NEW YORK _ They like toughness in the city that never sleeps.
All the talk today in NHL circles will surround staged fighting.
Look, here’s the reality of the David Dziurzynski fight against Frazer McLaren Wednesday night in Toronto: Dziurzynski bit off more than he could chew. That’s it. That’s all.
The experts will now debate staged fights because Dziurzynski was knocked out by McLaren. Even GM Bryan Murray wondered aloud why Dziurzynski didn’t do a better job choosing his opponent.
I know there are people out there who felt Dziurzynski’s act was heroic. Hardly. It wasn’t well thought out at all. There was no way he should have gone toe-to-toe with McLaren. What Dziurzynski should have done was just skated away.
It was hard to watch, but McLaren was cut for eight stiches.
Former Rangers GM Neil Smith was in the Toronto press box. A friend from the deadlines we’ve worked together on Sporsnet, he said it reminded him of the way Nick Kypreos’ career ended when he fought New York’s Ryan Vandenbuscche.
Kypreos was knocked out and looked lifeless on the ice.
“I hate seeing that stuff,” said Smith. “It’s scary to watch.”
No kidding.
So today you’re going to have to endure lots of debates about staged fights. Captain Daniel Alfredsson just called it “part of the game” and maintained “that’s hockey” when he was asked about the incident Thursday night.
Debate all you want. Fighters have to do a better job picking their spots. That’s the way I see it.
Categories: General
What was abundantly clear on Thursday night was the fact that Dizzy is not a real “fighter”. Oh, he will fight but he is not a fighter. Mclaren may have been bigger but the difference was one player makes a career fighting and the other does not. A true and experienced pugilist knows how to fight when he is in over his head (they get in close and hold on tight). Dizzy bought off more than he could chew most certainly but why venture into uncharted waters against one on the leagues toughest. Now that was the mistake.
The kid did all right. Until he was knocked out, the fight was pretty even. It was very unfortunate and not enjoyable to watch at all. You have to give the kid credit for not backing down though. I’m surprised Gryba hasn’t dropped the gloves yet. He has quite the reputation. I still think the Sen’s should have kept Carkner.
Swapping out Turris for Smith and putting Neil on with Zibanejad were two moves that were necessary. Turris is playing just awful (he has stopped skating and has now played 20 games without scoring a goal) and Neil on the wing allowed Zibanejad to wander beyond the perimeter. Centers go anywere and everywhere but Zibby was playing high and although he calls for the puck, he does very little with it! Silfverberg is very unconfortable at this level. Stone really needs to improve his skating.
I was very disappointed in the two young Swededs. Any shot they had against the Leafs were weak and from well outside. Again, I have yet to see either of them use their speed or ther their stickhandling to beat anyone! The media are hard pressed to write something good positive about them. Bruce usually does a play by player report card but this time around it is a group thing with few names. The other paper never writes a word about the two young Swedes. I know it is a bitter pill to swallow but if we are going to be honest, these two are falling far short of what was advertised.
Can anyone offer an explanation as to why Obrien, the teams leading goal scorer among forwards was left off the roster? Not only does he lead the team with karly gone with 5 goals but he also plays the game hard and which the team needed against the Leafs who were big and tough! Silly bugger if you asked me!
I strongly suspect that Murray is only vocal about the so called “staged fights” because Dizzy was on the losing end of one. Had he been the victor, you wouldn’ here a word about it. Case in point, when Carkner dropped Orr one time and put him on the shelf for a while, Murray never uttered a word and I suspect internally he was celbrating!
I’m puzzled. Your colleague Don asked for more fighting in a previous column and we were given more fighting via Dziurzynski and now we want to stop fighting alotgether? Which is it? I’m going to be honest, a good scrap lifts me out of my seat and I wasn’t overly horrified by what happened against the Leafs, but I’ve watched boxing earlier in my life and these fights have become boxing on skates. I’m far more horrified when I see a Bryan Berard or Marc Staal almost lose an eye, or Hossa lying there after a vicious, needless hit. Or even our captain blindsided by a dirtbag like Mark Bell. When two fighters engage, those things happen.
Bruce, you brought up a brilliant point (as always..and might I add your Sunday Column is one of the Wonders of the World) asking whether Paul MacLean was outcoaching himself by starting Robin Lehner. Now, mind you, I do like Lehner as a goaltender and as a personality, but if the goal is to win games and not slough off losses as part of a retool, then shouldn’t Bishop getting the lion’s share of the starts? On at least two of the goals Methot & Co. were behind their own goal line watching the play happen! Lehner has lost two straight and it’s nice to think he might have magic tonight against his contryman (I usre hope so, I know how Bobby dislikes Yosemite Sam, as he calls him!) but if the Senators lose again…
….If the Senators lose again, the blame falls on Paul MacLean, for playing Lehner and for allowing the unproductive Silfverberg to keep on being a drain on the team’s offense! Have a great weekend everyone.
Yosemite Sam’s Rangers sit out of the playoff picture Pierre. I think The Little General, Clouston could accomplish that! The few games I watched them play, Callahan was the only one who shined. With Lundquist not playing the way he has been for years, the team is in 9th place. Low shot count and few goals does not translate into great coaching!
The Rangers should have moved Gaborik and some others and kept both Dubinsky and Anisimov. The team most certainly should have kept Brandon Prusk.
The way that team is playing, it would wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Sens won the game tonight.
I know I am disappointed in Silf as from watching him in the A earlier he seemed like he might make a decent transition to the NHL but he is not thinking the game nearly fast enough yet…he needs to improve his quickness and get used to making bang-bang plays.
I don’t know how anyone can be disappointed in Zibby though. He is scoring (roughly on a 20 goal / 35-40 point pace for full season) and he is creating turn overs and being fairly physical (he is averaging more hits/game than Z.Smith) while playing limited minutes typically with guys that aren’t that offensive minded…as a 19 year old getting used to the NA game. I think in anyone’s books that is pretty good.
Michalek surprised me in how much of a positive difference he made…I liked the move to get Smitty up with him and Alfie too – seemed like they had an instant connection and would love it if Smith can keep up that kind of play.
Since most people keep telling me the only reason Turris isn’t producing is because he isn’t used to playing against the other team’s top lines then I hope being back as the #2C gets him scoring and generating some offence again.
Stone will get faster for sure but had to like how physical he was a few times and how he was involved with some very good scoring opportunities…would be happy to see that line of him,Silf and Zibby stay together for a while.
D coverage finally got exposed on Wed night – can’t expect goalies to be saviours each game.
DD got a few good ones in early but you have to defend yourself…just hope he is OK and nothing long term.
Big game tonight…don’t think you can go wrong with either Bishop or Lehner right now but certainly would have liked for Bishop to get a bit more respect (if you will) and play a few in a row again.
Still quite a bit of separation from the #8 seed to #9 in the East and the Sens haven’t lost much ground even with this current losing streak so if we really do get Spezza back within 3 weeks or so it will be really interesting to see how we are playing closer to the end of the season.
I admit to having mixed emotions – I thought with all the injuries in a shortened season it wouldn’t work out better to have a bad year and get some high end talent (like a top 5 pick)…but you have to like how this team fights and really plays hard for 60 minutes. Hard to see this team completely falling off the tracks now.
Kadri certainly has come in to his own…one of those guys who can be invisible for stretches but give him an inch and it is in your net – really impressed with him.
Anyone think we trade or acquire someone at the deadline? I hate to see Gonch walk for nothing but is there a chance he signs a 1 year deal with us for next season? We could still use him.
Dave, I think Lapointe, Stillman, Comrie and Sutton might still be available. Indeed Zibby has 5 goals but I haven’t seen him cause a turnover, deke around anyone or beat anyone with his speed…have you? I don’t support playing in the middle and hanging on the outside or high in their end. I want to see puck carrying ability and some speed to beat their D on the outside. I haven’t seen it yet. I haven’t seen him or Silfverberg battle in front of the net like little Galagher does. In fact I haven’t seen them battle at all. There is a reason this team is the lowest scoring team away from home.
Don’t think you have watched too many Leaf games this year if you think Kadri has been invisible at all Dave. Physical creative and dynamic come to mind. Silverbergs winner tonite made me recognize him for the first time outside of the shootout. Backhanded compliments aside the win tonite deserves kudos, I truly hope the Leafs, Habs and Sens all make the playoffs.
The Sens played well last night and beat the hapless Rangers in almost every category (hits, shots, take aways etc.) including the one that counts most…goals scored!
Are the NYR a playoff bound team? I don’t think so! Do they have the talent to play in the post season, most certainly they do. If I am right the only explanation for their poor play has to be how the team is coached…wouldn’t you think? Can anyone tell me what system they play or where the structure was? The only thing that may have been structured were the loud expletivies that spewed from Yosemite’s yap! Do ya think some players have tuned him out? I think so!
