Gary,
I would like to extend this open letter as fair warning for what may happen should you allow the Dallas Stars to continue to run our goaltender. Without going into extensive detail, I would like to bring your attention to such incidents as the Todd Bertuzzi hit on Steve Moore.
I understand your position on the instigator rule, but I would also like to point out the Dallas Star's appear to have a free pass (from the officials) to skate freely into our goaltender without any retribution of any kind. Also let me point out what a valuable member of the team, the city and your...pardon me MY NHL, Mr. Luongo happens to be. He surpassed a record for most wins in a single season by a Vancouver Canuck goaltender, he managed to take a non-playoff team into the post-season (single-handedly), he is excellent in the comminute, he was the starting goaltender for the Western Conference at your All-Star game...shall I go on? I think you get my point.
There have been several plays throughout the start of our series with Dallas where the puck is either frozen, deflected into the seats or the play is clearly off-side and some how a Dallas Star is allowed to skate into, through, or on top of our goaltender. Ladislav Nagy and Joel Lundqvist (Who will never sell a single seat for your league) have had a couple of occasions where the result of the collision could have been devastating to one of your most crucial NHL markets.
Of course the Stars are allowed to do this as they may, because the referee's are busy calling the 'obstruction' and seem to let these incidents fly by the radar. There is an instigator rule in effect so the Canucks cannot retaliate.
We have seen this too many times recently, players are not allowed to retaliate, son instead of a simple scrap, you end up with players being carried off on stretchers; another scar on the NHL; suspensions etc. I do not agree with this type of vigilante justice but if there is not something done about the lack of protection for your superstars (Forwards, Defenseman and Goaltenders) you will be faced with another situation where the NHL has a big scar to deal with.
Thanks
Good points. It is really disappointing when you see a continual parade to the penalty box for minor hooking and holding penalties, and then blatent flagarent penalties, such as those that you describe, go uncalled.Total BS!
The only way for the league to cut down on incidents such as Betuzzi and Simon is to cut down on crap such as players running goaltender and players taking liberties on star players.
If Luongo flopped around and fell as if shot to the ice like some other goaltenders, he may get more calls from the refs. He is not that kind of person. He takes it all with composure.I just about died laughing last night when Turco called Mommy for eyedrops because he got a little snowed. Wah!