Tucker to face supplementary discipline?; Wild mostly off today
Posted on November 7th, 2008 – 5:59 PMBy Michael Russo
Nothing to report to you from practice, because quite frankly, I didn’t make it. Flight delay out of Seattle got me here to rainy Vancouver late.
But I was told I missed nothing. Only a few players skated during an optional practice.
From an NHL source, the NHL reviewed Darcy Tucker’s low hit on Wild defenseman Nick Schultz from last night and a decision to fine or suspend Tucker will come before the Avalanche’s game Saturday against Nashville.
Adrian Dater from the Denver Post sought Tucker’s reaction today. On whether or not Schultz’s allegations in today’s Star Tribune are true that at the end of the second period he threatened to take out Schultz’s knees, Tucker said, “I don’t want to discuss anything that might have been said on the ice. I’m an energy player and I go out there and play the game as hard as I can.”
Most NHL players play the game as hard as they can in an honest fashion. But Tucker, year after year after year, shows he’s unable to do that. Now you know why a big part of NHLPA Executive Director Paul Kelly’s fall tour is talking to his union members about showing respect for their fellow combatants.
It wouldn’t be an issue except for the fact the league continues to have a few head-hunters, or in Tucker’s case way too many times, knee-hunters.
But maybe in this case, the NHL will do the right thing and throw some sort of disciplinary action Tucker’s way even though luckily Tucker didn’t accomplish what he meant to accomplish.
As for tomorrow’s game, the Canucks are on a roll. Roberto Luongo’s coming off back-to-back shutouts, and the Vancouver captain has four shutouts in 13 starts. His career numbers against Minnesota are not good, however, as you can tell by his .886 save percentage. Niklas Backstrom is 5-0-1 against the Canucks with a 2.02 goals against average and .931 save percentage.
There won’t be a Slovak vs. Slovak matchup tomorrow. Both Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik are injured. There will be five other meetings between these teams, so both have to be healthy at the same time during one them, right?
I’ll talk to you after tomorrow’s morning skate (or afternoon skate back in Central Time).
46 Responses to "Tucker to face supplementary discipline?; Wild mostly off today"
Gaborik and Demitra can play some hacky sack in the press box together
Michael- fantastic yet sobering information.
This is a carryover from the previous thread- a reference to Russo’s comrade. http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/
richard b…they will more than likely be making popcorn together.
Russo…what was the ‘official’ penalty call on Tucker? All game summaries I can find have it recorded as Tripping.
Gabby and demo may be healthy for the next meeting, but do we really want gabby still with us then?
Wasn’t it clipping? And Schultz got a concurrent penalty for roughing, which was more or less garbage. If you’re going to give him a roughing penalty, you need to give Tucker more than 2 minutes for his little move.
kj-
The official call was clipping.
wasn’t Rolston the Luongo killer? I hope the “new and improved” Wild find a replacement for big Bri against Bobby Lou.
According to that blog post from Dater they invented clipping for Tucker.
Ands…I thought that is what I heard last night watching the game.
But all NHL game summaries that I have found online say Tripping.
Despicable either way.
NiNY…I think Queen MAB has just as big a slapper, and I am predicting a goal for him tomorrow night.
Also, Bobby Lou will NOT get a shutout…obviously… 
I have forseen it.
Will Clutterbuck be a Sister Slayer?
There wont be any Slovak reunion because they are both a couple of soft little boys.
It feels weird to work real shifts. And I was just told that my temporary position is being extended through June, I’m a much happier Bandgeek because of that news.
Tucker the Tool should get some sort of punishment.
I hope I can stay up late enough to watch the game tomorrow night. West coast games are killer for me since I’m not a person who has an easy time staying up late.
What in the world is happening with Gillies!! Is he playing in his 10th game or not tomorrow night. Once he does, his contract kicks in and he pretty much stays forsure. I think Minny will have to decide whether they keep him or Clutterbuck as the last forward this year.
Given Tucker’s comments, he knows he is justifiably on the hot seat. If the NHL doesn’t fine and suspend him, they are pouring gas on a fire. He may be an energy player and a cheap shot artist, but take away his paycheck or shatter his jaw and the way he plays will change. Boogey’s work on Fridge’s mandible changed forever how Fridge approached the game. BTW, I am not a big regular here, but has MKIA been on the receiving end of a few Boogey rights??
bandgeek:
>>I hope I can stay up late enough to watch the game tomorrow night.<<
Oh right. A deer hunting widow this weekend and you’re trying to convince us all that it’ll be an early Saturday night!! Sounds more like you just want something on the record so when the old man checks the blog, he’ll think you had your jammies on and were all tucked in watching hockey.
Back in the day, the fishing opener and deer hunting were bigger than Wild single game tickets going on sale. Stick around town, slap on a little Hai Karate and head over to Pudge’s or the bars on main street Hudson. Talk about your target rich environment. Where do you think the term catch & release came from?
Blades Fan:
1) Gillies is a permanent member of the Wild roster. He can not be sent down to Houston. There is an agreement between the NHL and the Canadian Juniors so that players younger than 20 have to play on the NHL team and can not be sent to their AHL affiliate. I do not believe that Gillies can be sent back to juniors now that he has been given a contract by the Wild. I have also heard quotes from JL that Gillies will not play much, his job is to watch and learn and play once in a while. The only reason he has played as much as he has is because of the injuries we’ve had. So there is no decision to be made where Gillies is concerned.
