So nice to see that the players are still respecting each other in today’s NHL.
The latest act of disrespect came Saturday night in the Dallas Stars- Nashville Predators game, when Preds forward Jordin Tootoo leveled Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas with a sucker punch that laid out Robidas and saw him carried off the ice on a stretcher.
As reported by Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News:
“Tootoo's job was to hound Modano, and he did it well, getting in a few tangles with the Stars' top player.
One such occasion came with under four minutes remaining in the game and the Stars trying to overcome a 3-1 deficit. Tootoo leveled Modano as he tried to make a pass out of the defensive end. As Robidas circled back to help Modano, Tootoo turned and threw a punch to the face of Robidas.
"I turned around and I knew exactly what was going to happen," Tootoo said. "I was just protecting myself. I kept my gloves on, and I think Robidas should be the one that's ready for whatever is coming at him. I was protecting myself."
The Stars didn't see it that way.
"First of all, I'd like an explanation on the penalties," Tippett said of the fact Robidas received a charging penalty to Tootoo's double-minor for roughing. "If he meant to charge him, he didn't get to – he got sucker-punched before he got to him."
Predators coach Barry Trotz praised Tootoo for keeping calm.
"Toots obviously hit their top player, and the current response in hockey is someone has got to get over there and defend your honor," Trotz said. "Robidas was really charging at Toots, and he just reacted. I give him a lot of credit – he kept his gloves on."
I wonder if Trotz would feel the same way if the roles were reversed and it was Robidas who laid out Tootoo in the same manner?
Tootoo claims he was “protecting himself” because Robidas was charging hard at him after Tootoo tangled with Modano, and that Robidas should’ve been prepared for that.
Sorry, Jordin, but that doesn’t wash. Robidas was likely expecting some shoving or perhaps a “sticks-up” scrum, and maybe for the gloves to drop and the punches to being thrown as per the much-ballyhooed “code”. Whatever the reason, he obviously wasn’t expecting a sucker punch.
What was Tootoo to expect from Robidas? He was sticking up for his captain and his team’s best player. That’s part of hockey’s “code”, and if Robidas hadn't gone to the defense of his team's best player, he would’ve caught hell from his coach and probably from some of his teammates. It would’ve also been indicative to Tootoo and the Preds that they could run Modano and take all the liberties they want with him, since nobody was willing to defend him.
Yes, the argument can be made that Modano should be prepared to defend himself, but let’s face facts, folks, in today’s NHL, star players aren’t expected to do that. It’s expected that a lesser talented, perhaps tougher teammate, will come to his defense.
It wasn’t the check that Robidas was objecting to, but the chippiness on Tootoo’s part after the hit. Tootoo knew Robidas was coming, but rather than turn and face Robidas as per the so-called “code”, he whirled with a sucker punch. Isn’t it part of the so-called “code” to allow your opponent a chance to defend himself? Or has that now fallen by the wayside?
Let me again re-state that I’m not some bleeding heart who objects to bodychecking or even of two evenly-matched opponents squaring off to chuck knuckles. Indeed, if Tootoo has faced Robidas as per the so-called “code”, dropped his gloves and had knocked Robidas down, I wouldn’t have had a problem with that. Robidas then would’ve been in a better position to expect a punch and at least have a chance to defend himself.
I like Tootoo, he’s a scrappy energy player who is still trying to earn a regular role with the Predators. He was a hard-hitting popular player for Team Canada at the 2003 World Junior Hockey championships, earning the nickname “the Tootoo Train” from the adoring fans in Halifax. I have nothing but respect for his battle to reach the NHL and his desire to stay there.
But this shot against Robidas was yet another shining example of the lack of respect between players in today’s NHL.
Another cheapshot, another player carried off the ice on a stretcher, but hey! At least it wasn’t a late hit or a slash to the face, so the worst Tootoo could get is a three-game suspension, if he gets assessed any additional punishment at all.
Its a real sticky situation but when it comes down to it, you are right. Tootoo should've used his body instead of using his fist to serve as protection.
If you go after a team's best player you have to know some sort of retialiation is coming. Tootoo did and he just turned and faced it with a fist out.
Now remember this isn't the first instance that the Preds have laid out another teams player with a sucker punch. Scott Nichol went at Buffalo's Spacek from behind.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the NHL is destroying itself when it allows this stuff to happen. When you let the crappy, untalented players run the league this is why you have nobody watching the game.
