How bad or how good is this?
Persoanally, any physical fighting between team mates is detrementol to the group dynamics. Call it what you will, frustration, or something more personal. It just does not look good. Keep it out of public and press view!
But then Mitchell has an experianced head on his shoulders and thought it would be a good wake-up call for the rest of the guys. A stimulant to make everyoone sit up and think,“We have to pull together”.....And win.
In fighting does not instill confidence. Something is seriuosly wrong behind the secenes somewhere.
With Sundin moving to the 3rd line, Wellwood out of favour. I just see desperation creeping in.
Play-off confidence? Hope, yes….Confidence, no.

Posted by steve-uk from Paisley, Scotland UK on 01/29/09 at 08:35 PM ET

This is pretty much the lowest part of the season for the Canucks.

Hopefully.

Not sure why Mitchell would use Raymond as a punching bag, and good for O’Brien jumping in the mix… otherwise Raymond would have been put on the LTIR tonight.

Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 01/29/09 at 08:52 PM ET

Head shots, teammates of a struggling team fighting at a practice are part of the bloody game.  I think Luongo has something to do with that with his comment “playing defense is easy.” 

In the current “information overload” era of hockey there are way more media/fans analyzing the game and giving their two cents.  As far as fans go, we are allowed to put anything out there and rightfully so. 

With the media, there are sooo many out there that in order to be heard or remain relevant and keep their jobs they must fabricate/rehash/piggyback issues and then run them into the ground ad nauseam like a personal crusade.  Does anyone really care about some meathead’s opinion (see Nick Kypros) and how he (and many others) think and demand their fluff changes be implemented.  Gag me.

Sorry folks, the foundation of Canadian hockey is built on violence.  Head shots, high sticks, elbows, crunching hits, and of course intimidation are/will be around forever.  If not what’s the point?  Do we want to watch non-contact hockey like the all-star game all the time?  Perhaps some do, but count me out.  Playoff hockey is where the players earn their immortal salaries.  I wanna see a few head shots, slashes, slew foots, and other cheap shots.  It gets the blood of the players/fans
pumping and makes for some real excitment and entertainment. 
. 
Just say no to the politically correct, namby pamby, notion that we can or want to take violence out of hockey.  We need more Scott Stevens types not less.  Keeps all those Europeans honest.

Posted by Martin from Victoria on 01/30/09 at 12:31 PM ET

at least it shows that some players are actually frustrated right now.  just wish willie would have punched kevin bieksa in the mouth instead.  that’s the guy that needs a wakeup call for his play over the last month.

Posted by bitterguy from san francisco, ca on 01/30/09 at 01:55 PM ET

“detrementol”

Maybe the whole team needs to stop overdosing on “detrementol” before they step on the ice.  We need a full 60 minutes from these guys, and not sit back with a 2 goal lead.

I love Sundin, but it seems like every single penalty he gets leads to a PPGA.  That being said we’ve got to work on our PK.

Posted by Mike from Vancouver on 01/30/09 at 01:59 PM ET

With auditions for “So you think you can dance, Canada?” going on just a few feet away from that Canucks press conference, I’m hoping someone managed to spot the irony.

That’s a gem, Alanah!

My two cents (if anyone cares), as a former (just beer leagues now) player something like this happens once at a practice…no big deal, it happens.  It can actually be good, but if it happens again it can do some major damage to the chemistry in a locker room.  You don’t have to like all of your teammates (I outright hated my goalie my final year of college), but it certainly helps.  One time is frustration, twice is personal, three times is Sean Avery.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 01/30/09 at 03:04 PM ET

I say it was deliberate move by Mitchell to help get the team going. I hope it was anyways. I mean let’s think about all the collapses we all had to endure over the past 5 or so years. Missing playoffs yep, we’re used to that. Thing is, a fight at a practice means nothing if the team loses tomorrow night.

A thought I had was, the players that are luke warm on AV…. at some point if the Nucks are down, they could really influence whether he keeps his job or not. It’s called quitting on a coach. At some point this could surface.

Posted by register tel domain from vancouver on 01/30/09 at 10:16 PM ET

“I say it was deliberate move by Mitchell to help get the team going. I hope it was anyways.”

Id like to hope so too. I will play devils advocate for a minute.

.........If it isnt, then where is the next place we see it?....The ice, during a game?

I doubt we will, but anythings posible…......

Posted by steve-uk from Paisley, Scotland UK on 01/31/09 at 01:03 PM ET

Did you see Bertuzzi break down the left side and roof an insurance marker over the Preds a few nights back.  Hey now didn’t he used to take those inopportune and determentol penalties in the third period?  Who’s the brilliant GM now?  Sutter or Gillis?

Ciao, WestVan Terry

Posted by westvan on 02/01/09 at 03:15 PM ET