The 2014 Suspension Thread

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

I'd say a 5 minute major is sufficient for that.

[Chadd 916]

it was a stupid and dangerous play, no doubt about it. As for not being a suspension, I can see why they decided that way. 1. There didn't appear to be a significant injury, 2. It was not a big hit, more of a shove in the lower back. I'm not saying that I agree with the league, but I can see why they would let this one go. At full speed it is really ugly. When you slow it down, you lose that violence and you can see it was not one of the more typical attempts to put someone through the boards.

[215BroadStBullies610 434]

I agree with the lack of suspension. I do wonder if there was a different name on the sweater, e. g. our very own Zac Rinaldo, would a suspension been handed out.

[chippa13 1844]

I think the name does make a difference. So far, we have seen that MacKinnon isn't out there trying to take any heads off, not sure we can say the same for Rinaldo.

[Chadd 916]

The name absolutely has an impact, at least in regards to players having a history of attempts to injure opponents.

[215BroadStBullies610 434]

Good points. Regardless, I think both the officials and the NHL got it right.

[grnmtnvt 18]

Yup, I think it would have been an easy stand for the NHL to take in suspending a budding star for a hit that does look marginal at face value. But, it's true, when you slow it down, the viciousness of the hit is taken away and you see a more normal hockey play (trying to bump someone off-balance when they chance direction to nudge them off the puck) that has gone bad. No doubt MacKinnon gets the benefit of the doubt on intent here.

[IPv6Freely 2083]

I imagine Ovechkin will be hearing from the league after the blindside hit to the head of Komorov.

[Chadd 916]

Looked like a shoulder to shoulder hit to me, the HNIC guys were way over the top about it. It was a dirty play but nothing that warrants a suspension.

[grnmtnvt 18]

Komorov sold that well. Shoulder-shoulder contact, no question.

[bigdmac 12]

Anything for Bortuzzo on Jagr? Big hit for sure, but tough to see from the angles given what happened.

[Buzz_LightBeer 962]

I hope not. A penalty should suffice. It was iffy-late but clean imo

[Larry54 243]

Anything for Bortuzzo on Jagr? Big hit for sure, but tough to see from the angles given what happened.

This video might show the hit a bit better. It looks like Bortuzzo moves a bit upward before making contact so his shoulder can hit Jagr's head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCJqUxXhpk

[Chadd 916]

Late, high and he came a long way to make the hit and that appeared to target the head. It should be a suspension and he does have a hearing.

[iceman8310 103]

Penguins' Bortuzzo suspended two games

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=742229&navid=nhl:topheads

[Chadd 916]

I can understand why Penguins fans would be upset, hits that late are rarely called for penalties, let alone suspensions. They should be, but they are not. There were at least a dozen hits later than that one in the Hawks and Blues game tonight.

[IPv6Freely 2083]

Hopefully Seidenberg will be sitting for a few. What a dirty hit.

And to top it off, Julien goes and says something as dumb as suggesting it was Toews fault. Come on man, have a bit of class.

[Chadd 916]

Hopefully Seidenberg will be sitting for a few. What a dirty hit.

And to top it off, Julien goes and says something as dumb as suggesting it was Toews fault. Come on man, have a bit of class.

The league really needs to stop the use of the legs to make contact when checking near the boards. When a player is taken off their center of gravity from behind like that, there is nothing they can do to defend themselves. It's the same thing that caused Cooke to cut Karlsson.

[chippa13 1844]

Hopefully Seidenberg will be sitting for a few. What a dirty hit.

And to top it off, Julien goes and says something as dumb as suggesting it was Toews fault. Come on man, have a bit of class.

I doubt Seidenberg will miss any time. He has a clean record and, right or wrong, similar plays as that have not been acted on by the league this year.

As for Julien's comments, it is extremely rare for coaches not to defend their players in these situations and that is part of the problem with why dangerous hits still occur.

[Stewie 721]

Seidenberg could get a game or two because it is toews, but I don't think there is any intent nor a dirty play, its just simply one he played wrong. He has to see that Toews is going to play the puck and alter the way he approaches that situation.

[wrangler 157]

Yahoo Sports reports that there will be no hearing for Seidenberg.

It looked like a careless hit to me, pushing Toews above his center of gravity, close to and towards the boards, guaranteeing that his head would go down and lead in any contact with the boards.

[chippa13 1844]

John Scott suspended (again) for 4 games for punching an unsuspecting opponent and causing injury. How this guy is still in the league is beyond me.

[Chadd 916]

John Scott suspended (again) for 4 games for punching an unsuspecting opponent and causing injury. How this guy is still in the league is beyond me.

Because teams pay him to do exactly what he does. There is also no penalty to the team when he crosses the line, so there is no disincentive to having a guy like that on the roster.

[iceman8310 103]

John Scott suspended (again) for 4 games for punching an unsuspecting opponent and causing injury. How this guy is still in the league is beyond me.

that was more of a flop as well. Scott barely touched him

[grnmtnvt 18]

Agreed. He sold that quite well.

that was more of a flop as well. Scott barely touched him