NHL Quotes of the Week: December 9, 2007

Smart hockey and hard-hitting journalism. Could you ask for more of a winning combination? Why, it’s the essence of the latest NHL Quotes of the Week.

“Not long ago, taking an aspirin was the medical solution for a concussion.” — Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock on today’s increased awareness about this serious hockey health issue. (Not long ago, Hitchcock worked for the Philadelphia Flyers.)

“Non-smart people frustrate Brett [Hull], because he sees the game at a different level.” — Hitchcock on his former Dallas sniper, who won a Cup as a player under Hitchcock in 1999 and now serves as the Stars co-GM with Les Jackson. (Indeed, Hull used to scream at Hitchcock: “You’re the non-smartest coach I’ve ever had!”)

“At the end of the day, the sun’s going to come up.” — Anaheim Ducks goalie J-S Giguere on staying positive after a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. (And with the power of positive thinking, you can accomplish anything.)

“When we say, ‘Go get him,’ we never look to actually hurt somebody.” — Former Detroit Red Wings star Ted Lindsay on how talk about “paying the price” could be misunderstood outside NHL circles. (Lindsay, 82, then exploded: “But that doesn’t apply if we’re talking about that dirty, rotten, no-good Maurice Richard!”)

“Being Canadian, you want to play for Team Canada. With the talent that Canada has, they always have a chance to win. It would be nice to be part of that.” — Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins on participating in the 2010 Olympics. (Crosby’s daring announcement shocked international hockey pundits, who had expected him to suit up for Slovenia.)

“I have a lot of interests other than hockey. People [in Toronto] are talking about hockey 24 hours a day.” — Sean Avery of the New York Rangers on one of his frustrations with his hometown in the wake of the November 10 pre-game controversy involving him and Toronto’s Jason Blake and Darcy Tucker. (Still unconfirmed are reports that the NHL’s most-hated player will change his name to “Sean da Vinci.”)

“Daniel and Henrik have probably played together their whole life. They are nifty. They really have great feel for each other.” — Nashville Predators goalie Dan Ellis after the Sedins stung him on two goals in a 5-2 Vancouver Canucks win on December 6. (Ellis changed “probably” to “definitely” after being shown Mrs. Sedin’s ultrasound photos.)

“I start thinking about what I’m going to wear the next morning. I get the suit or jacket that I’m going to wear and I hang it up in my bedroom. Before I go to bed, I put different ties with it. So, I’m thinking about that suit all week.” — Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry on picking out his wardrobe for his Coach’s Corner segment. (Questioned about the psychological dimensions of this practice, Cherry barked: “Fetishism? That Russian? Wendel beat the snot out of him!”)

“We got suspensions for laying people low, not head shots. Bullies? People forget, every night was a 20-minute brawl and 3.5-hour game because of the fights. Under today’s rules, every hit from our era would be a two-minute or five-minute penalty.” — Former Philadelphia Flyers goon Bob “Hound Dog” Kelly on the difference between the 1970’s Broad Street Bullies and the roster that’s accumulated five suspensions for dirty hits this year. (Kelly added that if any of today’s so-called tough guys want to go, they know where to find him, Moose Dupont, Don Saleski, and Dave Schultz.)

“Dion [Phaneuf] doesn’t know any name plates, he just knows sweater colours. And that’s the great thing about his game.” — Calgary Flames coach Mike Keenan on the physical approach Dion Phaneuf takes with opposing forwards. (Before games, Phaneuf psychs up with Celine Dion’s “The Colour Of My Love.”)