Let the guys with talent get some protection from the thugs and you'll see a better, more wide open game. 95% of these guys are just cowards anyways, they can dish it but they can't take it.
WOW, The NHL must create some kind of "Hit to the head" rule. Any hit to the head accidental or otherwise, auto 10 games. If the victim is hurt, suspention matches injury. Multiple violations in a season, rest of season. Tootoo is a little guy, you just knew he was going to hit high to retaliate.
** Here's one people haven't talked much about.
Montreal's LATENDRESSE cheap shotted Rob DiMaio in pre-season, probably ending his career.(Head-shot from behind) DiMaio is still feeling effects (6) mos. later.
This was one of the reason's the Bolts got, Andre Roy, Karl Stewart,Kyle Wanvig & Sean O'Brien. All to add team toughness. LATENDRESSE can thank god, I wasn't the coach, or on the ice.
Last edited by Goalieman on March 18th at 6:11 AM.
In the case of Latendresse, it was a borderline hit but I don't believe it was a cheapshot, and he expressed genuine remorse, even calling DiMaio to apologize, saying it wasn't his intent to injure. The kid was really shaken up by it and admitted that it affected his performance earlier in the season, as he was afraid to check opponents out of fear of injuring them.
And no, I'm not defending Latendresse because he's a Hab and I'm a Habs fan. Just pointing out the difference between intentional and unintentional. I won't fault any player who unintentionally hurts another. That's a consequence of the game and everyone accepts it.
Still, your point is well made, the league must do something to discourage the head shots that are occurring with alarming regularity.
I agree, cheapshots have no place in the game and somehow players need to correct this trend and get the respect factor back into it.
LGB - good comment. Only don't forget that Mair's after the whistle high hit on Boston rookie Krejci wasn't saw comming either and wasn't the most honorable hit.
Its ok because he kept his gloves on?? WOW! so in other words, as long as you don't drop the gloves, its ok? If someone kicks another player, is that good or bad, or does it depend on if he's still wearing his skates?
I know I'm blowing this out of proportion, but I hate it when coaches and organizations stand up for stupid plays by average players. If this had been Forsberg punching Robidas, then it would be blown waaaaaaaaay out of proportion by the media, league and players. When Simon did his thing, the Isles said they stood by him....They should have said something about how it was wrong and they hope he learns from it, instead....it was ok. I tell you, if someone on calgary did something stupid like this, I'd sure as heck hope that Daryl along with the rest of the staff would give the player #### too.
If something is wrong, its wrong...it doesn't matter who does it or who its done to....Maybe if teams start fighting fire with fire, someone will get really badly hurt and then we'll see something drastic happen.
I know I sound like #### right now, but hey, I'm not swearing, so that makes it ok...right?
Actually Spector, Latendresse never called DiMaio, and DiMaio called him out on that for not having the respect to apologize for a borderline hit. DiMaio really took the high road there, and said he would love to hear from Latendresse, but a call never came.
As for what Tootu did, I dont really have much of a problem with it. He hit Modano legally, and I respect that Robidas went to defend his captain. However, whatever Robidas would have done would NOT have been legal or within the scope of a clean hit. Tootu was expecting to get hit back, and reacted in a way he thought would protect himself. Remember, this hapenned very fast and Tootu had no idea if it was a winger or a big defenseman coming after him. He probably shouldnt have thrown a punch until he knew the gloves were gonna come off, but I believe him in that he ahd no idea of what was coming for him. In this "new NHL" I wouldnt be surprised if Tootu thought he was about to get his head taken off with a twig.
Last edited by boltsfan on March 18th at 11:03 AM.
boltsfan: from my understanding Latendresse called DiMaio but I could be mistaken on that. I do know that Latendresse told the Montreal media that that hit bothered him and affected his play as I noted earlier. Regardless, Latendresse wasn't deliberately trying to injure DiMaio. Tootoo deliberately tried to hurt Robidas.
By the way, would you feel the same way if Tootoo had done that to a Lightning player? Would you say he was merely defending himself if, say, he struck Boyle or Sarich or Kuba or Ranger in that manner?
i think he should get a nice suspension and maybe fine. this isnt the first time he runs around just throwing his body around.. there was two incidents where he ran a wing March 13. frist he charged schnieder not once but twice, luckily missing the second but jumped a friggin mile high. and then the second him and detroit call up Darryl Bootland were chirping then all of the sudden tootoo starts swinging to his face before "booter" can do anything. the next night in detroit bootland challenges tootoo to a fight but tootoo runs. i say the league give him a hefty suspension.
Well I'd be mad than but then again, my team does no wrong.lol
I'm just trying to step back and realize how fast these things happen. Personally, I think Tootu feels bad about what happened now, but at that time, its hard to control your temper when you think someone's comin after your head. Trust me, I've been there. When you think theres a chance someone's gonna try to actually hurt you, all you care about is your own skin, not what people are gonna say.
BTW no one's saying about Modano hack at Tootu's back when he was engaged with Robidas?
boltsfan: Sorry, but I don't buy the logic that it's okay to cheapshot or suckerpunch somebody because you "think" they might hurt you. That's no excuse for breaking the rules. It wasn't an involuntary reaction, but a deliberate one.
Tootoo knew someone would respond to his hit on Modano, and admitted as much. Thus, he could've prepared himself within the rules instead of whirling around with a punch aimed at Robidas head.
There's rules in this game to prevent this kind of nonsense but again they're not being enforced. There's a distinct lack of respect between the players as this was yet another example of.
A doctrine of preventive self defense does not work.
"He hit me back first" never washed when I was in grade school, and it shouldn't work with adults, no matter how emotional or intense their profession is.
I agree that it ain't right to do that, but LGB, untalented??? come on man, there's a reason Tootoo is in the NHL, not cause he has no talent. Every team has enforcers, Tooey just happens to be one of Nashville's. I agree that coaches hate to see their star players brawl, Iggy in Calgary has caught #### from both his coach and G.M. many times for fighting, they encourage the bruisers to fight for them.It seems quite OK to you, LGB that Buffalo players can do whatever they please to, but, an opponent does anything to a Sabre and they should get 15 to life.
Tootoo isn't an enforcer. He's an instigator. An irritant for more akin to Claude Lemieux than Georges Laraque.
It seems to me that as the role of enforcers decrease, the role of cheap shot artists like Tootoo increases. Either the league will have to more strictly enforce it's own rules regarding this sort of behavior, or let actual enforcers to do their job and protect their stars.
Maybe I'm just cynical, but I don't think the league will do anything serious about it until one of their stars goes down permanently from a cheap shot.
Well, as a Preds fan, I dunno what to say. I don't know if I should defend Jordin, or if I should call him out on this one. So I'll look at both sides.
Preds Side: Tootoo's original hit was clean, he didn't know what was coming so he lashed out. (Not saying it's right, but it happens). Then he gets hacked in the back by Modano, which nobody seems to be looking at.
Stars Side: It was a sucker punch, and he should never have done it. He injured a player (thought I do not know the extent of it yet) and probably will be suspended.
Felix_12- the slash Modano supposedly put on wasnt much of one with one hand.. im sure tootoo felt it but it was nothing like simons or other stick swingin incidents in league history. but if anythign modano will at the most get a fine i think. but tootoo should get a nice suspension for what he did. to me this is worse then the stick incident because hollweg got up went to the room got stitched up and was back at it. robidas on teh other hand was concussed, rolled out on a strecther, and putin a hospital for a night. i say send a message and same suspension as simon along with a fine
So... it's ok for a 'star player' to retaliate and it's all good? That makes no sense, and, Tooey IS an enforcer, and, as enforcer's go, also instigators. He's fought tooth and nail to get where he is, 1 instance of bad judgement warrants a lengthy suspension akin to Simon's??? He used his fist, not his stick.
What people need to realize is that hockey is a contact sport. You star players will get hit and might even get hurt. That's the nature of the sport. I find it hilarious when people suggest (I won't mention names) that 1st line players are not fair game. That like saying it's no permitted to tackle Jerry Rice. Yes Drury got hit, yes Modano got hit but who cares. They a big boys. If they don't know the danger that they face everytime they lace up the skates, then maybe they should because civil servants.
I know people are going to complain about legal or illegal hits...the fact is, it happens all the time and on every team so no one is immune to it. Every Gretzky got hit from behind in the board. These guys are not babies and if they can't take a hit and dish one out then change careers.
P.S. I don't know if anyone noticed but after Modano got up from the hit from Tootoo, he swong his stick across Tootoo's back. I'm sorry but that could've been more dangerous then a punch in the face.
Everyone here is fully aware that hockey's a contact sport,and nobody here is suggesting that it shouldn't be. There is no place within the rules for cheapshots of any kind.
Regarding Modano, I agree that he too should face discipline for his highsticking Tootoo. That doesn't take away from the fact that Tootoo injured Robidas with a sucker punch and should face a stiffer punishment.
Nowhere in the rule book does it say you can sucker punch a player. For that matter, it doesn't allow punching of any kind, hence the penalties for fighting.
The way I see it if Robidas was coming after him he should have expected a punch in the face, gloves or no. It's not like Robidas wasn't planning on getting his gloves up in Tootoo's face. It's a rough game out there sports fans!
- the hit on Modano was a great one. Legal and hard. I love those kind of hits and don't want anything done to take them out of the game. But the sucker punch on Robidas was not good. It was cheap and he should be suspended.
- the hit on Drury was technically legal ... maybe a bit late ... but technically legal. The hit on Kaberle was way late. But there have been other hits that have been technically legal that have done great damage. Stevens on Lindros, Stevens on Francis, Peca on Selanne (in a Canucks-Jets game years ago), along with numerous others. Those technically legal but damaging hits all had one thing in common ... shoulder (and sometimes elbow) to chin. In europe they have banned headhunting.
That leaves two questions. One for everyone:
- With the size of the players today and the iron hard nature of the pads - should hits to the head be banned or would that take too many options away from the players on open ice hitting?
and one for Spector
- Do you know of any move afoot among the Managers to ban hits to the head?
one final added note - I only ever saw one sucker punch I liked ... and even then I feel guilty about it ... Domi on on Ulf Samuelsson.
Gregsky- I really don't remember that hit but I'll take your word for it. Mair is one of our "tough" guys.
lonewolf-What? So you are saying that Tootoo is one of the NHL's skilled players? And as for calling out the Sabres, please show me all these dirty hits they do.
I've read what the stars have had to say about what happened. I've read what tootoo said about what he did and what his coach thought about what his player did, and oh boy I can't wait until these two teams meet again. First off Robidas was not charging at tootoo that hard, (as the pred's coach said), and tootoo DID sucker punch him! EVERYONE knows this is the case! I have to tell you though, I am so incredibly disappointed with the rest of the stars team. After seeing your teammate layed out like that by a huge sucker punch, how in the world do you not jump all over that guy and tear him limp from limp. Non of the star did a freaking thing! Nor did anyone of the stars do a thing when tootoo came out of the penalty box. That is also a disgrace. I hope barnaby and/or Ott are back by the next meeting. I gaurantee one of those two will have the fortitude to take it to little tootoo the coward!
Last edited by westfam3 on March 19th at 11:13 AM.
if ya havent seen the vidoe stars players including turco tried getting at tootoo but the refs and linesmen kept them away unfortunatly. but i think hes in for a big suspension and fine for what he did. i dont mind the good hit and a lil pushing and shoving but when ya take a full "UFC style" punch at a player coming to stand up for his team and star player, then its a problem. tootoo needs his #### kicked.
you know what metalhasek13 that's right, they did go after him after a little pause. I've been trying to keep an eye out to see if the league is going to suspend tootoo, but haven't seen anything yet. I think there shouldn't even be a question, he should receive a suspension. But I hope he plays on the 30th or 31st, whenever their next meeting is.
He did get suspended, 5 games, i still stand by him, read what Poile had to say about the suspension, if i came at any one of you, you'd react to defend yourself, no question. I agree he coulda handled it better, but, in the heat of the moment, have all of us never done an 'oops' in our lives?
LGB: I didn't say Buffalo players laid out a bunch of dirty hits, i was simply stating that it seems to me that you'd cheer a Sabre player who did what Tootoo did on at a game.
The players couldn't hop over the boards and get at Tootoo either cause the coach gets suspended and so do the players who hop over the boards to fight. I can't stress enough that he was wrong, but, one time of bad judgment doesn't make him a McSorley or a Bertuzzi, they clearly aimed to injure those players hard core.
