The puck may slipped past Jacob Markstrom here, but the goaltender is hungry for success. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

Ultimately, the past season was a rather lackluster one for the Florida Panthers, but I don’t believe I would call it a failure just yet.

Looking back, there’s something positive that can be taken from this season to satisfy all of the different groups of optimists/pessimists/pundits/loyal fans/etc. For instance, there’s the #2 overall draft spot – hardly a given to “save” this team, but there are more than a few young stars who would instantly help the Panthers’ lineup. There’s the crutch of the 2013 NHL campaign being a lockout-shortened year – i.e. that it doesn’t really count. One could also look at the solid level of play of a number of young up-and-coming players and be satisfied with that alone.

So, let’s really break it down. Let’s see what the Panthers organization can take into the future and build on to return to the playoffs, and to the good graces of its fan base.

At the top of the list, is undoubtedly the exceptional play of rookie Jonathan Huberdeau. A nominee for the Calder Trophy, Hubie proved his worth to the team by finishing second in scoring on the club with 31 points, which prorated to an 82-game season, is a very commendable 53-point rookie campaign.

Regardless of a team’s success over the course of a given season, it is always a positive notion when rookies perform at or beyond a team’s expectations. Simply having faith in the scouting capabilities is huge – especially with such a high (and important) position in this year’s draft – but also having the stability of at least one young player to build upon is a massive weight off the organization’s shoulders.

Jonathan Huberdeau, a Florida Panthers prospect, can be followed on Twitter @JonnyHuby11.

Whether Huberdeau will win the Calder for rookie of the year remains to be seen, but he is not the only shining light on the team’s roster. Moving from the forward position into the crease, 23 year old goaltender Jakob Markstrom can certainly be seen as a piece to the Panthers’ puzzle of future success.

It’s difficult to display the stats of the three-headed goaltending situation in Florida, but what’s important to note is how the young Swede Markstrom emerged as the starter over proven veteran goalies Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmenson. No one is expecting Markstrom to emulate the play of his fellow countryman Henrik Lundqvist just yet, but he’s gaining experience, and that’s key. Sometimes showing the will to win is enough momentum to pull out a W when a team is firing on all cylinders.

Moving away from the youth for a moment, there are also plenty of veterans on this team making a difference on a nightly basis. Tomas Fleischmann, the Panthers’ leading scorer this season, as well as top defender Brian Campbell did their part in giving the Panthers a chance in each game.

In short, there is a solid core of players on this club that can be built around – sure it sucks to fall from the division leaders a year ago to last in the conference, but this team can be picked up and made into a playoff caliber team with just a few small tweaks.

Here are some ideas.

First and foremost is defense. The Panthers were dead last in the NHL in goals against this year – they need some defense. Helping to prevent all of the pressure in front of their own goal will allow the young scorers to flourish and produce more on offense – to help the (once again) league-worst goals per game average.

Second, bring in some help on the penalty kill. Surprisingly enough, the Panthers were incredible on one end of the special teams’ spectrum finishing 6th in the league on the power play. While killing penalties, though, Florida fell to (once again) dead last. There are plenty of players out there who grind out the forecheck and know how to eat the clock while killing a penalty. PIck up one or two and this is a different team.

Thirdly, attack free agency with a serious ferocity. This team isn’t rebuilding, it’s mending fences. The Panthers have the 19th payroll in the NHL and can do well to spend some cash on a solid number of helpful players. There’s no need to try and ink a superstar for a massive contract – it’s all about filling in the gaps.

What it all comes down to is looking on the bright side of things when reflecting on this past season. Sure it wasn’t all that spectacular, but there are plenty of ways that the Panthers can improve right now, and head into next year with the ability to win games. Besides, the league will be returning to a full 82-game slate and that will give every team a whole different season to work with.

If the Panthers’ brass realizes that this is a winning club after applying a few layers of elbow grease, the Panthers can and will be the Southwest Division champs once again in 2014.

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Adam Davis

I'm a columnist for the Florida Panthers on The Hockey Writers. I'm insanely obsessed with hockey and have almost 10 years experience writing about hockey online. Feel free to comment and follow me on twitter @adavis_29.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin: the Halifax Mooseheads dynamic duo. (Mike Dembeck)

But the 2013 season is mercifully over for the Panthers, so it is time for Florida to keep a watchful eye attuned to the still-existent bright side. Most notably, the 2013 draft is considered the strongest class of talent since the ballyhooed 2003 draft. Even though the Panthers will miss out on the unquestioned boost Seth Jones would give to both their defensive corps and box office, they will by all accounts have a choice of two explosive offensive talents, both of whom are currently lighting up scoresheets in the QMJHL for the Halifax Mooseheads.

Getting to Know MacKinnon and Drouin

Jonathan Drouin is simply a magician with the puck. The electrifying left winger has been called the next Patrick Kane and the human highlight film. Tenacious off the puck and simply breathtaking with it, Drouin has the rare ability to put butts in the seats wherever he plays and then lift those butts off their seats with his almost supernatural on-ice skill and vision. His 2013 season totals of 41 goals and 64 assists for 105 points are eye popping. The fact that he did it in just 49 games is eye super-nova-ing.

Just 5’10″ and 180 lbs., Drouin is never going to be a two-way physical force in today’s NHL. It is important, however, to take into account that, like his size, his skill set is comparable to Chicago’s Patrick Kane, a bona fide scoring superstar in today’s NHL. It is also noteworthy that Kane was drafted first overall in the 2007 NHL draft by then-Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon, currently plying his trade for the very same Florida Panthers you are currently reading about.

In many draft years, Drouin would be a slam-dunk first overall pick. In the unfathomably deep 2013 draft, he could fall as far as third, due not only to the presence of Seth Jones, but also to the prodigiously talented young man who has centered him all season in Halifax, Nathan MacKinnon.

With his tantalizing mix of elite skating, elite hands and elite vision, MacKinnon has been compared to a lesser version of Sidney Crosby. It might be more apropos to describe him as a more talented version of Claude Giroux. With his uncanny acceleration, MacKinnon seems to explode around defenders whenever he possesses the puck. In the offensive zone, his quick-twitch athleticism enables him to release a lethal wrist-shot in a blur, and his ability to blaze tape-to-tape passes is downright intimidating. Like Drouin, MacKinnon’s upside is not simply to be a top-line player at the NHL level, but to be a permanent fixture among the league’s scoring leaders.

MacKinnon’s offensive upside is widely considered to be neck-and-neck with Drouin’s. At 5’11″, 180 lbs., MacKinnon is far from the big body many teams covet at center, but he is comparable size-wise to players who have done fairly spectacularly at the NHL level, from Crosby and Giroux to Stamkos and choose your Richards, Brad or Mike. Defensively sound and with lightning-quick hands enabling him to excel in the face-off circle, it is almost unanimous among scouts that MacKinnon is a can’t-miss superstar.

So Who Will Tallon Take With The Second Overall Pick?

The Florida Panthers are swimming in young talent. Their prospect pipeline was ranked first in the NHL by www.hockeysfuture.com, due largely to their strength at forward. Highly touted C/LW Jonathan Huberdeau finished the season as a Calder Trophy candidate for Rookie of the Year as is considered a future scoring star and franchise building block. He was not alone in that regard, as talented young pivots Drew Shore and Nick Bjugstad also debuted this year, along with another former first-round pick in LW Quinton Howden. Yet to make the big club are a pair of other celebrated center prospects in Team USA WJC hero Rocco Grimaldi and the University of Minnesota’s Kyle Rau.

While the Panthers have some young talent on the blueline with young shut-down stud Erik Gudbranson already established in the NHL and last year’s first-round pick Mike Matheson on the way, it was universally assumed that Florida would draft Seth Jones first overall had they not lost the draft lottery to Colorado.

Still, there are those that believe that Huberdeau’s all-out offensive mind-set makes him a better long-term fit on the wing than at center. Drafting MacKinnon would enable the Panthers to slide Huberdeau to the left side and give the team a lethal scoring combination on the top line for many seasons to come. Though Tallon would have certainly loved Jones and will certainly be tempted by the proposition of the Kane-like Drouin, expect him to be wearing a huge smile as he selects Nate MacKinnon with the second overall pick of the 2013 NHL entry draft in New Jersey.

It was certainly a hard-luck year for the Florida Panthers. Still, often brilliance is born of hardship. In this case, the brilliant talent of Nate MacKinnon playing for the Panthers. Which is one way of saying, while the Florida Panthers were snake-bit and being gnawed on my an alligator and had a piano fall on their head, at least that piano wasn’t playing Nickelback.

Agree? Disagree? Very perturbed bass player for Nickelback? Feel free to comment below and follow my Twittering: @StIves72

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Steven Ives

Writer/lunatic, hockey columnist, mlb.com, aspiring cryptozoologist, estrogen addict, patron saint of vertigo, unintentional ghost hunter. Brooklyn, New York

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This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Fun had by all at the expense of the Rangers (Photo: Andy Martin Jr)

It’s been a pretty rough few months down in the Sunshine State.

The Florida Panthers were the darlings of the NHL Playoffs last season, and now their in the basement. Riding the pine. Playing golf in April. And it sucks.

But you know what makes it better? Ruining other teams’ chances of making the playoffs as well. If we can’t make it, neither will they! *Cue evil, maniacal laughter.

Rebuilding is tough – and the fans (as well as the management) thought the process was well underway less than a year ago when the Panthers clinched the division for the first time this division. Even with some incredible talent under the legal drinking age, the Panthers faltered and must look for solutions once again.

There’s really no way to sugarcoat a last-place finish. Actually wait there is – beat a team trying to remain in playoff contention in their 3rd to last game of the season. ESPECIALLY after said team embarrassed you less than a week earlier. And even more especially when said team is in the 8th and final playoff spot – now currently only 1 point ahead of the 9th place Winnipeg Jets.

Oh you Panthers, always the sneaky ones.

The win gave Florida the two-game season sweep over New York after a fairly convincing victory in Madison Square Garden back in mid March. In fact, I was actually in attendance for that game – along with possibly 4 other Panthers fans – and the ‘Gahden’ was quieter than a cemetery, save for the occasional obviously well thought “come on you f***ing bums” from the loyal and eccentric Rangers fans.

Even more exciting is the Panthers’ chance to take on the spoiler role once more before the final horn of the season blasts this Thursday when they host the (currently) 5th place Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs are hoping for a continued slump on the part of the Montreal Canadiens and to be able to leapfrog into 4th after a quick Floridian road trip. Well wouldn’t that be nice for them.

Time for the boys to forget about the inviting beaches and spoil someone else’s fun one last time.

And how could we forget about the final game of the season? Against state rivals Tampa Bay. Now wouldn’t that be the ultimate cherry on top of this rather sour season? A win against the Lightning would help the fans forget about that little notion of being in 15th and help the club save some of its dignity heading into the offseason. Sounds like a plan to me.

Looking back on the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season that was, it’s not so simple to find a silver lining. But it’s there! Just look a little deeper.

That Hubie. So hot right now. (Cliff Welch/Icon SMI)

Like at the young gun who took the league by storm. Jonathan Huberdeau is leading all rookies with 28 points – 14 of which were goals. That’s more than 50 points in a regular NHL campaign. Good to know that third overall draft choice can be officially checked off as “not a bust”.

Huberdeau was second on the team in points and 12th in total ice time – showing that he is developing into a real leader for the young Panthers squad. I like what I see from him and he will be a cornerstone in the team’s rebuilding process.

It’s good to know that with five more days until the draft lottery this team is capable of drafting solid players even without winning the #1 spot.

So, back to the team. It’s going to be a less-than-exciting summer, but not all hope is lost. This may be a lame excuse but after all is said and done this was a lockout season and anything could have happened with another 34 games to play. Seriously.

Next year this club will be back with another top-5 pick on its roster, a little more experience and a chip on its shoulder. The real test is how you bounce back from a 3rd to 15th slide and the result will show the true colors of the Florida Panthers.

This time next year, with a little elbow grease added into the mix, this club could be playing spoiler in an entirely different way – by knocking Stanley Cup contenders out of the competition. Sending them to the pine, golf course and looking for answers. I like that spoiler alert a lot better. Don’t you?

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Adam Davis

I'm a columnist for the Florida Panthers on The Hockey Writers. I'm insanely obsessed with hockey and have almost 10 years experience writing about hockey online. Feel free to comment and follow me on twitter @adavis_29.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Alex Kovalev was a merchant of chills and thrills over 18 NHL seasons — when he felt like it. (Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports)

For over 20 years, one name has struck fear in countless NHL head coaches, player agents, scouts and general managers.

One name, one number:

Kovalev… Alexei Kovalev. Number 27. Or number 72. Depends on where he’s playing. Whatever.

