Interesting topic… it does seem like guys are getting injured at an alarming rate early this season, and not just “obvious” type injuries, but the kind where nothing looks wrong, and all of a sudden the guy’s out a month.

The game is just getting faster and faster, the players are getting stronger every year. I guess it’s bound to happen.

The important thing is to avoid head injuries. Knees, wrists, groins—these are all things that we can’t protect, they are too prone to wear and tear doing the things that are required to play hockey. But there’s no excuse for not protecting the head.

Headshots need to no longer be a matter of “clean” or “dirty,” they need to be a matter of ANY hit to the head is punishable, whether the hit was of the “clean” or “dirty” variety. They should approach headshots like high-sticking has been approached—intent should still be very relevant when it comes to suspension and fines, but intent should be meaningless as far as calling a penalty on those sorts of plays.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 11/02/09 at 01:37 PM ET

Agree with protecting against headshots, as a future (possibly) neurologist. 

Less games.  Or make first two or three rounds in playoffs best of 5 instead of best of 7.  That will allow the regular season to stretch another two weeks to build in more off time.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/02/09 at 04:01 PM ET

Facts: The season is 30 weeks longs, we are eliminating 3 of the weeks for olympic and all-star breaks, and my Flyers have already had a stretch with 1 game in 12 days (two weeks ago) In October? Please explain this.

After the Olympics the Caps only have to play 19 games to finish the regular season, same with Rangers and Pens, whilst the Flyers and Bruins have to play 22. Fair? That’s after we send our all-star laden teams to play a completely different brand of hockey in the Olympics. We are playing 1/4 of the schedule in just over 16% of the season.

In 2006, prior to the Olympics, the Flyers led the league in points with Forsberg leading the attack. We sent 13 guys to the Olympics or something obscene. When we returned with little injuries and naggers from the condensed schedule in Europe, and our league’s hottest goalie Antero Nittymaki had a hip problem he still hasn’t recovered from enough to claim a starting job, which he should have done from that point on. We were first round fodder, as we are every other year. But that year was a true collapse.

The Olympics are a stupid proposition, because they weaken the NHL’s best product: The Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s face it, nobody cares what happens between Minnesota and St Louis on Wednesday in February, especially if it’s a 3 pt every kid takes home a trophy game. But in June, we care and we want our best players on the ice. This too often becomes a battle of attrition as the playoffs wear on. Who can remain the healthiest?

In 2004, Philly lost 3 Dmen and had Sami Kapanen playing two ways in the Conference Finals which we lost in 7, in 2007 we lose Kimmo Timmonen on the eve of the Conference Finals, and Braydon Coburn after game 1. No chance to compete with Crosby and Malkin. Who can get there healthiest is a problem. So why exacerbate it with extra games, and unbalanced scheduling?

The NHL is very stupid when it comes to scheduling, but let’s not allow Ted Leonsis to be the mouthpiece for it. He’s a fat turd who beats his fans up after the Caps lose to the Flyers and he’s been drinking all Sunday during some NFL playoff games (True Story)....

The only reason he is whining now is because Ovechkin got injured. We’ll see how they can run thru that Southeast swill now without him. Everybody deserves a turn. Yes I am a bitter fan, I have had to run up against the Isles dynasty, the Oiler dynasty, the Red Wing dynasty, a couple of Patrick Roy led teams, and I want a Cup dammit, and we always have injuries in Philly.

Screw the Caps and their termite fans who never used to show up when they were out at the Cap Center and the Philly fans would come down by the busload to distribute asswhippings, figuratively and literally.

Keep Rockin the Red kids, this will never be a hockey town. I am from DC and I don’t endorse anything Ted Leonsis says, even though my team just played 1 game in October in 12 days, and went charter fishing....seriously.

Posted by Chuck from DC on 11/03/09 at 07:45 AM ET