CrashingTheGoalie

By Bill Heintz

I make no secret that I read various chat boards. It’s one of the best ways to tap into the large base of hockey expertise that exists in this country. You find various levels of understanding mixed with passion and unbridled optimism but sometimes a certain dimwitted critique of NHL hockey players and their trade filters through.

Now, I’m not one for giving anyone a free pass, but this is a tough game and tough guys play it.

Yet sometimes criticism is warranted…like what the hell has happened to Kevin Bieksa’s game?…well, at least when he plays forward he does less damage. And Kyle Wellwood, horribly miscast as a third line centre, now seems incapable of generating any offence at all. And Shane O’B has massive brain cramps.

Yep. Pretty hard for me to find fault with that level of criticism. But there is some garbage that I find just plain stupid and the purveyors of this kind of critique seem somewhat dimwitted to me.

Dimwit Idea # One: Henrik Sedin is either a floater or a diver and has clearly been exposed now that his twin brother is injured.

Okay, Dimwit, check the stats. Henrik is tied for the Canuck lead in goal scoring. He is also setting up goals at a similar pace to last year. Achieved without Daniel this past month. Helping the Canucks turn around what threatened to be a dismal season. By scoring goals, by setting up goals and…of course…blocking shots and leading the PK back to respectability. Yeah, he’s been exposed.

Dimwit Idea # Two: We should have signed Marion Gaborik instead of the Sedins.

courtesy of redwhiteandblueshirts.files.wordpress.com

Daniel’s injury aside, the Sedins have been amongst the most durable of all Canucks these past few years. Gaborik is off to a fine start. And maybe he will play more games than he misses this year…but I wouldn‘t bet on it. The simple truth is, he wasn’t a Canuck and made his interest in the Big Apple pretty plain during his brief free agency. The Sedins are Canucks at heart and besides the aforementioned durability have been top fifteen point producers the last few years. Gaborik hasn’t. He is one dimensional. Plus, he whines anytime someone plays a little rough.

Dimwit Idea # Three: The Canucks are a boring team and no fun to watch.

Okay, for just a moment, forget the injuries and focus on results. I find losing boring. I find winning games exciting. And now remembering those same injuries, I am impressed with the work ethic and commitment to winning demonstrated by the survivors here. Team defense wins. And to those fans bitching about the trap, well just take a look at the Oilers. They play an up tempo Pat Quinn style. Seem to score a goal or so every second game. And recently not even that. They don’t need no stinking trap. Could probably use a win though.

And finally, Demwit Idea # Five: the media in Vancouver are all shit or know-nothings or unprofessional, etc., etc.

Yeah, the great uninformed love to slam Russell or Pratt or Gallagher or Garrett or Larschied or even Donnie Taylor. Now, I have no association with any of these gentlemen. But I’ve played with some journalists over the years, in more than one Canadian city and I will tell you honestly that Vancouver has some of the best around. Hell, get a Center Ice subscription or listen to other call-in shows if you want to see what’s out there. Most of the Vancouver guys haven’t played the game (Garrett and Ferraro excepted), but they are all students of the game. I may not always agree with them, but I’ll trust their insights more than I will the dimwits who are always looking to raise their own gutter level of self esteem at the expense of the guys who do this stuff and make a living at it.

Ah Jeeze, some old grandpa got out of the wrong side of bed this morning.

Well maybe, but after I see the Canucks gut out victory after victory with almost half the team absent, I don’t have a lot of love left for the ass clowns who lack any real insight into what it takes to compete at this level.

Plus, I feel better now