Not Yet Time To Move On

There's little that bothers me in this world more than someone telling me to move on. When it comes three exchanges into an important argument

I think the rest of the fans in the NHL, those in Boston, the people who lead the NHL and many of the mainstream media are feeling like the time for complaining is done. The time to watch the race to the playoffs is back.

I can understand this stance from outsiders. They did not watch the Pacioretty hit live, they did not sit there for 10 minutes shaking with genuine fear for a player's life..

There are many reasons things don't change in this world, but one of the main reasons is apathy.

I would bet that 90% of the people who support other teams would prefer to watch hockey without having to worry about one of their players being knocked out cold, paralysed or possibly even dying in the process of vying for two points and an early playoff exit.

Yet most of those people have already moved on to more important concerns like how many points they'll get in their hockey pool from the Panthers:Senators game. Some Montreal media seemed to want to move on to Thursday fretting about lines and production (hugely disappointing). Most disappointing of all, the league (b)leaders are saying the same through their store-bought statements.


When Mike Richards laid his dirty hits, things should have changed. When Patrice Bergeron was savagely checked into the boards, things should have changed. When Matt Cooke made Savard a non-hockey player, things should have changed. Back then Montreal was in the distracted, apathetic masses.

But the things this incident has that the others didn't is the momentum of a city worth of fans - the second hockey-crazed city of the NHL. Fans who happen to sponsor and support the league. This might just for the first time be a critical mass to effect some change. Change that will be better for the players who can play (sorry Trevor Gillies), better for the fans who want their children to watch with them.

All that to say it's not time to move on. It's time to keep up the discourse and to keep the momentum.

The NHL general manager meetings are a week away. It's not too long to hold on. If it has any effect on the rules that protect players and a game from descending further into a violent abyss then it will be worthwhile.

On that note, I encourage you to read a blog that gets the pulse of this thing and tell those that are wimping out that they're wimping out (no need to name names, you'll know who they are).

And while you're about it, press play on this: