Chris Thorburn: The Ultimate Animal

Some of you may believe that Ilya Kovalchuk is the heart and soul of the Atlanta Thrashers. Others may disagree, saying that Marian Hossa fills that role. I say that you are both wrong. The leader out there on the ice is the beast, Chris Thorburn.

Every shift out there on the ice, this guy is thirsty for blood and seeks to satisfy that need every opportunity that he gets. Although he is not the most skilled, no one outworks him out there on the ice. You may be asking yourself, “What about Jim Slater, he is always skating hard out there?” Jim Slater plays like a chicken with it’s head cut off. He flies around at one high speed, with his brain always one speed behind. Thorburn has defensive awareness as well as a strong forechecking ability in the attacking zone.

You may say that guys like Thorburn and Boulton serve no purpose in the NHL. If so, you probably know absolutely nothing about hockey. Kovalchuk and Hossa would not have the goals and points that they do if guys like Thorburn were not in the NHL. For example, on Saturday night, Sutton felt that he could get physical with Ilya Kovalchuk. Less than a period later, he had to answer to Chris Thorburn. Thorburn is sending a message to Sutton, the Islanders, the Thrashers, and every other team in this league that if you mess with Kovalchuk, you mess with Thorburn as well. Every team in the NHL sees this message. This, in turn, creates more room for the skill players. You can thank Thorburn and Boulton, in part, for Kovalchuk’s high goal total.

That brings up the Instigator rule. If you believe that it serves a purpose in the NHL, you are either European, or know absolutely nothing about hockey. The NHL is working hard on trying to increase scoring. Look no further than the removal of the instigator rule. This is how guys like Marcel Dionne, Mike Bossy, and of course, Wayne Gretzky achieved the success that they did. No one dared to take a run at these guys, because they had the tough guys at their backs. If you took a run at a Wayne Gretzky, the next thing you would see is the white walls of your hospital room. Because anyone in the right mind didn’t wish this upon their future, space was opened up for the skill players to score goals and put on a show. Chris Thorburn helps to do this for Ilya Kovalchuk.

With the removal of the instigator rule probable in the near future, the role of Chris Thorburn will increase. He wont have to worry about suspensions and fines if he starts a fight with someone. People want to see fighting, and that is what they will get. People want to see more scoring, and that is what they will get when this rule is eliminated.

Scheduling and Instigator

Your news and notes for Friday is made up of two very important bits of league news. The first is that the NHL, starting next year, will change the scheduling format:

The NHL has approved a scheduling format that will have each team play 24 divisional games, 40 in-conference matchups, 15 games against non-conference teams and three wild card games against out of conference teams.

The format – which was used prior to the NHL lockout – allows for every team to play every team at least once in a season, but it would still be every other year before a player like Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin would play in every building.

This change has been under debate pretty much since it was instituted. It is great for the league, as no one wants to have to watch a game with the Florida Panthers 8 times in a season.

The second news is not a change, but the possibility of one. Darren Dreger is reporting that many players on the ice are changing their minds about the infamous instigator rule:

NHL Players Association Executive Director Paul Kelly and his entourage have visited with seven of the league’s 30 teams on their fall tour.

Kelly is asking players the question, “Do you want it removed?,” and sources say the vast majority are saying yes.

As one player put it, “guys have to be more accountable,” citing hits to the head and hits from behind this season as the motivator for urgency.

This is a rule change that will change the play in the league drastically, and would make it a much cleaner, more respectful game. It would mean more fights, but very few cheap shots and vicious hits.

GM Meetings

This week, all of the general managers are in Naples, Florida to discuss issues in the league and trades. The deadline is only one week away, so trades will start up soon. Here are a few articles about the meetings.

The GMs have recommended to change the “instigator rule.” As it stands now, if a player receives three instigating penalties, he automatically receives a two game suspension. The new proposal allows for five such penalties before a suspension. Damien Cox responds to this and the irony of it.
Other changes in discussion for next year (from TSN):

• “Video replay: Starting next season referees could have … TV monitors in the penalty box to watch replays.”
• The GMs will discuss the three point system tomorrow during the last day of meetings.

Some discussion about the trade talks:

• NHL article
• Scott Burnside, and why there have been few deals so far
• Eric Duhatschek talks about the ‘high rent-a-player costs’

Should be a fun and productive week down in Florida.