Tough Call
52 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Discussing questionable hits and controversial calls around the NHL.
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Episodes
Angling Works!
September 30, 2022 19:03 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBTough Call Podcast is back four a fourth season! Get caught up on the latest NHL hits and suspensions through the first week of the pre-season. What’s the deal with all the open ice hitting? Is it here to stay??? And why are forecheckers so surprised when defenders “turn their back” when they’re the ones who forced them into doing it? Why are we so surprised when angling works?
Call the Rulebook
March 30, 2022 10:14 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBThe Markstrom spear, the Cogliano knee. And what would happen if we called the NHL rulebook to the standard to which it’s written?
The Auston Matthews Episode
March 17, 2022 02:14 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBThis is an 18 minute rant on all that’s wrong with the NHL and the fans who won’t allow it to be fixed. My apologies. 😬
Exploding Hittens
February 16, 2022 17:01 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBThe theme is exploding into contact and maybe not doing it. The Zadorov check to Kase, the Dunn slash on Zegras, the Brad Marchand suspension, and more! Plus the trivia: last week’s answer and this week’s question. Subscribe to the Tough Call YouTube channel, and to this podcast!
A Boarding by any other name…
February 08, 2022 15:17 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBThe Myers boarding to Lewis, the Gourde boarding to Vaakanainen, and why basing suspension length on injury is a bad idea. My usual segments and as always I end off with some trivia.
Hit me With Your Best (Head) Shot
January 21, 2022 14:30 - 20 minutes - 19.3 MBThe Greenway interference on Kuemper, the Drouin crosscheck to Seguin, and what’s my motivation for doing Tough Call? As always, fun trivia at the end.
To Hit or Not To Hit?
January 14, 2022 18:40 - 19 minutes - 18 MBThis covers NHL incidents from the week of January 2nd - 8th, 2022.
Danbury Trashers - A Mockery of the Game?
September 19, 2021 11:01 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBI’m back for a third season! This tells you everything you should expect to get out of this podcast when you follow me this year (and you absolutely should). Plus, why is there such a difference between hockey player personas on the ice vs off the ice? And finally, a little bit of trivia to end off!
If you think that’s hockey you need some help
June 10, 2021 15:44 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBWhat is a hockey play? Keeping things within the context of the game. Also, what do we do wrong when comparing incidents? Who’s dirtier? Reaves or Wilson? Find out here!
Reaves and Kadri: A Tale of Two Repeat Offenders
June 01, 2021 22:40 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBRyan Reaves of the Vegas Golden Knights was issued a 2 game suspension for his actions against Ryan Graves of the Colorado Avalanche in game 1 of their second round series. This is the last straw for many in a years long chain of poor decisions from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. It’s time for real change.
Dmitry and Perry and Petry, Oh My!
May 30, 2021 22:51 - 17 minutes - 16.6 MBWhy did Nick Foligno fight Corey Perry after the Tavares injury? Why did Dmitry Orlov have his major penalty against Kevan Miller reduced to a roughing minor? How did Jeff Petry avoid any discipline at all from both the on ice officials and the Department of Player Safety for his blindside hit to Alex Galchenyuk in overtime of Game Six? Also, subscribe to the new Tough Call YouTube channel for all my suspension recommendations, and follow both @ToughCallBlog and my companion account @NhlCal...
Playoffs, Baby!
May 20, 2021 16:31 - 11 minutes - 11.1 MBThe Kadri incident. Brad Marchand and his after the whistle antics. And how to keep the right kind of physicality in hockey.
The Tough Call System - What’s It About?
May 11, 2021 18:28 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBIn this show I explain my suspension scale in a little more depth and how I apply it. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and see how it plays out with real incidents. Plus, Brayden McNabb has a habit, but is it good or bad?
Wilson on Panarin - What is the DOPS Thinking?
May 04, 2021 17:17 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBWhy Tom Wilson SHOULD be treated differently.
Edler Fights Simmonds: The Price of The Code
April 30, 2021 18:04 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBWhy did Edler have to fight Simmonds? Also, can Matthew Tkachuk throw a normal check? And Tough Call is now on YouTube! Listen to find out more.
What is Playoff Hockey?
April 23, 2021 22:02 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBWas the McDavid hit on Byron really a dirty elbow? And what do people mean when they talk about “playoff” hockey? Find out here!
Tim Peel - The Bigger Issue
March 26, 2021 12:51 - 32 minutes - 30.3 MBWould a crackdown on dangerous incidents really change the fabric of the NHL game? And if so, is that a bad thing? Looking at NHL discipline practices and seeing if there might be a better path to consistency.
Tanev’s Major Mistake
March 18, 2021 00:19 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBBrandon Tanev was ejected for his hit on Jarred Tinordi in a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. What makes this hit stand out from the rest?
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Tom Wilson?
March 07, 2021 20:34 - 19 minutes - 18.5 MBThe Tom Wilson hit on Brandon Carlo. A look at that incident, explaining Wilson’s disciplinary history, and how I would get Wilson where he needs to be moving forward.
Repeat Behaviors - Enforcement Over Positive Reinforcement
February 26, 2021 18:15 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBWhy is crosschecking still prevalent in the NHL and why is it so accepted? What’s with all the slew-foots these days? The Wilson hit on Jankowski, goaltender interference, and incosistency.
Larsson Suspension All For Show
February 17, 2021 00:18 - 8 minutes - 8.28 MBWhy do head shots continue to run rampant in the NHL? Because they only punish just enough to say they’re doing “something”. See why the Larsson suspension is a token gesture that won’t help the problem at hand.
Losing the Battle to Win the War
February 14, 2021 01:04 - 39 minutes - 36.9 MBWhy do I think some checks are dirty and some that look awfully similar are clean? Also the importance of players accepting when they’ve been beaten.
Hate, Anger, and NHL Hockey
February 02, 2021 16:48 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBIs the NHL right to focus on the entertainment more than the hockey when it comes to the safety of its most valuable assets: the players? Also the Dube hit on Kotkaniemi.
Policing the Game
January 27, 2021 17:21 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBWhy are NHL players forced to take matters into their own hands so often? What makes a hit legal? Who should have to be held accountable and what is “the Code”?
Turning a Blind Eye to Blindside Hits
January 22, 2021 14:17 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBTyler Myers received a match penalty for his hit to Joel Armia, but will the NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspend? Why they should and how blindside hits should be dealt with moving forward.
Getting a Leg Up
January 20, 2021 16:06 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBRecapping the week of January 11-17, 2020. How to deal with the recent trend of leg trips, the continued fight against crosschecking, and is it time to make a rule change for powerplays interrupted by the end of a period?
NHL Fighting - Pros and Cons
January 15, 2021 20:43 - 21 minutes - 20.3 MBWayne Simmonds fought Ben Chiarot on opening night and it was everything a hockey fight should be. The question is, should hockey fighting be at all?
Season Two Is Here! Why You Should Listen
January 12, 2021 22:28 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBWho is Josh, the man behind Tough Call anyway? What’s his point? Also, why the head contact penalty does more harm than good, how can I get mentioned on the Podcast? Find it all here. Let’s go!
World Junior Bonus Episode
December 29, 2020 19:17 - 20 minutes - 19 MBRunning up the score, and the Schneider and Wimmer suspensions.
Big Benn Strikes
September 26, 2020 23:46 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBThe Benn OT penalty, the Perry “spear”, and the Point embellishment. Also, are that Dallas Stars being unfairly targeted by the officials? Find out here!
The Final Countdown
September 26, 2020 03:39 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBAll the hits and incidents from Games 1-3 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Benn, Pavelski, Paquette...who deserves the benefit of the doubt?
Slashes and Crosschecks and Boards, Oh My!
September 12, 2020 22:10 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBThe Killorn suspension, the Goodrow Crosscheck, and what was Kucherov thinking with his slash on Pageau??
Predatory: Hit Seekers
September 05, 2020 22:37 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBReaves hit on Motte, Pelech hit on Farabee, Perry butt-ending, and what it means to be “predatory”.
Why “He Turned His Back” is a Strawman Argument
September 01, 2020 22:52 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBIf anyone ever blames the victim in a hockey boarding incident, point them here.
A Tale of Two Boardings
August 30, 2020 19:02 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBThe Ritchie and Paquette boardings, why is it bad to launch? (and why do I even have to answer that), and more!
Inconsistency Killed the Cat
August 21, 2020 01:21 - 25 minutes - 24 MBThe Kotkaniemi boarding major, the Niskanen, Myers, and Kucherov crosschecks, and the Couturier grease move after Montreal’s empty net goal.
Dear NHL...You Have A Boarding Problem
August 19, 2020 23:17 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBAn in depth look at how the NHL prioritizes hitting over safety, and the Fentenberg, Foligno, Dubois, Eckman-Larsson, and Tom Wilson boardings in Round 2 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After Review we have a good...Podcast!
August 18, 2020 01:50 - 21 minutes - 20 MBTalking about the goal video review process, Tom Wilson doing some elbowing, and why is spearing called slashing so much?
The Svechnikov Incident
August 16, 2020 17:42 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBThe Svechnikov Injury, is Chara to blame? Tuukka Rask exits the bubble, and how are rhe officials doing in the Tampa/Columbus series? All this and more.
Board, Spear, Repeat.
August 16, 2020 13:03 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBThe Zadarov and Wilson elbows. The Sammy Blais boarding, and how those who fail to learn from the lessons of player safety history are doomed to repeat them.
I’m Tired of Being Right...FIX IT!
August 14, 2020 12:50 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBBenn on Tkachuk, Lucic on Klingberg, and how can playOFF records be broken during a play-IN round?
Bullying Wins NHL Championships
August 14, 2020 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBWhat I think of Perron “shadowing” Petterson, was the Anders Lee hit on Backstrom predatory? Glove pass, goalie possession, goal....how does that happen? And when is it a good idea to run your own goalie. Find out here!
Hedman NOT guilty!
August 12, 2020 21:35 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBShould Cam Atkinson have been given a penalty shot in overtime number 5?? Plus my proposed power play rule change and what’s a player got to do to get a boarding or crosschecking suspension around here?
Don’t Blow Up The Leafs!!!!!
August 10, 2020 23:37 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBWhat just happened in Toronto??? Why couldn’t they even make the playoffs this year? Plus, boarding continues to plague the NHL Playoffs...
It Was A Trip!
August 08, 2020 14:15 - 11 minutes - 11 MBThe Foligno trip, the Goodrow head shot, and all the elimination drama.
What’s With All The Boarding?
August 07, 2020 21:47 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBWilson boards Provorov, and why was Ennis’s controversial injury not penalized but Yamamoto’s hit was? Why do players hit from behind? Find out here!
Body Count: The NHL is Losing Control of the Playoffs
August 06, 2020 11:44 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBThe Smith on Garland hit, Muzzin, Cross Checking, and the NHL’s unhealthy obsession with hitting.
The Playoffs are Here!!!
August 04, 2020 19:33 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBCagguila suspended? Chiarot’s cross check on Crosby, THE hit on Boychuk, and did Tkachuk try to injure Scheifele on purpose? This and more...
NHL Exhibition Played for Keeps
August 03, 2020 17:20 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBThe most controversial hits of the NHL’s return to play exhibition 2020 including Reaves on Schmaltz and Dickinson on Fabbro, and how does the NHL decide suspension length in the playoffs anyway? How many regular season games is a playoff suspension worth? Oh, and follow me on Twitter. @ToughCallBlog. Thanks!
Introduction - What is Tough Call all about?
August 02, 2020 16:31 - 6 minutes - 6.24 MBWhat I do and why I do it, and how you can help and be part of the fun!