Rick Nash needs to keep his head up more, or he is going to have a shortned NHL career. He needs to get a mean streak in him. He should also watch tapes of how Mark MEssier played the game. When Mark saw you coming in for a hit the elbow would go up automatically. On many occasion the opposing player would be picking some teeth up off the ice. Sure he would get a penalty, but who cares when he sent the message around the league, you take a run at me at your own risk. Rick must take this step or he will always be a target. Does he have it in him? I do not know
Not sure you can blame Nash for his concussions. Concussions are strange. You cant tell from hits if players will have them. It depends on the player and also how many they have had. It's not like Nash was repeatedly skating in the middle of the ice like Lindros and leveled. He was elbowed to the head with his back to the player. Not much you can do and the fact Stuart is still playing is a joke.
good points. but going forward he needs to create more space for himself, and at his size, if you throw in a little meaner play on his part, I believe players will be more reluctant to take a run at him. It would also have helped if we had a Colton Orr on this team. Oh yeah, we had Colton Orr!
Concussions are mostly bad luck now. In the past they were the result of dumb medical decisions (letting guys like Lindros play after 6 concussions, etc). I dont think not having an enforcer caused Savard to have his concussions or Pronger to have his. Its mostly bad luck of which the Rangers have plenty. At least if Nash has long term problems his huge cap hit wont be part of it. We just lose Dubi, AA, Erixon and a #1. Awesome
If they feel this Nash thing will be long term, they will need to move MDZ for a forward who is at least a 50-60 point player. They might package Boyle to get that guy.
When you're along the boards and someone comes in from behind with a high elbow there's not much time to do anything. People are trying to make it look inadvertant but the intent to get him out of the game with the Rangers lack of firepower is pretty obvious.
the point being that Stewart felt he could run him from behind without him looking without hesitation, against the other teams best player. this is what has changed in hockey. you simply did not run Messier, Gretsky, Bossy, Lemeiux etc unless your were prepared to pay the price. In Messes' case he was able to take care of himself