Or you could call him Alex. I’m sure he’s been called worse. Habs fans actually know him as l’artiste which means “the artist” for you French deprived out there. Websters dictionary defines an artist as “one skilled or versed in learned arts.”

Now you might not think that applies to Alex Kovalev, but it does. As it happens the man is somewhat of a renaissance man. Maybe this definition is more suitable?

Artist (n): one who is adept at something.

But maybe this one best sums up Alex Kovalev:

Artist (n): a skilled performer.

Yes if there’s one thing in which we can all agree it’s that Alex Kovalev is a skilled performer. And after announcing his retirement on March 21, it can now be said that he was a skilled performer.

When he felt like it.

The Problem With Alex Kovalev

Alex Kovalev was the first Russian-born player ever to be drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, picked 15^th overall in 1991 by the New York Rangers and quickly distinguished himself with his impressive stickhandling abilities and laser-like wrist shot. Kovalev was a key component to the Rangers’ cup run in 1994 and was the first Russian to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, along with teammates Alexander Karpotsev and Sergei Nemchinov.

Kovalev may have been the most talented player many had ever seen, but whether his talent translated to the ice was an entirely different proposition. While it was universally recognized that he possessed all the skills to be an NHL superstar, it appeared to be a challenge for his coaches to channel and focus his considerable talent.

Coaching Kovalev was at once thrilling but maddening all at the same time. Former Rangers head coach Mike Keenan probably has the all-time best Kovalev tale, a story that says much about his strong will to compete but also how prone he was to playing in a world of his own. Kovalev regularly frustrated Keenan by taking chronically long shifts; so one night in New York when Kovalev skated to the bench for a change, Keenan told him to stay on. Keenan followed this by sending out only two new forwards for the next few shifts so Kovalev was forced to play on despite his fatigue. Ultimately Kovalev stayed out for over eight minutes until the period ended and he even scored a goal. Afterwards in his own inimitable style he exclaimed that he thought Keenan was rewarding him for good play. Funny. Ha ha.

Alex Kovalev had minimal impact during his 2011 return to Pittsburgh (Icon SMI)

Eventually though the laughter wore off and the enigmatic forward was shipped off to the Penguins. The problem with Alex Kovalev was that although he may have been one of the most skilled, gifted hockey players of his generation, the man they called l’artiste often took games off.

Because you know… the man had a lot on his mind.

It’s true his mind may have been in the clouds – literally. Alex Kovalev is an accomplished and licensed aircraft pilot and watching him play some nights, it actually looked like he was indeed somewhere else.

Kovy Thrives in Montreal

Kovalev eventually did find success with Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh, making the All-Star team for the first time in 2001 while netting a career high 44 goals. But the good times faded and Kovalev was shipped back to the Rangers after a couple of inconsistent and disappointing seasons. Finally he was traded to the Canadiens and after teasing fans and management with a few flashes of his brilliance, the powerful winger found a place within the team’s leadership corps and in 2007-2008 on a line with Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn, he posted his second best statistical season with 35 goals and 49 assists. Kovalev was named captain of the Eastern Conference team for the 2008 All-Star game in Montreal and then named the game’s MVP. It finally appeared that former Habs GM Bob Gainey’s risk was starting to pay off.

But with the good comes the bad and per his track record that year was Kovalev’s high-water mark with the Canadiens. In typical fashion, Kovalev’s point totals began to taper off over the next few seasons. In 2009 Gainey even went so far as to tell Kovalev to take a few nights off and stay home while the team went on a road trip. It worked when he made his triumphant return to the lineup with a goal and two assists in a win against the Ottawa Senators.

Time was ticking on Kovalev in Montreal and eventually management’s patience ran out. Although he was offered a new contract with the Canadiens apparently Kovalev took too long to respond, so he was forced to accept a deal with Ottawa which ultimately was a bit of a disaster unproductive for both sides.

Habs fans rallied to attempt to keep Kovalev with the Habs, but to no avail.

Kovalev didn’t want to leave Montreal because it was there where he found a city and fans who finally seemed to understand him. Dubbed l’Artiste, it was as though the city understood the nature of his talent; that the cost for witnessing greatness – as scattered as it was – was nevertheless worth the price of inconsistent and uninspired play over long periods of time. Artists are enigmatic, unconventional and often walk a line of their own making. If anything Alex Kovalev was consistent. It’s just that he was consistent in his inconsistency. He was above all true to his personal standard – he just refused to conform to anyone else’s set of standards for him.