I heard one of the commentators suggesting Nash was having some difficulty adjusting to life on Broadway; this is nonsense. The man has been in the league for a while and certainly knows what New York is all about. However, he must hate having to listen to Yosemite Sam bark game in and game out. I have said it before but it bears repeating, has Yosemite Sam ever taken responsibility for the team’s awful performance(s). I’ll answer that for you, NEVER!
Over the years I have suggested a give away was only a give away when committed by Rocco. I said it partly in jest but only 10% of it is jest. Who knows that Karlsson led the entire league in give aways…I suggest very few because it was NEVER mentioned in the local media…ever! Spezzza, who never even led his team in give aways, was booed in his own building because of the relentless articles pointing at his behind the back passes (that helped God and Heatley in their best years). Last night God gave the puck away 4 times but, interestingly enough, not a word of it is written or spoken. Alfredsson leads the team with 20 give aways in 20 games; can you imagine the articles written or the rants by the talking heads on the television if it was Spezza?! Before Karly went down he led the team and the league with 16 give aways in 14 games! But as I suggested, know one really knew because that information was managed into obscurity. You have to wonder why? Sylfveberg has 13 in 25 games and the puck is rarely on his stick for more than a second or two. The organziation are great at manipulation when it serves their purpose. What is mystifying is why the media all fall in line?
Bruce you offer cudos to Philips for his fight (was it his first in the NHL?). Personally, I thought it was an embarrassment. Of all the times he could and should have dropped the gloves and didn’t he chose to fight the 5-10 Haley for a good hit on Obrien. Still, he looked like a frightened kid and held on closeand tight for dear life. This was the Big Rig in full flight!
I was not surprised by the win last ight. Neil opens up some room and offers some security for Zibanejad and Knuckles has worked out well with God. Gryba and Methot look great (Gryba’s plus/minus isn’g great but it will bet better ans he gets more experience). Methot is a rock back there!
Carolina is paying Semin 7m and that is steep indeed but what I didn’t factor was his ability to effect others play. Perhaps the pain of the 7m is mitigated somewhat when others shine. Tilusty has scored 13 goals now and on pace for 26! Staal is scoring regularly. It is fascinating how a change of scenery can transform some players. I would love to see Dubinsky in an Ottawa uni. His 4m is large but he has a lot to offer; he is one kid whose career was set off course because of Yosemite Sam. Damn I love that kid Galagher..that small, Canadian kid with the huge cajones Galagher. Toronto allowed over 40 shots again last night…must be in Carlyle’s system. Damn I like Frattin and Kadri (what damn shame his has such a bad attitude, is so fat and out of shape). I also really like most of their D, big, tough to play against and mobile. I remember Hugh Frazer burning my twin brother a few times in highschool football…he fast!!! OH….he burned me too…….we slow.
Dizzy got what he deserved, McLaren asked him if he wanted to go, he said no, then got a rush of courgarge, a la OD99, and then dropped them. And promptly got the crap pounded out of him. Leave it to Murray to spew his crap, he’s had goons play for Ottawa before, and he has seen lots of staged fights, and didn’t seen to mind, but when his boy goes down for the cound, he “doesn’t much like them” Riggghhhhtttttt
Is OD99 breally Murray?
What a bunch of hogwash
I think Dizzy made a really bad decision Choke. Should have known better.
Kevin I think it speaks volumes about your fragile state that you took my comments on Kadri as a back handed compliment (and then of course had to throw something about Silf out…thinking it would bother me?).
I have watched quite a few Leafs games and shockingly Kadri wasn’t a highlight reel every time he stepped on the ice. He is a kid – sometimes he isn’t noticeable but that isn’t a derogatory remark. My exact quote:
“Kadri certainly has come in to his own…one of those guys who can be invisible for stretches but give him an inch and it is in your net – really impressed with him.”
If you take that in a poor light that is all on you – it was a genuine compliment from me on what a good player he is.
ChokerLover – what courage are you talking about? Courage to post on a blog? The courage you have to be an anonymous troll on a Senators site? That isn’t courage, that is the lack of a life and is sad.
I agree Bruce – Dizzy didn’t have to fight and stuff like that happens sometimes when you drop them.
What I find funny is how all the players interviewed talk about how they didn’t want that to happen, don’t want anyone to get hurt, etc…you are pounding each other in the face with bare knuckles!!!! Of course you are trying to hurt the other guy and you can’t decide to only hurt them a bit when you are driving your fist into someones chin.
Good win against the Rangers – nice to see the team actually score some goals and hope it can continue…Smith looked good with Alfie and Michalek again and I thought Stone was really solid down low.
Bobby, I have seen Zibby create a few turn-overs already and while I agree he doesn’t seem overly confident with the puck yet he is slowly starting to carry it a bit more. Give it time.
Update on the guy Zibby is compared to the most…Couturier is 2-5-7 and -8 and with 5 less games Zibby is 5-3-8 and +3.
Not to disagree Bruce, but I think the onus should have been on the coach, who by the way, I think is a great coach, just coaching in the wrong organization.
I think it’s up to the coach to tell the new fellows what’s what as far as who to drop the gloves with. There is no way a young guy can know a new league, so it up to the experienced guys on his team to help him and in this case it looks like he got let down and they hung him out to dry after the fact. The coach basically blamed him for making a bad decision, but he should have been warned and the warning should have come from the coaches team
I’m not too surprised though, the coach is on pins and needles. Every time he turns, he’s got a GM or a captain looking to blame him for every miscue. My take is, good, bordering on great, coach, and a GM and captain looking for a skapgoat on every turn
Dziurzynski has had his share of fights throughout his minor league career and isn’t exactly a small guy. It was just unfortunate McLaren caught him with a real good one.
Hey Bruce or Don. Are the Sen’s telling Gryba not to fight? I’m surprised he hasn’t dropped the gloves yet.
Will Chris Letang win the Norris Trophy this year? I should think it is a certainty. Currently he has 26 points in 23 games, is plus10 with 16 of his 26 points earned on the road. With 23 assists he truly is a quarterback. He also blocks shots, hits and gets into the odd fight!
I agree with you Bruce but sometimes we are put in a position where sound judgement is compromised. Dizzy, as a call-up, wanted to make an impression, endear himself to his team mates, coach and management and common sense be damned. It was a split second decision that turned out bad for him. I hope he isn’t hurt too bad and returns to the lineup…wiser.
I watched a game last night that offered a glimpse of what Edmonton could be like. They played one period of hockey which was good enough to beat Chicago. The final two periods they played entirely differently getting very few shots on net and hanging on for dear life. Their coach is a nice guy but I don’t think he is the one to lead the hockey club. Pajaarvi has been bounced up and down (from the manures to the show) but has 4 goals and is playing very well (big, fast, physical…all good). He looks like he is having fun! Why would the coach every have Whitney as the designated sitter is beyond my comprehension. Although goaltending is inconsistent and the defence suspect, this team is good enough to make the post season!
The Sens will be tested tonight; they can expect the Bruins to come out very hard and keep it coming for 60 minutes. Although they have games in hand, they do not want to fall further behind the Habs and Penguins. It will be interesting to see how some respond.
I think you’re right, but coming to a brand new league, he should have been told, there are two guys you stay away from, if you want to fight, go pick on Phaneuf,(everybody beats him haha) but whatever you do, stay away from Orr and McLaren. You’re right, he should have backed out when he was given the chance, but he should have known in advance and that’s my point
Love the fact that Choke still hides behind his name… and the fact that he hasn’t be able to grasp the English language with proper sentence structure and punctuation.
The fact is that Dziurzynski got fed his lunch and then some, staged or not. Like Bobby said, he should have known better.
Tonight’s tilt is going to be a good one, looking forward to seeing if Ottawa is out for revenge after losing in OT last week.
Unlike you Dave I take responsibility for what I write. No double talk or putting words into someone’s mouths here.I suppose the comments about Kadri being out of shape a little while back was a compliment as well .or likely you invoke one of your hazy statute of limitations deals where you are not reponsible for things asserted in the past.
Never said Kadri was highlight reel just that he has been consistently noticeable in almost every game be it from a dangle a hit, goal or not invisible whatsoever . My comment towards Silv was simply to point out that he s example of someon who has received the over the top hype has been truly invisible except for the shootout, somehow that’s fragile in your world. What a gossipy sillily dishonest place this has become
Why did Maclean use Daugavins so early in the shootout and why did Daugavins use that ridiculous move that made it look like he was in a team skills competition? I sure hope the Sen’s don’t miss the playoffs by 1 point.
Mikey, it was an embarrassment and let’s not pretend that Maclean didn’t know what he was going to do. With others far more capable on the bench, his decision to go with the Dog was nothing short of silly bugger. It is too bad because the only thing that will remembered will be the shoot out foolishness not the great game and perhaps the best game the Dog played all year!
Oh no, now PaV is questioning me on why I don’t use my real name, all the while using PaV as his…..are you daft man?
and he thinks he’s the internet spell and grammar police too….you are daft, why did I just ask you that?
Mike8888, using your real name I see, anyhow, I didn’t see the move yet, but I plan on sitting down and watching it, I heard on the radio it was really something special
Hey Choker, Pav is his real name. Actually it’s Pavan. Nevertheless the Doggie was special but not for the right reasons. It makes a mockery of the game and it certainly made a mockery of the shoot-out format. If MacLean didn’t know he was going to do this stunt, then I think some sort of disciplinarian action is warranted for Doggie.
I am surprised the coach is not aware as to what his shoot out players are planning to do. You might think the coach may have some sort of inkling as to the goalies weak spots etc…
Dan, I laughed out loud. Thanks mate.
Choke, my real name is Pavan, everyone calls me Pav. Who’s daft now? Yeah. That’s what I thought.
No double talk here either Kevin and not sure what you are even trying to reference about that.
I was echoing the thoughts of the Marlies coach when I said Kadri was fat earlier and now, after watching him play a bunch of games I am giving him a full, no hidden message compliment.
If you believe he is amazing each shift that is up to you – I don’t recall Gretzky or Lemieux being amazing every shift…they could be invisible but then given a bit of a chance they would make you pay. Now you can Chokerlover can come back saying I am comparing Kardri to Gretzky…
I should have learned my lesson about you ages ago – impossible to have a discussion…
I loved the move by Daug and if not for a bit of bad luck when his stick hit the post I bet he gets the puck over the line.
It was a lot better effort than Silf’s or pretty much any of Alfie’s attempts all year. If the NHL wants to add a skills competition at the end of OT then I say do whatever you can to score. He pulled it off in the AHL and I am sure he has shown the boys that move many times in practice, etc…they all wanted him to do because they all thought he would score, not because the shootout is a joke and they wanted a chuckle.
Choke what are you talking about now? The coach has the GM and Alfie blaming him for what? Troll, troll, troll…spew nonsense just to get a response and when you do you play the wounded child…seriously, what do you get out of coming on here and staying stupid nonsense?
Dave from my perspective it is you who makes a discussion between us impossible. I challenged your statement re Kadri in a respectful manner. You responded by saying something about me being fragile, silly. Why not state why you believe that he is one of those guys who disappears for stretches and back it up. Nope just qualifying double talk as always.
Then the mst popular manouver on this little blog putting words in another’s mouth. I never said Kadri was highlight real I never said that he was great every shift. I said he has been playing a physical dynamic game and has been noticeable very night including last night when he wasn’t all that good but drew a couple of penalties (should have been more) had a couple hits and created a couple of chances. Now I’ll put that thru the OD translator and that means I just said he’s greater than God every single second. You also seem to know what I will now say, now THAT’S amazing.
I will agree that there was no hidden message in your “compliment” it was overt, a positive comment containing a negative component, the definition of a backhanded compliment. As always and again iask you to prove or justify your asssertionNow I will play OD and say that you will toss out a juvenile (or less) insult and refuse to address any pertinent point.
Ya that’s really going out on a limb dopey, my first name is Bob
does that make you feel better
daft is the right word for you
Kevin if you think my compliment was backhanded again I say that is your issue. You want to focus on the invisible part being a negative yet I was trying to convey the fact that even when he isn’t having his best game he can still hurt you if given a slight chance. That saying to me is one of the highest compliments you can give a player.
“Don’t think you have watched too many Leaf games this year if you think Kadri has been invisible at all Dave.” >> That makes me believe you don’t think he has ever had a shift that he didn’t stand out so far this year >> this then makes me believe that you think he is doing something to stand our every shift >> I doubt that is the case but will defer to you..
Anyway, no harm if we don’t get to engage one another.
Nope no harm at all Dave, don’t come by here much at all anymore but every once in a while something catches my eye.so if you are doing some of your BSing I’ll call you on it and you can ignore me I’m fine with that or you can put on your tap shoes and explain all the nuances to even the most obvious statements. Anyhow I’ll let you get back to your discussion of who is the most fearsome keyboard tough guy or whatever it was you guys had the brilliant repartee over. Or maybe somebodys been hitting the bottle or having a affair and you and your like minded typists can get turned on talking and thinking about it.
Yep…no harm at all…keep staying above the fray Kevin.
If lowlife gossip and silly posturing and name calling is what you call the fray Dave I’m way above it.
Yes you are Kevin – you are clearly the one above the fray.
And yes please make sure you come on here to enlighten me if I am “BSing” and I am always happy to help explain the most basic of statements whenever you or Choke don’t understand.
Thought you didn’t want to engage me Dave