Morals? No Thank You, my name is Loob

Håkan Loob and Färjestad BK has once again shown their true face. And it's ugly! One year ago, their goalkeeper, Jonas 'the Monster' Gustavsson was being scouted by various NHL clubs during the play-offs in Elitserien. A furious Håkan Loob went to the media and complained about the distraction caused by the scouts. He called for tighter regulation in terms of North American teams scouting and approaching European players.

This is fair enough and I agree with him for once. There should be stricter regulations that state a club can only approach a player through his contracted club - not talk to him behind their back or  without their approval until the contract is up. This is in place in other sports such as football and even though it is not  in any way a guarantee it will not happen anyway, several big clubs have been convicted for illegal approaches and fined. substantial sums At least they have restrictions in place and they are being enforced.

It looks and behaves like a Penis... but it's got ears...???

Loob apparently forgot to call for similar regulations to be implemented within Sweden, for Swedish clubs approaching players. How odd! No, not really... You might understand better why if I tell you that they at the same time had come/were coming to a verbal agreement with Timrå IK center Johan Andersson although still under contract at Timrå.

Färjestad is the richest club in Sweden and they get whoever whenever they want. And rules are usually just in the way for rich spoilt brats. As they, together with the other Elitserien clubs, decide the rules through Hockeyligan who tells a very weak Swedish Hockey Association what to do, I doubt we'll see any rules like those mentioned implemented.

No too surprisingly, the two faced gutter-spunk from Värmland is now at it again. Leksand's goaltender Joacim Eriksson has been approached by FBK. That it might cause a distraction with the decisive part of the season coming up, is obviously not a problem. At least not for Färjestad. But surely Loob, just back from reporting on what is best for the future of Swedish ice hockey, now has the interest of Swedish hockey at heart and would call for stricter regulations. In fact, I bet you he's on the phone to all the major sports editors as I type this. I'll be waiting in anticipation for tomorrow's papers...