As for Tootoo's skill level, it's very clear that his skill is to defend and protect his star teammates, like Kariya, Arnott, Sullivan, T.V., etc., not to be a 50 goal scorer like Crosby.
Last edited by lonewolf40 on March 19th at 7:45 PM.
hey, Not gonna put my 2 cents in, but how come everytime Modano is hit, one of his teammates has to stick up for him? I rememebr when JR crushed him and then Hatcher crushed JR back and broke his jaw.
My point is Modano is a HUGE PANSY. I mean after this last hit, after tootoo sucker punched his teammate, Modano did nother and just stood there begging Tootoo not to punch him. look at the video again, and you will see that, Modanao stood there waiting for someone to bail him out again.
This is the rough and tumble world of hockey, you still need to stand up for yourself. Now I am not saying he should take on Laraque or anything like that. but come on man, this is NOT tennis. The game is contact, contact, contact and then even more harder contact.
I rememebr seeing some of the skill players drop the gloves, I remember comrie, i remember Nagy, hell I even remember the great one having a fight....
am just saying, everyone has to bail Modano out, and then when one of his guys gets suckerpunched and KO'd like that, Modano just stood there praying he wasn't next....
If I was On Modano team after seeeing that, the peice of #### would be one his own from now on.
Seriously thou, watch that video again, and after the punch, Modano just withers, hell I thought his knees were gonna buckle from fear.
Last edited by coyoteslover on March 20th at 7:38 AM.
Lonewolf-You just helped prove my point. Tootoo is not skilled at all and his only job is to go after guys that have skill, like Modano. Thus the NHL is ruining itself when it allows the unskilled players(tootoo, neil, janssen) go after guys who can actually play the game(drury, kaberle).
And as for the Sabres, actually have something to back up your argument. Don't just say something because you think "I sound" like its something I would do. Thats the lamest thing I've ever heard.
protecting yourself when you know your about to get hit is one thing, but lets be real, tootoo reared that arm back like cocking a gun and flat out sucker punched robidas. like I said before, I absolutely can't wait until the next time these two teams meet. By the way Arnott doesn't need anyone protecting him, that dude can definitely take care of himself. Now, I love Mike Modano, he is the all time usa goal scorer and has brought a lot to the game, BUT I have absolutely got to agree with coyoteslover. After tootoo sucker punched robidas, which modano saw with his own eyes, Mike just stood there like a complete pansy!!! It was almost comical the look on tootoo's face when modano just sat there and did nothing. I don't care if your a top skill player or not, when your teammate is totally sucker punched right in front of you, you don't just sit there like a b****, you get after the chicken that just cheap shotted your teammate, and take care of business.
it was a clean hit on modano...robidas was planning on retaliation as the play was continuing on the other end of the ice...this was not a cheap shot because robidas should have been ready for anything .a cheap shot is a blind hit robidas was facing him...and really had no business being there.if modano can't take a hit then she should not play....robidas was charging....
I must have been watching a different game. What I saw was, Tootoo nailed Modano with a clean (but hard) hit. Robidas saw the hit, did an about face instead of heading down ice and went after Tootoo at full speed. Tootoo, realizing there would probably be retribution for drilling Modano, spun around and threw his fist out when he saw Robidas about to clock him. He connected, Robidas goes out on a stretcher.
First of all, let me say that I don't want to see anyone get hurt and certainly don't want to see anyone not able to skate off under his own power. I hope Robidas makes a speedy recovery.
That being said, it's not a sucker punch if both combatants know they're in a fight. Do you think Robidas would have pulled up if Tootoo hadn't had the presence of mind to turn around? Of course not! He was going to make sure the words "Stanley Rivet Co" were stamped into Tootoo's head by ramming him into the boards. And quite frankly I don't blame Robidas for going after Tootoo -- that's part of the game, sticking up for a teammate. Likewise, it's part of the game to defend yourself. If Tootoo had laid out Modano, skated over to Robidas and blindsided him, then yes, cheap shot all the way. Unless we are watching different videos, that's not what happened.
If you want to talk about a cheap shot, how about Modano (Mr. 500+ goals aka The Big Whiner) cracking Tootoo on the back with his stick? I thought drilling someone with your stick earned you a 25 game suspension.
