The Avalanche have been so bad for so long, we almost forgot what brutal homers their broadcasters are. Play-by-play man Mike Haynes was there to remind us last night, taking an uncomfortable amount of joy from an ugly injury to Detroit's Niklas Kronwall.


Kronwall was smashed into the boards by Cody McLeod and was in obvious distress. Just as the camera focused on the supine Kronwall, who would later be diagnosed with a concussion and ruled out indefinitely, Haynes said, "you talk about getting a little of your own medicine. Kronwall made a living in this league with big hits and he just got crushed there by Cody McLeod."

Though Kronwall is known for his hits to the point where they're named after him, he's never been suspended and almost no one considers him a dirty player. This was a really bad look for Haynes, just two days after Dan Boyle was hospitalized after a similar hit. (Avs color man Peter McNab quickly brought up Boyle, and rightly pointed out that McLeod's hit was illegal. McLeod was given a game misconduct, and will likely receive a suspension.)


Detroit handed Colorado its first loss of the season, but it's nice to have the Avalanche back in our lives. Where else would you see a beat writer challenging a fan by asking if he's ever played the game?