought he should get 2. there was no good reason not to. they were available. including a few who can actually play. for me, it’s more about deterrence than retribution. do we know for sure that phaneuf would not have made that hit if brashear or neil (just examples) were on the isles bench? of course not. but a jewelry store owner whose been in business for 25 years and never been robbed still has a protective fence over his shop window and an alarm system just in case. it’s called protecting your interests. looking after your assets. insurance. it’s a basic, fundamental, primary, core principal of business. even i know that.
KO needs to keep his helmet on, its always coming off. As I’ve said before there is no need for that hit in preseason, Phaneuf knows better. That being saidn, we need a “Phaneuf”. We don’t have a hulking guy who likes to hit and has snarl. If we had someone like that who could leave Jokinen or one of their young studs in a crumpled ball at the boards, now that would be a deterent.
Do you guys really think if we had a goon, at the last second Dion would have thought twice and not hit him. The goon would help in some ways, however there is a good chance if we had a goon he would not even be in the lineup as its preseason. This is simple a BS hit. Lets not blame management.
Clean hit or not several things are disturbingly clear:
1. We get hit hard and we back down allowing the other team to come back and win it. If we were dominating that game then clearly the Phaneuf hit was the turning point… because we turtled like it or not.
2. We get hit hard without fear of retribution. Say what you want about Phaneuf being the modern day Scott Stevens, this is no different than throwing at a guy in baseball, except Phaneuf can take that liberty because nobody on our side warrants that kind of fear.
#127..You ask how an enforcer would have prevented the hit? Well if other teams saw we had guys like Brashear, Orr, Laraque skating around the ice they would be less likely to take liberties on our players because they know one of those guys is coming after them, thats how.
#125….intimadation. Accountability for himself and his teammates. I said it before and Ill say it again, If this was Philly do you think Phaneaf throws that hit?
do he leave his feet for that hit?
mild concussion or not, not sure this guy should be on a plane. (see: Ryan Church, NY Mets in 2008)
We did for good ole Al Arbour…. now it’s time for another 1 game contract/appearance & he’s close to the team right now.
Sign Gillies for 1 game contract to beat the tar out of the whole damn Calgary team!
P.S. He left his feet !
I agree with all of these comments, good and bad. The only thing that bothers me about this team, is the fact that we sign “tough guys” who in reality, really cannot play this role in the NHL. Rechlicz is the only guy in my opinion that has a shot of embracing this role on the Islanders. He’s got size, he’s not slow and a complete waste on the ice (like most goons), he’s got that “im a psycho and i want to run you through the glass” look in his eyes, and when he finishes his checks EVERYONE in the rink knows it. I’ve seen the Wrecker live in action, and let me tell you.. as a rookie, you STILL knew when he was out on the ice. That presence in my opinion, defines an enforcer, or legit “tough guy”. He knows his role… take a 15-20 second shift, hit everything in site during that time, and stand up for your team-mates if necessary. If we want to add the brawler and goon aspect to our team, we need to look elsewhere. Guys like Haley and Morency aren’t going to clean up the mess after our star player lay motionless on the ice. If we don’t sign a goon, at the LEAST please put a checking line out on the ice consisting of Jackman, Rechlicz, and Thompson at center. Let’s not let our youth movement start following the footsteps of DP when we can’t stand up for ourselves.
Credit to Morency, but he did get tossed to the ground…not exactly the “don’t do that again” retribution that puts fear into the hearts of opponents.
The play was dirty, but not the hit, imo. It was the push into the hit that set it all up. I really hope that it was unintentionally dirty, and that it was a push to knock KO off the puck, and not a push to shove him into the hit, because I’d hate to think someone would do that on purpose for seemingly no reason…or at all.
Whether the hit was clean or not is irrelevant. If you take out one of our star players, you have to pay.
Clean hit
get use to our guys getting run over. Snow is allergic to guys who are over 6′0 and tough..
Time to lay the smack down in game 2! Somebody better step up to the plate.
the jackass did leave his feet.
Having now just seen the replay extensively two things stand out:
1. I *DON’T* think Phaneuf left his feet
2. However he completely BLINDSIDED Okposo and went right after him premeditatively.
There’s absolutely NO WAY this compares to Weight hitting Brandon Sutter, Sutter was skating straight through the neutral zone; man-on-man coverage meant Weight covered him center against center and he caught him skating with his head down at center ice one-on-one.
