Quote:
Originally Posted by MR_BIGGS
(Post 8345927)
But in all seriousness, what are you even watching? The NHL made rules changes to address these types of hits specifically. Principal point of contact is the head. He's going to be suspended. Although he's never been suspended, I think he'll get north of 7.
I'll give you the fact that taking a closer look at the video it's not clear whether the hit was actually late nor was it really an elbow, but definitely it was an illegal check to the head. The type of hit that the league absolutely wants to abolish.
| Hey I'm not saying it was a clean hit or that it was a legal hit to the head. But given those circumstances, what could Scott have realistically done to avoid the illegal check to the head? The way I see it, he would have not had to line the hit up at all, but its not illegal to lineup a hit.
The NHL changed the rules to address headshots, like Matt Cooke on Marc Savard, IMO these are the intentional headshots which have no place. Head as principle point of contact doesn't really mean a whole lot; initial point of contact? Intended point of contact? When a guy has half a foot and 60lbs on another player, there's not really a way to deliver a shoulder hit and not make head contact (see Edler on Hertl also). I don't know why I'm defending Scott because I really don't care about him, but to eliminate 'this type of hit', would have required Scott not to line him up in the first place and deliver what should have been a routine and clean hockey hit had Erikkson carried the puck like what Scott probably thought he was going to do.
I don't doubt Scott will get a stiff suspension, but it won't be because of the visciousness of his 'headshot'. Shanaban has a plug he can use to throw the book at to show the world he's got balls. Because based on the precident he's set, oh wait, he's set no precident with his inconsistent suspensions. Just ask yourself if a legit star player makes that same hit, would he get the same suspension Scott would get? Quote:
Originally Posted by Ch28
(Post 8346168)
That's why you make any headshot a mandatory 10 game suspension. Doesn't matter whether intent is there or not. I guarantee you that headshots would be a thing of the past if that rule came into play.
I just don't understand why its so hard for the NHL to understand.
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| Because the NHL isn't willing to suspend its star players on the same scale as its plugs, because they rely on them so heavily to sell the game. But I agree this is the only way to get guys to think twice before lining up a hit, and thinking whether it could potentially become an accidental headshot. But then you'll have guys leading with their heads (which already happens) similar to how they turn into the boards and cause a hit from behind to draw a penalty/suspension. Quote:
Originally Posted by van19
(Post 8346187)
| Once again I don't know why I'm defending the guy, but that's like looking at Kassian's follow through on Gagner then saying that Kass was intentionally trying to slash Gagner's face off. | 