Not Since Guy Lafleur

It can be a curse being a Montreal Canadiens fan. It’s not about conference championship banners, you know!? It’s tough when a team has a championship pedigree but can’t put it all together in the present to get back into the winner’s circle. Think the New York Yankees of the 1980’s or even the Detroit Red Wings until things started to pay off for them in the later ‘90’s. I can’t even imagine with Maple Leafs fans are going through. It’s a hard line when only winning the big prize will cut it. And for the Montreal Canadiens it hasn’t happened since 1993 when this storied franchise last drank from the sacred chalice that is the Stanley Cup.

And what Canadiens fan didn’t dream of seeing Alex Kovalev, with hair flowing and big smile on his face, hoist that cup over his head!? Kovalev’s immense talent and flashes of brilliance made Habs nation dream the dream. Too bad there were a few nightmares thrown in.

Kovalev channeled the Habs’ ghosts of the past. He generated the same kind of thrills and chills that Guy Lafleur created for Habs fans when he was at the top of his game in the late seventies. Le démon blond – as he was known – was one of the best players of his generation and was a gifted goal scorer who seemed to come up big when it mattered. He literally picked fans out of their seats with his moves and playmaking abilities.

Alex Kovalev had this ability. The man had a flair for the dramatic. My favourite Kovalev moment – in a Canadiens uniform – was against the Boston Bruins in the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. Helmet knocked off, Kovalev with dirty blond hair flowing, heroically carries the puck into the Boston zone, then somehow getting the puck in the slot where he found the back of the net with a quick backhand. I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it. Take a look. It’s better in French:

Hall of Fame Credentials? Nope

Alex Kovalev retired on March 21, 2013 after a comeback with the Florida Panthers went south. After Kovalev signed his one year pact in Florida, I mentioned that people usually go to Florida to retire. How right I was!!

But Kovalev’s end wasn’t too hard to predict. He hadn’t played an NHL game since 2011 with the Penguins and at the age of 39, he would be hard pressed to stick with any squad, let alone the Panthers. Florida management may have thought he could be a mentor to some of their younger players like Jonathan Huberdeau. And the man did assist on the rook’s first NHL goal. But Kovalev isn’t that kind of player. He can’t be a mentor. He’s in a world of his own making and nobody else is invited. And it’s nothing personal. That’s just the way he rolls. But wasn’t it exciting how after two games Kovalev was leading the league in scoring!? But I knew… we knew… it couldn’t last. And it didn’t.

Now that he’s retired, the words “Hall of Fame” and “Kovalev” suddenly became linked. Credit Kovalev as to how good a player he was for the media to even mention the two together. But that’s not going to happen. Yes Kovalev was a superb player. Maybe the most gifted player anyone has ever seen. But you can be good all you like in practice. It’s what happens during games that matters the most, especially when a career is all said and done. And though Alex Kovalev has very good numbers, he does not have Hall of Fame numbers.

Alex Kovalev:

1316 regular season games; 430 goals; 599 assists; 1029 points.

If you compare these numbers with those of Vincent Damphousse, who ain’t going to no Hall of Fame celebrations, you know Alex Kovalev will have to be happy with being the only member of his own personal Hall of Fame (he’s been a member for awhile now).

Vincent Damphousse: 

1378 regular season games; 432 goals; 773 assists; 1205 points.

And maybe, just maybe, part of the Montreal Canadiens’ franchise Hall of Fame one day.

True, Kovalev was apt to take nights off. But when he came to play, he was a difference maker. When he was on it was something special to see. He could move through players like the puck was on a string. He could roof that puck over a goalie’s shoulder with even the slightest of angles to work with. He was money in the shootout when he went backhand top shelf. No goalie anywhere could save that shot. He could skate effortlessly, magically —  gliding, shifting, turning as if he was the conductor of his own symphony, the writer of his own narrative, the pilot of his own jet airplane. Flying oh so high, yet oh so alone.Kovalev the player was ultimately like a magical elixir that presented NHL GMs with the answers to all of life’s problems but the tradeoff was an entirely new set of headaches. Time and time again he was deemed worth the risk. What NHL GM hasn’t pondered the question whether they could be the one who could somehow get through to him and push all the right buttons to get the best of Alex Kovalev on a regular basis!? Is he worth it? The lows may be low, but the highs! Oh they’re so high!!

