only thing you could potentially get him on would be charging and even that would be a stretch
- Sheppy99

Looked like 3 steps. What's the rule? More than 3?

If the players have no respect for each other, quit whining about it! It's up to them.

This hit is no different than when Kronwall level'd Ryan Kesler. Look at the video, just because he left his feet doesn't mean it was a back check. Kesler put himself in a vulnerable position and he got rocked, that's HOCKEY!!!!

Is Nick Kronwall out of control???



He also left his feet, however slightly on this hit on Clowe...again...is he outta control.

too many bleeding hearts out there.... Legal.... elbow down, puck in play.

You could give him 2 if you thought he began leaving his feet before contact, but it looked clean to me. Hitting is part of the game, and players can't put themselves in vulnerable positions hoping other players let up.
- ky678468

I will skip the rest of the posts that say a version of keep your head up as they are tired and stale at this point.

I get your point, but how exactly was Josi supposed to avoid being a vulernable position there? He just got rid of the puck, Weber was obstructing his view at least partially, and there was nowhere else to go. That's not including the 2-3 strides that that Downie took to gather a head of steam before delivering the blow. Downie saw a golden chance to take advantage of a prone player and make a predatory hit, simple as that.

The hit looked way worse than it actually was.

This hit is no different than when Kronwall level'd Ryan Kesler. Look at the video, just because he left his feet doesn't mean it was a back check. Kesler put himself in a vulnerable position and he got rocked, that's HOCKEY!!!!

Is Nick Kronwall out of control???



He also left his feet, however slightly on this hit on Clowe...again...is he outta control.


- LeftCoaster

Your right lefty but he will get suspended because of his rep. Same as guys like Torres. They make a great hit and the league is all over them because of past incidents. Its not about right or wrong its about Shanahans Ego.

Looked like 3 steps. What's the rule? More than 3?
- weirdoh

With the way the league is going, the rule is 8 steps I believe.
Kidding.

It would be much more difficult for these kinds of hits to take place if the speed of the game was faster, like it should be, and like it was a few years ago.

Downie has been out of control for years.

Good hit. The end.

Wow,
Cool hit !
That's for plays like that that 90% of viewers watch hockey !!

Meh, legal hit, not even a charging penalty. Keep your head up

This hit is no different than when Kronwall level'd Ryan Kesler. Look at the video, just because he left his feet doesn't mean it was a back check. Kesler put himself in a vulnerable position and he got rocked, that's HOCKEY!!!!

Is Nick Kronwall out of control???



He also left his feet, however slightly on this hit on Clowe...again...is he outta control.


- LeftCoaster

Hit on Clowe looked like 100% legal check. Kronwall definitely left his feet to hit Kesler. Downie hit is fine with me.

Lifetime ban. It's the only way to get this crap out of the game. Also, drop the instigator rule so someone can show these pussies what being a real man is all about when they pull this poop.

Let's just get rid of body checking if this hit is illegal. We should also play with plastic sticks and a nerf puck as well. Perhaps a rubber surface as well so that nobody gets hurt if they fall down too.

legal hit but looked a little too much like superman for him not to get at least a game or 2 for that

Great pic.
- tomburton99

If he didn't leave his feet, then how does he get catch air at the goal line where he made the hit, flying over top of Josi and landing by the "E" in GEICO? That's about a seven foot spanse made after the hit "without leaving his feet".

Ya know, the whole purpose of hitting another player in hockey is to separate him from the puck. If you do this enough over the course of a game, it will wear a guy down. A hit like this when put in perspective is obviously something other than separating the man from the puck.

Some non-fans criticize hockey because of the violence and rightfully so. Guys are dying from repeated hits to the head. It's scientifically proven. Gratuitous hits is the reason why fighting exists. Take out gratuitous hits and you take out fighting. For the fans who love hockey for the hitting and fighting, the game can survive without you. A true hockey fan is a competent one who appreciates the beauty of the game and can enjoy it even without big hits and fighting.

Our society needs to rethink the lack of respect our bodies and physical brains.

Clean hit - feet left ice after contact. Led with shoulder on shoulder. Did not take more than 3 full strides into hit.
- Pixote Andolini

Agree on all points.

That being said, Downie doesn't appear to care about injuring another player. Knocking a guy off the puck is the objective, not injuring him.

Clean hit, nbd. Its hockey people. It is unfortunate that Josi was injured as he is a very good player but to try and call this hit dirty is a tad silly.

Keep in mind these things are called at "the speed of the game" and its hockey. People will get checked.

NBD really and best wishes to Josi on a fast recovery.

Let's just get rid of body checking if this hit is illegal. We should also play with plastic sticks and a nerf puck as well. Perhaps a rubber surface as well so that nobody gets hurt if they fall down too.
- RealityChecker

sarcastipuck?

If he didn't leave his feet, then how does he get catch air at the goal line where he made the hit, flying over top of Josi and landing by the "E" in GEICO? That's about a seven foot spanse made after the hit "without leaving his feet".

Ya know, the whole purpose of hitting another player in hockey is to separate him from the puck. If you do this enough over the course of a game, it will wear a guy down. A hit like this when put in perspective is obviously something other than separating the man from the puck.

Some non-fans criticize hockey because of the violence and rightfully so. Guys are dying from repeated hits to the head. It's scientifically proven. Gratuitous hits is the reason why fighting exists. Take out gratuitous hits and you take out fighting. For the fans who love hockey for the hitting and fighting, the game can survive without you. A true hockey fan is a competent one who appreciates the beauty of the game and can enjoy it even without big hits and fighting.

Our society needs to rethink the lack of respect our bodies and physical brains.
- TerryB

The picture shows that at the point of contact Downie's feet were on the ice. Pictures proves that. NHL allows the feet to leave the ice after the principle point of contact is established.

And it's certainly no worse than this......

Agree on all points.

That being said, Downie doesn't appear to care about injuring another player. Knocking a guy off the puck is the objective, not injuring him.
- PeterThePuck

There is really no solid basis for this claim.

sarcastipuck?
- Cherry--Skoal

If he didn't leave his feet, then how does he get catch air at the goal line where he made the hit, flying over top of Josi and landing by the "E" in GEICO? That's about a seven foot spanse made after the hit "without leaving his feet".

Ya know, the whole purpose of hitting another player in hockey is to separate him from the puck. If you do this enough over the course of a game, it will wear a guy down. A hit like this when put in perspective is obviously something other than separating the man from the puck.

Some non-fans criticize hockey because of the violence and rightfully so. Guys are dying from repeated hits to the head. It's scientifically proven. Gratuitous hits is the reason why fighting exists. Take out gratuitous hits and you take out fighting. For the fans who love hockey for the hitting and fighting, the game can survive without you. A true hockey fan is a competent one who appreciates the beauty of the game and can enjoy it even without big hits and fighting.

Our society needs to rethink the lack of respect our bodies and physical brains.
- TerryB

Honestly, not to go all Canadian on you. But I think you have been listening to too many bleeding heart country songs. Hockey is not hockey without the hits and fights.

This is hockey.

Lifetime ban. It's the only way to get this crap out of the game. Also, drop the instigator rule so someone can show these pussies what being a real man is all about when they pull this poop.
- rynoisgod

Start watching soccer.