Okposo had one guy behind him, one in front AND Phaneuf coming at him to blindside him. When two of his guys are covering Okposo, can we not say something for Phaneuf deliberately going after KO? Regardless of whether he left his feet, it was a PREMEDITATED BLIND SIDE hit, what a total jack***. Hope Backlund or Iginla or Bouwmeester don’t ever get caught with their head down tomorrow night….
Wow. With each day I realize how many of you out there really need to get a freaking grip. Yeah, I saw the hit, and, yeah, I thought Phaneuf left his feet.
But it’s Snow & Gordon’s fault that Phaneuf is a dirty player? (I’m looking at you, Strummer.) If, along with being dirty, Phaneuf is too much of a p*ssy to fight any of the “small, soft” Islanders who challenged him, what would it matter if Bob Effing Probert was on the team? Sure, calling customer service to “demand” an enforcer should solve that. Why do you assume that the Isles haven’t tried to get one, anyway? What inside knowledge do you have? Getting pissed at Katie because she didn’t post anything for a whole hour and a half after the game? Maybe, just maybe - follow me here - there wasn’t any news yet? You’re the same people who complain that she should just stick to giving updates about the team - would you rather have had her tell you what she had for a post-game meal? And, really, complaining about who’s taking shootouts IN A FREAKING PRESEASON GAME? (Yep, looking at you again, Strummer. And, for crying out loud, it’s GERVAIS, not “Geravis.”) My god, get a clue, people. Take a breath and step away from the ledge, already.
Sorry for the rant, CB, but already I couldn’t take this. It’s embarrassing enough to read some of this stuff now - what’s it gonna be like when the games actually mean something? I already know the answer to that, so I guess I’ll have to stop reading anything in CB’s posts that comes after “Comments”.
Get well soon KO! I guess in this case the news of a midl concussion is good news. Sounds like an injury that he will recover from 100%. No rushing PLEASE!
For Hire: Certified Enforcer - so teams show some respect…
Let’s GO ISLANDERS!
I love internet tough guys. “That’s hockey”, “skate with your head up”. There was no need to blast Okposo from the blindside- plain and simple.
That was a flat out mugging! Hey Dion, give the kid his wallet back. For all you critics, yes, the hit was dirty, filthy even, but thats why girls dont play in the NHL.
___ #153 (bf51) its not about being a ‘internet tough guy’ its about hockey being a physical game. I dont want to see ANYONE get hurt playing hockey (Isle or opponents) but hockey is a ROUGH GAME, you have to keep your head up or u will get blasted!
___ Its a 80+ game schedule and there are big guys skating around and hitting each other, over 80+ games you will *sometimes* get blasted! Phanuef took advantage of a guy who had his head down, plain + simple.
___ The Isles tried to go after Phanuef but he wouldnt go, in a preseason game someone should have “forced” the issue with Phanuef. Payback should have come or should come saturday in some form (unless Buttman or Campbell stick their nose in) -
__ Im not looking for blood or a brawl or goon squad, but the Isles do need to something and stick together as a team! Its a very important part of a teams development, (along with skating, skill, scoring, etc) it really is
Lets go Isles
I’ve been an Islanders fan since 1972. Brent Sutter is officially erased from my memory as an Islander. Banned. Banished for good. Go ride your tractor in Alberta and have a nice life. We don’t want you coming back to any dynasty ceremonies and if you do we’re gonna boo your sorry headhunting butt.
Almost every day I write the same thing. A smallish team is prone to injury and intimitation by other bigger teams, thats most of the rest of the league. We need more than an enforcer we need bigger players at all the positions. This concentration in terms of numbers and money by Snow on goalies is sick.
About Scott Gordon, I still have reservations on whether he will become a good NHL coach. He seems in over his head and his ’system’ hasn’t really impressed me. Maybe he just isn’t ready yet or maybe he is just a really good AHL coach the way some players are just really good AHL players. I know it’s early, but I still feel like this team needs a different coach.
Strummer…. Sissy hockey? Gordons not a man?? Are you kidding me? 12 of your precious goons would not have stopped this. Phaneuf doesn’t get intimidated and he wouldn’t fight. The old time hockey you want might make you feel good but, oh what’s the point… Waste of time. Players on all type of teams with all types of goons have gotten big hits and concussions throughout hockey history. Give it a rest!!
I am not condoning anything but a guy I would love to have on this team and add a whole new dimension would be Jordin Tootoo. The guy can dish leveling hits. Plus he is a UFA after this season. Garth, make the call.
Dionne doesn’t throw that hit vs. Toronto or Philly.
And why the h*** didn’t Witt go over there and challenge Phaneuf - he’s gotten very soft over the years.
I just read strummer’s army remark and he gets the prize for summing up this terrible incident best.
You’re right Art, that’s why this team needs forwards like Matt Martin and Jesse Joensuu in the line-up ASAP. Good prospects with good size and some moxie to go with it.
Not that it matters to properly judge if a hit is clean or not but I’ve been an Isles for the past 20 years. Even though its debatable if the hit was necessary or not being it was preseason but it was definitely clean all the way. Phaneuf never left his feet and led with his shoulder. I’m looking at the NHL FanHouse video link right now with it freeze framed three seconds in right before the hit and both Phaneuf’s feet are on the hit and Kyle’s head is down. People need to realize just because the other player gets hurt doesn’t automatically make a hit “dirty”.
The Lafontaine and Peca injuries all happened when the Isles had enough tough guys on the team. You can have two or three tough guys on the team and these hits will still happen. As long as players have such little regard for each other these things will continue to happen.
CLEAN HIT. For all of you that say it was dirty, and your basis is that it was intentional, you are idiots. all hits are intentional, and it does not matter that he was trying to get his team back in the game - it is part of hockey. Also, he did not leave his feet, it was a result of the impact. KO got KO’d,OK.
Also, I lost respect for Phaneuf because he would not drop his mittens with anyone for the rest of the game. If you are going to level someone you better make sure your mittens aren’t glued on.
if the league would actually suspend or fine players for illegal hits then a goon wouldn’t be needed. if teams got fined or coaches and players fined or suspended then these hits would occur less often. that’s the biggest issue in my opinion.
I agree with many things you said 151. Having Orr on the team or any other tough guy would not stop these types of hits. Phaneuf is not going to say to himself the Isles have Orr so I better watch myself.
After reading everyone’s comments, and my own.. i’ve come to the realization that it’s so much the enforcer role we need (not saying we couldn’t use it) but we don’t have anyone with enough skill to lay punishing hits. Phaneuf is a candy*** but boy does he know how to line guys up in the nuetral zone AND everywhere else. The NHL now a days is so fast paced that it’s rare to find someone who can lay huge bone crushing hits on players. You don’t see Witt or Sutton doing the damage they used to be able to dish out in the past. We need to find someone with good size, and good anticipation to punishment opposing players with the puck. Until then.. we will be walked all over. Players will enter the neutral zone with no fear because noone will be be there to let them hear some footsteps.
Time for Colin Campbell,the Islander hater from his Ranger days,to give Phaneuf a regular game suspension of some sort. Okposo was screened briefly by an opponent and Phaneuf caught him with his head down while he was AIRBOURNE!!!. Exhibition games especially between non natural bad blooded rivals has no purpose.Work out offensive continuity,defensive positional transitional cohesion after a failed offensive rush. There is no room for a clown to bury a guy with a leaping hit. Like in the NFL you want to get in the ”work” but not go all out on the massive hits. Intent is irrelevent. And the 21 year old man called ”The Wrecker” is a big future elite enforcer. This may be the year. PLUS the Isles have some tough freaks down on the farm. Payback is a female dog in heat!!!!.Phaneuf ran like the coward he is. The Isles have his name and number!!!
anybody know where Cris Simon is?
…march 25th riot vs flamers is already being planned! flamer fans wearing #3, #5, and crackheads are all free game and should be sent to 318 for treatment!
Agree Marc@151…Killing Kate for not having a twitter update is ridiculous, really gonna lose sleep over that one? i know people want the news, and they want it 2 minutes ago, but still, you think she just took the rest of the game off and was lounging around? She most def was trying to confirm anything regarding KO. just be reasonable here people.
And people claiming Snow hasn’t improved the team while other GM’s have? Seriously? really? We dont have a proven enforcer and b/c of THAT, Snow is being torn down?
The back and forth both here and on Islandermania (and I imagine other places) is running wild this morning. I would sure like to hear CB’s take on this.
To the people who continue to insist that Phaneuf “didn’t leave his feet”, please re-read Katie Strang’s column.
She writes: “Talking to players after the game it was clear they thought Phaneuf left his feet on the hit.”
That was the assessment of the players themselves - professional hockey players who know what leaving your feet is and who saw the hit directly in front of them at ice level. Pardon me but that’s good enough for me, especially since I think the replay confirms it.
Enforcers are a dime a dozen. Its elite enforcers that count. This notion the Isles are panzies is bogus. Goddard was an elite enforcer but nothing else. A defensive liability,no offensive capabilities. What,the Rangers got a one dimentional 37 year old goon in Brashear?. Chris Simon had a 25 goal season. 2nd rate enforcers that get destroyed in fights deflate a team more then help. Cheap goons are cost effective,,,,I am sure the Isles with fortify their toughness. Rome was not built in a day.
The question or explanation to what happenend IS NOT justified by “oh it happens in hockey” or “is the Hit dirty or not”.
It is about how the Islanders answer that hit and how to try to prevent it by having a true heavyweight on the Bench.
Players would think second before running somebody if they knew somebody was going to answer the call.
This will happen alot if the Islanders do not add a true heavyweight.
There needs to be a deterrent on the bench, not Morency!
Garth Snow should wake up with this! You rookie!
I don’t care if it was a clean hit or not. If the NHL continues to allow hits to the head, its going to ruin itself.
The NFL has rules against hitting guys who are vulnerable, and they have significantly more head protection than NHL players.
The NHL needs to do something about this. I’m a life long hockey fan, but I’m sick of seeing guys getting carted off the ice. At some point I’m just going to turn it off.
Yeah, he should have had his head up, but that’s not the point. Not to mention the fact that its an exhibition game and an established player who has a spot on the team. What was the purpose of it?
Sadly, it kind of makes me like Avery at this point.
174…what you see in person at full speed is not always the most accurate assessment. The replay slowed down is a different perspective than at full speed. Personally, I think his follow through is what made him leave his feet, he wasn’t airborne prior to it.
I wanted the team to add more toughness in the offseason as well, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. We can complain about it all we want, but it’s not going to change anything. Besides, I have to agree with the point that this hit was going to happen if the Isles had an entire team of goons out there, Phaneuf is that type of player.
As for Saturday’s game, I would be amazed if Sutter played anybody that matters to the Flames, including Phaneuf. This is where Gordon needs to send the message that the Isles will not tolerate this kind of play. He needs to put his toughest lineup possible out there and tell them to hit everything that moves as hard as they can…but do it cleanly. If that’s the way Sutter wants his boys to play in the preseason let’s see how they react to getting run over a few times of their own.
Give me a break guys, having an enforcer wouldn’t have prevented this at all. Dion Phaneuf wouldn’t drop the gloves against Pascal Morency who is 5′10″. You think he would fight an enforcer? We do need big tough players, but an enforcer to do staged fights against the other teams fighter is a waste of a roster spot.
I agree 180. I would have liked to have a Colton Orr on the team. He seems to be able to play a little. The Isles tried to sign him and he signed with the Leafs instead. This idea though of having a tough guy who plays three minutes a game and is suppose to stop all these types is hits is fantasy.
drive - the issue isn’t whether Phaneuf would fight…it’s whether he would have done it in the first place if this was say, the Flyers, whose entire team is made up of sizeable players who know how to take care of business. Sure, you can lay a hit on a guy and then not drop the gloves, but you are then responsible for the series of teammates’ bodies that go flying all over the ice for the rest of the game.
It’s a debateable point, but a little extra toughness would certainly not hurt the Isles!
dude what’s with dumbass brent’s teams taking runs at our isles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOpefully they make Phaneuf pay one night, if not tomorrow. I hope Rechlicz this kills Dion puts him in a stretcher just to have him what is like to go after another team’s star.
to 171 - Chris Simon is playing for HC Vityaz at KHL. (www.hcvityaz.ru)
GM - GM Alexi Zhamnov
Head Coach - Mike Krushelnitsky
UIF - I agree with you. We need big tough players that can lay big hits, but we don’t need another Mitch Fritz that is just in the lineup to fight the other team’s enforcer.
I’m waiting for CB to question Garth. What’s CB’s thoughts?
He led with his shoulder and CLEARLY left his feet and jumped into the hit….I agree Hockey is Hockey but it was dirty as Phaneuf always is. You can count that he will not be in the line up Saturday nite!! that being said Sutter is no longer an Islander!!!
#159 Leviticus, I was wondering when you’d chime in with your pacifist crap. You want us to burn incense now and sit around a camp fire holding hands? YOU ARE NOT THE MODERATOR ON THIS SITE. STOP TRYING TO OPPRESS MY FREE SPEECH. I WILL WRITE WHAT I WANT TO. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT YOU DON’T NEED TO RESPOND TO EVERY COMMENT I MAKE. It’s always the hippies and the sissies trying to take away free speech.
You forgot to write your usual slogan of “Detroit and Pit do just fine without enforcers”. Even if that is not accurate and both bulked up big time this summer.
I’m not trying to convince YOU of the need for more size and toughness. Gordon, Snow, Botta, Logan all said it. Matt Martin said it. You are the type of person who’ll never see the big picture on how power prevents stuff like this. Peace is often obtained by power.
Marc from Troy is now the other Stalin style self-appointed moderator. YES, I’m looking at you Marc from Troy.
Read the comments, most of the people on this site have been unhappy with the lack of toughness for a very long time.
Some of you might not mind seeing Islanders carted off the ice but MOST of us here do.
Have to say that it was a clean hit. You cannot have your head down going through center ice like that. Just like we all thought the hit on Sutter last year was clean, this was as well.
First I want to say that I saw the entire game. Personally I am appalled. Some of the comments on here are beyond ridiculous while others are spot on. In a nutshell, whether the hit was dirty or not, you don’t run a player like that in a preseason game.secondly if you do, man up and fight. Props to Pascal for standing up for a team he isn’t even contracted to. Props to Martin for making a name for himself with those who do not know him, and bigger props to Micheal Haley for sending the message. Its funny how Flames fans b*tch about Morency going after Dion but they forget that Jokinen did the same after Haley ran over Backlund.To the guy who said Bailey, it was Haley who was in Dions face towards the end of the game at the faceoff. He literally was in his face before the puck was dropped, thus getting the game misconduct. Tomorrow will be interesting but we all know Sutter isn’t dressing Phaneuf, Iggy or his nephew. So maybe we grow a pair and dress Wrecker, Reich, Haley & the bunch, but its all for naught. The damage is already done. Great comment about not throwing that hit against TOR or Philly, you are spot on!
After watching a number of replays, I’ve come to agree with 188 that this was akin to Weight’s hit on Sutter’s kid. Phaneuf definitely lined him up and the hit was probably higher than it should have been. Obviously, Phaneuf is more pre-disposed to this kind of play than Weight, which in my view makes him more culpable, but the hits are the same.
However, one new wrinkle that I saw came from highlights on TSN where it seemed that Haley hit Olie Jokinen high leading to their fight. Jokinen was very upset and perhaps Phaneuf’s hit was payback. Live by the sword; die by the sword–we just need guys with swords that can also play some hockey.
You know what fellas. There’s no such thing as a “mild” concussion. This worries me because of how the piss pour Mets handled Church. Thank God my dad made me a Yankees & Giants fan or I would be miserable all season. The Isles are my only mistake and I picked them on my own cuz Dads not into hockey. Sometimes I regret my choice but I will live & die with them, none the less.
Alright we are all upset about this but I think some people are missing some things here. First KO’s head was down becuase he was shoved from behind and was off balance. Enough with the keep your head up crap. Second I know Im biased but If that hit was on Iginla Im sure there would be alot more people saying it was Dirty. In my opinion it was a cheap shot. My opinion of course doesnt matter. I cant watch the video here at work but I saw it last night and to me it looked like Dion left his feet a little early. However I will revisit that.
What is clear however is that Phaneauf took advantage of KO in a vulnerable position and demolished him. Some might say thats hockey, and I tend to agree, however he also must answer the bell if hes gonna pull that crap off. Thats Hockey also. Hockey players have long memories and if Phaneauf isnt in the line up Sat his teammates will have to answer IMO.
Also the arguement that an enforcer wouldnt have prevented that hit is a beat arguement IMO. If the Islanders where significantly tougher Dion doesnt take that liberty. No question.
The Isles had Clark Gillies and Bobby Nystrom and Tiger Williams still pounded Mike Bossy.
Anyone have Chris Simon’s phone number. If they are going to let Fleury play there is no reason why Simon cant come back.
“If the Islanders where significantly tougher Dion doesnt take that liberty. No question.”
So six foot 4+ Dion would not have gone for a dirty hit because a guy like laraque would have stopped his shoulder mid stride?
Dion hits and runs…wouldve matter who the enforcer was; It would only have affected what happened post hit
michael haley would have gone right after him and kicked his a$$ but he was off for a misconduct. haley had 34 pm in 5 minutes of ice time. thats what this team needs - A TOUGH SOB LIKE HALEY
DOnt know how many times I can post but west coast Islander fan I have a question. Do you think he throws that gutless hit against Philly or Toronto?
Phaneuf is a chicken - if he had any guts, he wouldn’t have skated backwards & hid behind his teammates & the refs. Sure, Morency got to him, but Phaneuf didn’t get what he has coming to him. Guess that’s what you get from a hockey player with a woman’s first name.
Listen to Blake Comeau’s interview on IslandersTV and he said something to the nature that by the look of KO’s face it was a head shot. So, if Phaneuf did not leave his feet, it was still a head shot. Open your eyes Gary and Colin.
__#189 Strummer’s Army i think i LOVE YOU!! (IN A MANLY WAYY lol)
___ The overwhelming concensus on the board (80-90%) is the isles need some beef/size/toughness, i think very young guys like M Martin, the Wrecker, etc will help the team over time but they still could use some extra muscle/size
___ Its a loooong grueling and physical season, injuries will occur, with that said i CANT WATCH MY TEAM get pushed around! To lose and also get pushed around is double whammy and i wont pay them $$ to watch that, nooo wayy, NEVER!
___ You cant wait for “legislation’ and hope the league office protects your team, thats a bunch of fluffy, pie-in-the-sky utopian nonsense, games are played and settled on the ice, not in a pressbox by idiots in suits/ties and lawers!!
Lets go Isles
The hit struck me as dirty at the time, but I’m not sure I could even say that now. It looked like Phaneuf followed through, if not led, with his elbow. He didn’t leave his feet, and Okposo lost control of the puck before being hit, but it was still right with him. There’s some grey around that.
That being said, what was really dirty was Phaneuf’s patent refusal to stand up to the Islanders that took exception to the hit. Based on those actions, if Phaneuf ever gets caught with a big open ice hit by an Islander in the next game or during the season he’ll probably end up whining about it in the post game press conference. I can understand not throwing down with Morency right after the hit, but jeeze guy, show a little spine.
Also, being that it was a hit to the head, this hit should lead to a fine or suspension automatically. Who cares if the hit was clean? If the league is really intent on taking away hits to the head they should make an example of a “clean” hit to the head. In reality, the debate should not be clean vs. dirty, but whether it was head hunting, or not. Given that Phaneuf is some kind of star in the league, though, that won’t happen, so hopefully he plays and takes a bunch of lumps from all those would be Islanders enforcers.
I’m with Strummer. My concern is what message are our young guy’s getting? We saw Nielsens cheap shot injury last year go unanswered. Okposo gets lit up because there is no respect given to the Isles. Are we sending the message that the Isles are weak and easily intimidated? Guys you are on your own, better play with your head up! I’m telling you right now, you want these young guys to develop, you need to give them space. Who is going to protect these guys and create that space? We need size!! And it is not a matter of just going after Phaneuf, it is a matter of him thinking twice because if he lights up one of ours, we light up one of his young stars . Then Phaneuf has to look his team mate in the eye in the locker room and realize he was responsible for the retaliation! Thats how it works. Just like baseball, you bean 1 of our stars, we will bean you back. It’s not the pitcher who gets hurt, its a team mate, Snow better figure this out quick, Okposo carried off on a stretcher is an ugly picture and sends a big message. If it is Tavares next, Snow should be fired immediately. Garth we are watching, How you going to respond?
OMG, the drama.
The hit was both clean AND compeltely unnecessary. I hate to see it, it ticked me off too, but suspension-worthy? I dont think so. I actually take more exception to him scuttling way from the rest of the Isles after the fact. What, you cant handle the Isles kids?
The way I see it, if Doug Weight had to answer for a clean hit on an uncovered player during a game that actually mattered, then YOU have to answer for a hit on an already covered player during a game that didnt.
As everyone is saying c’mon Garth bring in some protection. We need to man up here. They will take us out one by one. Nielson is damaged..who know how long KO will be sidelined. This is what you get when you put the franchise in the hands of pu$$y goaltenders…
In the close up picture of Okposo laying on the ice… he has a cut just underneath the right eye… and an abrasion along the right side of his chin.
I know his face didn’t hit the ice causing those injuries… so it must have been Phaneuf’s shoulder/elbow that caused those “head” injuries.
DOC
So when do we hear from the league re a suspension for Phaneuf? And in my opinion if you have the nerve to hit dirty like that you should face the music and not run from any fights. That being said this will now lead to everyone expecting retaliation next time Pfanuf is on the ice vs. Islanders, but as we know with the Mottau hit on Neilsen retaliation never came. Hope KO is all right.
Well I hope Okposo’s ok.
And props to Morency for coming off the bench like that. Thumbs up.
Blizzard (194) hit a few points I agree with in that KO’s head was down as a result of the initial shove he took from behind, so you can’t really blame him there. Assuming the hit was clean for a moment (which is the case from what I can see) - Phaneuf didn’t leave his feet, and he led with his shoulder - I don’t really think you can blame him either. He was lining the hit up before KO was shoved from behind, it just so happened KO lost his balance a moment before Phaneuf came in for the hit. Could he have eased up? I suppose, but like Blizzard said, this is hockey - it’s part of the game, and we would all be in Witt’s corner if he put that kind of hit on Iginla. KO was simply a victim of a poor, chance circumstance that sucks big time for us..
However, Phaneuf was a coward for backing down from fighting and I do feel when your star player is laid out like that, clean or not, some retribution is in order, which is why the Isles should be out for blood tomorrow night to send that message. I’m not saying they should be aiming to injure, but some heavy hits and some scrapping are surely in order. It sucks KO got hurt, but hopefully the Isles will send a message tomorrow night and Kyle comes back sooner than later.. It’s aaaall a part of the game.
Of course, Morency is suspended indefinitely (per TSN) pending a hearing next week. That kind of discipline…no problem from the league coming down with that for defending a teammate. Sure Dion will probably get a nice hearty handshake from Colin however.
I find it amuzing that some say “Sutter ordered the hit”.
You know…just before the game, Brent Sutter pulled Dion aside and said, “Okposo will be coming up the right wing. We’ll have a d-man in front of him poke checking, a forward coming back and back-checking him, and he’ll not have total control of the puck. As he’s fumbling for control of the puck at about the red line, that will be a perfect opportunity for you to come from the right-d side and catch him with his head down. Make sure you lead with your elbow and leave your feet. But don’t worry about it looking bad because Okposo will be prone by leaning forward and a bit off balance so his head will be lower than usual. I want you to do that to Okposo because Doug Weight hit my son”.
That’s about right, no? Laughable, simply laughable. “He ordered the hit”…is that the frustration of Okposo being the recipient or is that the lack of common sense. I truly hope it is the former of the two.
everyone boo phenauf when flames play us in march
if that hit happened to a flyer what do you think that teams responce would have been?.they would still be fighting.
I think we should greet Diane Phaneuf with the chicken dance on March 25th. Takes out one of our best players and wont fight when challenged. Kudos to guys like Morency, Haley, and Martin for kicking some ass last night.
Why is it that NYI webiste didnt even mention it? Care to comment, CB?
F U Colie Campbell! What will be the sentence be when your boy Gregory gets caught with his head down? Colie Campbell is the reason why the NHL is a laughing stock compared to other pro sports.
the hit was pretty clean, but it had absolutely no place in a preseason game. you’d think he’d be saving that stuff for edmonton, vancouver, chicago, anaheim, etc.
for everyone saying “what good does a goon do us if a guy like phaneuf won’t fight..?” it’s not about fighting phaneuf–he’s already shown himself to be a total p*ssy in that regard.
it’s about running their softer players & their stars through the boards. elbows up. so what if dion doesn’t show tomorrow? every other flames player should be a target for painful retribution on his behalf. that’s the message that should go back to phaneuf…