Catch l’Artiste of hockey writers Ari Grief on Twitter: @HabsFanLeafLand

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Ari Grief

I'm a goalie -- apparently that says a lot. Writer, producer and bon vivant I'm from Montreal but live in Toronto and write from that perspective on HabsFanInLeafLand.com. Young enough to be hip; old enough to remember where I was when Guy Lafleur scored against the Bruins in the infamous "too many men" game in the '79 playoffs. Can you say that? You can contact Ari Grief on Facebook or on twitter @habsfanleafland

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This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

While 666 may be just another number on Brodeur’s long Hall of Fame resume, both the number and its devilish meaning really sum up Brodeur’s excellence not only as an individual, but also as a New Jersey Devils’ legend.

However, on a night where the hockey world gathered to celebrate another Brodeur milestone, the veteran Devils’ netminder took some time to comment on a skater whose hoping to put together a hall of fame career of his own – Panthers’ rookie forward, Jonathan Huberdeau.

When asked about the Panthers’ rookie phenom, Brodeur was quick to lavish praise on the young talented skater.

 “He’s good. He’s kind of, almost an awkward skater, he does a lot of, has a lot of weird moves; I think that his vision and his speed is pretty good. He made a good play there, I made a save on him and he didn’t panic in traffic – he went across and tried to beat me five-hole. In the first period he made a play and threw a backhand pass and the guy wasn’t ready for it on the backdoor; he’s pretty good, I was impressed.” Brodeur told Dan Rice of The Hockey Writers.

Pardon the Nicholas Cage reference, but that is clearly some “high praise” from a future Hall of Fame inductee.

Considering the way Huberdeau has been playing this season, Brodeur most certainly won’t be the last person to pat him on the back before his rookie campaign is over. With about a month remaining in the 2013 season, Huberdeau recently ended a 9-game goal scoring drought in the Panthers’ shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

Luckily for NHL fans, this season’s Calder Trophy race looks like it will come down to the last week of the season with Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Cory Conacher locked in a dead heat until the very end. Huberdeau currently sits 2nd in rookie scoring with 23 points and 1st in goals scored with 13. If Huberdeau can follow up Thursday night’s heroics with a string of quality games, then a Calder Trophy could most definitely be in his future.

Follow Jameson on Twitter @JamesonCoop

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Jameson Cooper

A Florida resident, Jameson is a frequent contributor to The Hockey Writers including doing their weekly NHL Power Rankings. He also covers the Florida Panthers for the credentialed blog Panther Parkway ( www.pantherparkway.com ).

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This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Rick Nash is in a little hot water with the hockey world. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

It has become the bane of so many. Hit X got this but Hit Y was identical and received nothing. The problem has driven people (fans, media, players, coaches, etc.) bonkers for decades. However, with the advent of social media, this outrage or discussion has taken on new levels of lunacy or fierce debate. This really depends on your prospective and feeling on the issue. The bottom line is why not take a bit of a humorous slant on what happened Thursday night in New York between Rick Nash and Tomas Kopecky.

There are an extensive amount of tweets that we have been compiling but first there was the actual hit which started this whole mess err debate.

There are an extensive amount of tweets that we have been compiling but first there was what Brendan Shanahan had to say which I am sure might have fanned the flames on this story just a little bit. Here is a special hat tip to Puck Daddy for this.

“The commentators have too much of a fascination with ‘did you leave his feet?’ We don’t suspend for leaving your feet. We suspend for leaving your feet and hitting a guy in the head violently,” he said.

“It’s like a slashing minor, a slashing major and a slashing suspension. It’s the same thing as leaving your feet on a hit. When it rises to a suspension is when a player is in control of your hit; when we see a predatorial play and make significant contact with a player’s head.”

So then there is the fact that Alex Edler is receiving a hearing for a play that probably was less malicious to most on Friday evening. UPDATE (9pm ET Friday): Edler did receive a two game suspension (the same amount as Lupul). The video does show Nash pushing Kopecky down. No one can really say what the intent was. However, what is clear is that Rick Nash did not exactly make every effort to get out of the way. Funny, Edler may be suspended for that and Nash gets a pass (apples and oranges debate in this case).

