Monday afternoon notes: Dave Scatchard retires due to concussions

by Dirk Hoag on Aug 22, 2011 4:01 PM EDT in Nashville Predators News

It looks like the hockey world decided to hit this week running - for this afternoon's notes, we've got more previews for the upcoming season, a former Predator hangs up his skates while another takes up ice dancing, a major development takes place in the sports blogging world, and we also take a look at some new, blindingly-awful jerseys hitting the NHL this fall...

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Around the NHL

Twitter / @DaveScatchard: After a long week of tests ...
Former Nashville Predators Dave Scatchard retires from pro hockey, due to concussions sustained over the course of his 14-year career.

Dear CBC: Please rename skating show as ‘Battle Of The Belak’ - Puck Daddy
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Pass or Fail: New York Islanders third jersey for 2011-12 - Puck Daddy
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Bigger better for NHL rinks - Toronto Sun
I don't think enlarging existing rinks is a feasible idea, but I'd love to see the NHL allow new rinks to go anywhere from the existing standard up to the Olympic one, at their discretion. A little bit of individual character from arena to arena can add flavor to the game.

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And lastly... how about a candy bar?

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Comments

I was going to ask why I can’t remember Scatchard at all, but looked at his NHL page and see that he’s been in Milwaukee. Weird to see the picture above, though, as I don’t remember him playing at all.

by LuvthePreds on Aug 22, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

he was St. Louis picked him up at some point last season but he was sent down by them as well. I actually saw Scatch playing for their AHL affiliate in Houston last season. I thought Scatch was a pred-type player but we’ve got plenty of guys like him already and Trotzy didn’t like him enough to keep him around I think.

by Tim P on Aug 22, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

not sure what that first sentence is…but you get the point.

by Tim P on Aug 22, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Scatchard had a few memorable moments for me.

1) He was in the penalty box for the debut of the green idiots from Vancouver. He covers up the camera so the rioters…er…I mean…fans can’t enjoy the show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-SrXKlHZFo

2) He had a nice “goal followed by immediate fight” moment in a game against the Blues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv_ligiD404&feature=player_embedded

by Frattaway on Aug 23, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

good links - thanks

Scatchard has the “A” on his sweater in the first clip?!? How can I not remember someone who wore the A?

by LuvthePreds on Aug 23, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Uh, that’s Shea guys.

by DonBorvio on Aug 23, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow. I didn’t even look at the face or number…

by LuvthePreds on Aug 23, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Seems we’re losing a lot of players in the NHL to early retirement and worse things this summer. :(

by DonBorvio on Aug 22, 2011 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

worse things…. like going to the Leafs?

60% of the time it works every time

by Creeping Death on Aug 22, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The worst thing.

Gonna miss you Joel Ward...

Go Predmirals!

by Poiju on Aug 22, 2011 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Different sized rinks a neat idea, but.......

I’d rather not see that happen. Different dimensions work in baseball ballparks, but there’s to much of a home ice advantage if you do that in hockey rinks.

Speaking of players who I simply can’t remember playing for the Preds. I was looking at our 07/08 roster over at hockeydb.com (love that site) and saw a guy named Josh Langfeld had played a handful of games with us, including one playoff game. Must not have been a very memorable performance, LOL!

Shadows only exist when something of substance appears first.......

by Grizzledbear on Aug 22, 2011 6:05 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

The NHL used to be that way

Boston Garden and Chicago Stadium, in particular, were some of the ones which had smaller dimensions.

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by Dirk Hoag on Aug 22, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember them well, the Aud in Buffalo was a smaller rink too. Glad they lost that home ice advantage. :)

Shadows only exist when something of substance appears first.......

by Grizzledbear on Aug 22, 2011 6:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I actually liked that about the old.NHL. When you went into Boston, you had to prepare for the tight quarters. And the Bruins’ style fit their rink. Probably not fair. But its one of the things I miss (same category as fighting when it goes away … a little of the past now lost).

by el pucko on Aug 22, 2011 8:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Seems like teams with larger rinks would wear out faster since they have to skate more over the course of the season, thus putting them at a disadvantage. The difference might be negligible though.

by Lil cutie on Aug 23, 2011 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Skating more=advantage

Surely you’ve seen “Miracle” Bag skates and on-ice suicide drills are what makes a team tougher and have more endurance. The more you skate, the longer you can outlast the guys who only skate shorter distances.

by HardCorePredFan316 on Aug 23, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions