NHL on TSN Quiz: Should NHL teams mandate helmets in warm-ups
Each week, the NHL on TSN panel voices its opinions on the hot topics of the day in the Wednesday Night Hockey Quiz.
As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature.
If you were an NHL team would you mandate your players had to wear headgear during warm-up?
Bob McKenzie: I’ll say no, the rules police are out in full force but it’s really up to each individual to decide what it is they want to do.
Marc Crawford: No, it is warm up and these are professionals. They’re trying to get ready for the game and there is nothing wrong with having a little flair.
Aaron Ward: Yes, The key to the question is “if you are an NHL team.” If I’m an employer paying these guys to perform and stay healthy in a league that is already struggling to keep guys healthy, for my commodities I’m making a mandate on all guys coming in on a 2012 entry level contract they have to wear helmets in practice. For the guys presently playing and have a contract, leave them alone it’s their prerogative, let them figure it out themselves.
We asked you this question Dec. 7 and ask again to see if anybody has changed his mind: With the benefit of hindsight, who should have been taken No. 1 in 2004: Ovechkin or Malkin?
Crawford: Ovechkin (still), if he learned to diversify his attack his game would vastly improve. NHL defencemen know he likes to play a power game and tries to beat you wide with power. He needs to learn to diversify a little and change it up every once in a while, come late on the attack those sorts of things. I think he’d become a premier player again.
McKenzie: Malkin (still), with the benefit of hindsight, Malkin’s been the dominate player. Right now he’s on course to win the Art Ross and maybe the MVP as well.
Ward: Malkin (now), I’m putting down my Washington Capitals Kool-Aid and I’m going back against what I said. Malkin in the absence of Crosby right now is the league leader in points. He’s a guy that’s proven to be a good leader and he’s forcing me to realize that in the absence of the Lone Ranger, Tonto is doing really well for himself. Pittsburgh has a good thing going with Malkin.
Does NHL need to listen carefully to Mike Richards and scrap the penalty that calls for an additional two minute penalty for instigating with a visor on?
Crawford: No, The NHL regularly reviews their rules and they have that in there so players don’t instigate fights and he instigated that one. It was a clean hit and he was a good teammate.
Ward: Yes, You’re looking at a demographic of guys that are toughest to convince to wear a visor. If this is part of their game, and I agree that fighting has a role in the game, you are trying to say to these guys be safe, protect your eyes but you can’t perform the duties that you should be doing. You are sending too much of a confusing message.
McKenzie: No, either you wear a visor or you don’t that’s your choice. There’s the rat factor, and Mike Richards is anything but a rat, but they don’t want guys who wear visors going around trying to start a bunch of fights.
What’s more likely to happen, Daniel Alfredsson picking a Leaf or Zdeno Chara picking a Sedin in the All-Star Fantasy Draft?
Ward: Chara picking a Sedin. The guys are aware of where the game is at, the rivalry is not lost at them and I know Chara, he’ll do anything to win.
Crawford: Alfredsson picking a Leaf. There are only two guys on the team that were involved in the Battle of Ontario, that’s over.
McKenzie: Neither, hell will freeze over before either one of those guys will do that.
Tags: ice hockey, national hockey league, nhl