2) This one is just a witchy nit picky thing but Minny is a mouse, not our team.
I apologize if I sound witchy tonight, my dogs are driving me bat poo insane.
Stoned, it’s more I have a really early start to Saturday so by the time the game is on I’ll be running on fumes. I’ll probably make it through the first period and then decide from there if I try to stay up for the second and third. That’s how it normally goes for late starts.
Bandgeek:
Yes Gillies can be sent to junior this season. However, once he hits the 10 game mark, his contract kicks in at 850,000 for this year. If they send him down now at the 9 game mark, not only can he play 25 minutes per night but also compete in the World Juniors and gain offensive confidence.
I highly doubt if JL was talking about him playing 60 - 70 games this season that he’s going to be sent down anywhere.
Kind of crazy cause watching him last year in Saskatoon, he wasn’t even close to an elite player in the league.
I think the argument was he had gone as far as he could in Juniors. I think it was felt he could develop better under JL’s watch than in Saskatoon and since he can’t be sent to Houston, they kept him here. It’s the same reasoning they used last season when they kept Shepp.
How far did he go in juniors? Really, he never dominated at all in junior hockey and players under the age of 20 playing in the NHL better damn well be a star type player because you can give checkers extra time to develope at the lower levals. Let him play junior for another year whether it be in Saskatoon or via a trade and then let him play in Houston next year and then bring him up. Too bad for a guy like Cal, who will be sent down again.
Blades fan- Unfortunately, being elite in juniors, or even the AHL is rarely a solid indicator of NHL success.
Well, he’s hardly having NHL success now either, is he! I’ve seen so many times a young 18 or 19 come up to the NHL and have their careers ruined. The thing Colton has going for him is that he can skate, however he needs to hit more and play far more aggressive.
We may never really know what they saw from him in camp and what their development reports and stuff like that say. It is bad for guys like Cal, he’s so close to crackin’ the permanent Wild roster. It’s going to be interesting to see how things pan out.
I’m with you Blades Fan. Though JL has been fairly successful with his young players. Let’s just hope they know what they are doing.
As for Cal, I really do like what I see. More so than a lot of players. MAB, Weller… Send Weller down. Did they sign him to a 2 way deal?
Weller might be two way, I think Moses is two way also so either of them could be sent down. I’m too lazy to go look it up right now.
Great defense there by Scott Neidermayer and Beachemin, both leaving a guy alone two feet in front of Giguere to chase the puck-carrier.
My fiance just dropped Brunstrum… and he scores a goal.
Parrish just scored.
WOO HOO! First shot as a star, a goal, woohoo!
Parrish with a goal over in big D!
Welcome back Mark.
Parrish is a machine! Another goal!
I know it is an extremely small sample size, but Parrish has two goals already, and Voros is still ripping it up in New York.
Anyone feel that maybe the coaches here just don’t know how to coach a guy who works in front of the net?
Parrish has a hat trick in his first game with the Stars. I miss him.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
This means nothing Buddha- Varos is not JLs type of player and Parrish will have a quick start and finish lousy.
Mister Know it all Jottings
Weller and Boogy need to step up the physical presence against Vancouver. They have been too tame thus far. I am guessing that Vancouver will play dirty as they typically do, so when and if they do. those two have to answer and start crashing like they can
Don’t forget Voros started well here too, and died off as the season progressed. I would hold off on assessing his and Parrish’s play until further into the season.
Even if Parrish does cool off, which he will, unless he has a hat trick every game, I’d still rather have him than Owen Nolan.
Wow, Parrish!. Good for him.
I would rather have Nolen on the Wild assuming the injury issue(s) get cleared up but good for Parrish and I bet he will be a solid player for Dallas.
Cool luck ahead to 2010 for the USA from Russo - http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/34127899.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
luck = look = bed time!
Wow. Imagine that. Shirley AND Demitra are injured. Who woulda thunk it? Maybe they have a secret contest going between each other, to see who can milk the “lower body” injury the longest. Shirley is definitely underpaid-he certainly deserves 10 million a year! Wuss.
Buddha: I kept Brunnstrum, but he only seems to score every time I sit him. Then when I see he scores and play him, he’s like a -30.
Wow! WTG Parry! Didn’t pay attention to any NHL stuff last night, but that’s great news. I don’t know who Dallas played but I’m willing to bet it was against one of my fantasy goalies, eh?
Gotta say, I wouldn’t be too upset by Gillies going back to juniors. But I don’t really mind him staying up either. I trust the organization to handle him right.
Weller is on a one way deal, BTW.
I hope because Parrish scored a hat trick this blog doesn’t jump off the ledge. Don’t forget Wild fans Parrish had a hat trick in his first season here but didn’t even hit the 20 goal mark by the end of the year. I think he’s one of those players that never fit our system and the guy is seriously a one demensional player.
Also Voros started out with a HOT hand when he was called up last year. How long did he go without scoring during the year? No way he keeps it up. If he ends up with 20 goals or more I will be shocked.