We asked for a little commentary via Twitter as to what people thought of the hit, the backlash, etc. Then we also asked what Rick Nash was thinking. Here is a small sampling and then later in this piece, there will be more.

Rick Nash wasn’t punished for his headshot b/c Shanahan determined that playing your whole career for CBJ & NYR is already cruel and unusual

— NJallDay (@NJaD4) March 22, 2013

With Rick Nash not even getting a hearing for a blatant blindside headshot, I’m setting the over/under for Alex Edler’s suspension at 2 gms.

— Canucks Hockey Blog (@canuckshockey) March 22, 2013

Even more surprised he won’t be suspended. Love Nash, but it was a dangerous hit and he left his feet.

— Tony (@TheGr8Tony) March 22, 2013

Wow! Those are just three of many tweets that have come across our desk. The opinions run the gamut of course and then there is just the sheer outrage of some from Toronto. While it is of the wide opinion, Nash should have received something, but now did Joffrey Lupul go too far? Remember, Lupul received a two game ban for his hit on Victor Hedman the other night. The answer is probably no but…….

If someone can explain the decisions on what warrants a suspension and what doesn’t, please let me and the rest of guys know..

— Joffrey Lupul (@JLupul) March 22, 2013

Needless to say….stay tuned!

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The Funny Side Of Things

All in all, the rest of this is all humorous. The bottom line is yes there is outrage and some anger still but now it is done. When you look at why people do things, the myriad of reasons exists. First, the best response was from Litter Box Cats by a post named Mario. It is titled “The Most Interesting Slovak In The World”. Enjoy the link.

Again the question we have posed in some communities and throughout social media is “What Was Rick Nash thinking”? Then we went down to Florida and that is when the fun really began. The slew of comments we took in were something amazing and mind you this was all in just 20-30 minutes.

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The Best Of The Best

Attach his skates to his stick and swing it around like a War-Axe, lopping off heads left and right……..
But, Shanahan would probably still say point of contact wasn’t technically the “head”.

by BullyBeef on Mar 22, 2013

 

I thought we were doing pirouette practice, give me my space Kopy, the lead ice dancer always takes the center space.

Flash 20G, Mueller 20G and Weiss is a Panther 2013-2014 season.

by RPC on Mar 22, 2013 | 9:18 PM reply rec flag

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Then there was a little visual

That was just a snapshot. Think of all the material that was edited out for a second. Our photos err creations come from Josh Smith, who you may know here on The Hockey Writers rather well. Let’s take it away……..

Nash taking out the Koopa Trash!! (File Photo/Josh Smith)

All in all we have been promised more images and naturally if you ask for more, you shall receive. In this case, we have more from the Rick Nash Super Mario Brothers Collection. Here is image number two.

Rick Nash smashing a Koopa for the cash! (File Photo/Josh Smith)

Wow! Just when you think it could not get any better. Rick Nash drops a Koopa for some coins. Something tells me that Nash could probably beat this game in two to three minutes tops as he is that talented.  Do not worry, we have even more from the video game genre. This one may be really familiar too.

Nash takes down King Kopecky in the ring! (File Photo/Josh Smith)

At this point the mind is just blown. I had no idea Mike Tyson’s Punchout would be involved in all of this. Clearly Rick Nash has gone out of control. Will anyone stop him? Is there anyone that can? Finally, there was this…….

At this point I just drop the mic faster than Ali! (File Photo/Josh Smith)

Okay that is it! Rick Nash drops Ali? This clearly has gone too far. Clearly Kopecky was not enough for the Rangers forward. Is there anything he won’t do now? Anything at all?

It’s the Nash Splash! (File Photo/Josh Smith)

I stand corrected! Ladies and gentlemen I am done here. Rick Nash clearly was thinking so many different things when he hit Tomas Kopecky. Thank you again and who knows when we will ask what the hockey player was thinking when he hit that player. Stay tuned! That is all for now.

 

Author information

Chris Wassel

Senior Fantasy Hockey Writer at The Hockey Writers

Simply a hockey and fantasy hockey writer who shoots straight from the hip. We will shout it down from the mountain tops if necessary. No question is too big or too small and in fantasy hockey there is no such thing as a stupid question. Now a proud, accredited member of the FSWA. You can find me on Twitter at @ChrisWasselTHW

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This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.