And since we were clearly not watching the same game, allow me to mention that Tootoo did in fact s
I can't agree with you Whitletutor. I love guys like Tootoo, Cooke, J. Ruutu ... guys who fly around the ice ... good skaters ... whose job is to hit people. It adds a lot to the game. I also love a good fight now and again. I am a fan of neither Preds nor Stars nor a particular hater of either (to clarify my position).
To say that wasn't a sucker punch is disingenuous at best. Robidas was not skating at him with any great speed he had his hands up to give a mighty push ... to start the usual pushing and shoving match that happens when someone wants to protect a star player ... hopefully goad Tootoo into dropping gloves at the same time so neither get the instigator. Robidas did not come in swinging fists or sticks or anything like that. He was coming in to start something not to end it with severe and immediate retribution. Was there a measure of self defence in Tootoo's action ... yeah ... there was. But nowhere near enough to justify that roundhouse right from nowhere. If he wants to fight then let him get his hands up ... engage ... get all the gloves off.
oh ... and saying Robidas wouldn't slow down if Tootoo's back is turned is no kind of argument. Too hypothetical ... the fact is Tootoo was facing Robidas. Saying "the other guy might have done something bad too if Tootoo had been facing the boards." is kind of pathetic as any kind of defence.
I can't belive we're watching the same video. Just so we're on the same page, I'm looking at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWw_ VrQiSMU.
You say that it's hypothetical to assume Robidas would or would not have pulled up with Tootoo's back turned but that Robidas had his hands up. I doubt he was coming over to say, "Good hit Toots." and pat him on the back with his raised hands. By my count Robidas got about 3 1/2 good strides and then he was going to knock him into the boards - and that would have been the right thing to do, except that Tootoo spun around, got a hand up and connected.
Furthermore, from another angle it's pretty clear that Robidas had his hands not just up but bent so that his elbow and forearm was in line with Tootoo's neck. A hit like that on the boards would have been pretty rough.
Again, I'm not blaming Robidas for coming at Tootoo -- Lord knows Tootoo has done the same thing for his teammates many times -- just don't call it a cheap shot when the guy turns around and throws a fist up to defend himself.
Not sure where I read this, but someone suggested a committee be formed to analyze potentially dirty hits (including cheap shots, late hits, intent to injure, etc.), and reccomend disciplinary action to Colin Campbell. Not a bad idea, considering there've been quite a few this season, the most vicious fresh in our memories. Maybe we should try something else first. One strike and your season's over. I'm sick of players getting hurt out of stupidity. Good, hard, clean hits are just fine. It's a pinnacle of good hockey. These dirty jobs are just getting ridiculous. Whatever happened to sportsmanship?
at 22 seconds and at 40 seconds the hit takes place so you can watch the sequence from a couple of different angles. I will go with the first starting at about 22 seconds.
at 23 seconds Tootoo is on his knees for a split second you look he glances over his right shoulder while on one knee and sees Robidas turning at the blueline. He then turns to his left towards the boards to help himself up.
at 23 and a half seconds - Robidas is still about 6 feet away ... he is taking a stride and his hands are down (you can see this better in the second sequence at about 42 seconds). Tootoo is already on his feet, hands on the boards and has his head turned towards Robidas
by the end of the 23 and beginning of the 24th second Tootoo is on his feet look at his right foot ... it is planted firmly on the ice. And his body is already turning with his arm cocked. All you can see of Robidas at this point is the tip of his stick.
By the time you hit the beginning of the 25th second you can see Robidas in the picture ... he is about four feet away. his arms are only just starting to come up. Tootoo is facing him already his right arm is already pulled back to begin his punch his body is already swinging forward.
By the time you hit the end of the 25th second Robidas has brought his arms up to shove but it is too late ... the shot has taken place.
So back to my original comment ... was there an element of self defence ... sure ... that is why he only got five games.
Good analysis -- couple of points to mention, though.
It looked to me like Robidas was more than 6 feet away, but assuming that distance, the fact that he covered 6 feet in such a short time tells me that he was at a pretty good clip when he was going after Tootoo who was not moving forward at all.
Also, Tootoo did not punch off of his right (plant foot). He does plant but then comes off it to attempt to skate forward and threw the punch off his left foot.
Another thing that I noticed is that Robidas did actually catch Tootoo in the jaw/throat with his elbow -- and presumably that's why he got called for charging.
I don't mean to split hairs with you, but I'm just tired of people calling this a cheap shot or a sucker punch. Tootoo knew he was going to get whacked, Robidas figured he had him lined up (but probably knew that may have gotten whacked himself).
well what do u think rodidas was racing over to jordan for. too give him a hug.......not..it was obivious that the referee seen it as i saw it.that's why a charging penalty was given too robidas..nhl said that jordan defended himself agressively. that's why he got 5 games..if jordan had his back turned the other direction he could've been the one with the concussion
Charging or not, keep your hands down. This is hockey. Keep your hands down and learn to take what you dish out. Throwing punches because you're going to get hit is unacceptable and is not hockey.
It was a clean hit, i watched the vid and Toots was only defending himself. The fact that Modano didn't get anything for smacking Tootoo on the back with his stick is proof the NHL still has 2 levels of justice and 2 sets of rules for players. The "star players" have one, everyone else has another. It'll be very interesting to see if the Stars retaliate against Tootoo his first game back from suspension when they both play again if they'll get any kind of penalty or fine/suspension. I predict not.
LGB- So, now i only spout stupid things here? I clearly explained i didn't say anywhere about Sabres dishin out cheapshots, i'm pretty sure i could find some though. Let's say, hypothetically, that a player on some other team hit Miller or Drury, would you condone it, or think he should get the same fate Tootoo got? If the sabre did the exact same thing. I agree that Jordin was justified in hitting back, a hit into the boards when a player is on his knees and about a foot or 2 away from the boards could kill a player, yea, let's bring those rules into the league. " oh, it's ok, we'll suspend him and not penalize you for trying to intentionally injure him, no fears." That's EXACTLY what would have happened if he didn't defend himself like he did, he coulda kept going when he was layed out on the ice, but, he didn't. Even Tootoo has morals and values. He also has skill too. He gets points, not 100 a season, no, but, he can score and assist... can you?
Last edited by lonewolf40 on March 20th at 6:29 PM.
Chaas: "keep your hands down?" So, you figure Tootoo should have what, stood there and let Robidas tattoo him into the boards? Most people who have seen Tootoo play know that he can take a hit -- but he certainly will fight back. And that is definitely part of hockey.
one last time. Was Tootoo defending himself?
yes ... to an extent - that is why he only got five games.
Does that sel####efence justify a wild and unexpected haymaker?
no ... it does not. Nor does it mean standing like a dummy and letting the other guy hit you. You argue like there were only two possible responses ... letting Robidas nail him or swinging a haymaker to the jaw. That isn't the case ... you defend yourself by getting your hands up to fend off the push ... engage they guy ... and if the guy wants to fight then fight.
There is a much more lucid analysis than mine here.
Whistletutor: turning around and smacking a guy in the face, a guy who's coming in to return the favor you just dished out, is not part of hockey. That's a ridiculous assessment on your part.
rotor: Don't insult my intelligence. I've been playing hockey long enough to know that if you're going to take a hit, you brace yourself. You don't get your hands up in another guy's face. You learn after the first time that you don't pull that ####. It's called a head-shot for a reason. You don't go after someone's head. Ever. Unless, of course, you want to incite a riot on the ice. If you're here to brawl, go for it. Otherwise, play hockey.
cymru: In my opinion, you're either defending yourself or your not. Tootoo'#### on Modano was clearly NOT self defense -- but it was a clean hit and a part of the game. His hit on Robidas was clearly in self defense. I agree that there were other options -- I don't agree that Tootoo threw a haymaker. As you've apparantly agreed, Tootoo did not plant his foot and throw a wicked punch; rather, he threw his hand up and it connected. Just like Robidas' elbow connected with Toootoo's jaw -- Tootoo just happened to get the better hit in. So basically he took option three as you're suggesting that he should have done: get your hand up. I'm sure Tootoo would have loved to drop the gloves and square up for a real fight but since Robidas was unconscious, that probably wouldn't have been a fair fight either.
chaas: Yeah, you're right -- Tootoo should have just stood there and let Robidas flatten him into the boards. Makes sense.
Last edited by Whistletutor on March 21st at 12:01 PM.
Whistletutor. What video were you watching? "he threw his hand up and it connected" Get some freakin glasses. You're crazy. It was clearly an attempt to injure and he should have received more that 5 games.If that was a player on your team taking a shot like that you would think different.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
