Hockeybird.com: The Conspiracy Begins

A little more than a minute remaining, Holik throws a devastating check on big Dan McGillis. Shoulder down and elbow raised only on follow-through, it was a thing of beauty.

But then the referees’ arm raises. Already down a man, the blueshirts now go down by two. But wait, there’s more… it’s a major penalty!

The Flyers close to within one before the Rangers are able to close it out with an empty net goal.

The Rodent astutely identified that the Rangers reacted to the penalty with better composure than last year. It was, indeed, likely the reason the team was able to pull out a win rather than a frustrating tie or loss.

But the end result aside, it is unfortunate to realize that the NHL bulls-eye was painted on Bobby Holik last night. The NHL and most of its teams do not want superstar money going to players whose value rests in the intangibles. So the best way to combat this expenditure is to minimize the effectiveness of Holik’s physical game through officiating.

This is what drove Theo Fleury to his antics last season. He couldn’t understand that what was cute and left unpunished in Calgary, becomes a league-wide problem in New York.

And so it begins for Bobby Holik and undoubtedly for Darius Kasparaitis, too. Every body check that sees a player crumple to the ice will result in a major. Every time Holik glances into a goalie it will be a penalty.

This will be a test of wills. Who bends first – the NHL and the referees, or Holik and Kasparaitis.

How long can Holik and Kaspar persevere with their physical style before the refs finally relent and give them the leeway they received through their careers?

Or, if the calls turn wins into losses, how long until Holik and Kaspar tone down their physical play to appease the refs?

do you think that the ranger brass will begin to cry foul .. when there hard earned dollars are being wated by the league. Lest not forget that the biggest market team must have some muscles as well. The thing is will the dolans use them to bring down the hammer on the NHL?

Posted by: ethan on September 24, 2002 12:27 AM

I think you might be getting a bit paranoid. I don't think one bad call can be judged as a conspiracy by the league to punish the spending habits of the Rangers. If after 25 games a pattern of abuse by the officials becomes obvious, then you might have a point. Right now, I think it was one bad call by an official getting back into the games.

Posted by: markyranger on September 24, 2002 02:10 PM