Seabs is not a dirty player and I don't believe his feet left the ice until after the hit. He still needed to let up as Backes was in a very vulnerable position. Mistakes happen but it's still on the player to be careful there, I'd give him 2 games personally.

To the Hawks fan saying "how do we know it's not the same injury he suffered before?", he's playing on a fractured foot, not a mashed brain.

I hope he's not concussed but he was out for a second and wobbly, not looking good.

No - it's not remotely the same hit.

He didn't leave his skates prior to the hit
Hossa didn't have the puck remotely around him
Hossa also didn't move downwards just prior to the hit thus having the hit on his head vs. a hard hit to the shoulder

Completely 100% different hits.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I meant the same as the Torres on Seabrook hit.

That still frame is DURING CONTACT. Seabrook is off his skates.
- hankthetank

The still frame is immediately after contact is made - not prior to contact when his skates were clearly on the ice and never left the ice prior to his skates leaving the ice.

Again.. I think he SHOULD get a suspension. But his skates never left the ice in an attempt to wield his body into Backes. Backes also bent over just prior to the hit thus getting him in the head vs a hard hit of arm to upper shoulder.

Seabs is not a dirty player and I don't believe his feet left the ice until after the hit. He still needed to let up as Backes was in a very vulnerable position. Mistakes happen but it's still on the player to be careful there, I'd give him 2 games personally.

To the Hawks fan saying "how do we know it's not the same injury he suffered before?", he's playing on a fractured foot, not a mashed brain.

I hope he's not concussed but he was out for a second and wobbly, not looking good.
- charlest

THIS

This is precisely what is wrong with the NHL now. The same exact situation with Orpik on Toews. Hitting players in this fashion who are in a vulnerable position. An argument I've made ad nauseum on the Hawks message board.

Not really sure how to react to this:

Seabs is not a dirty player and I don't believe his feet left the ice until after the hit. He still needed to let up as Backes was in a very vulnerable position. Mistakes happen but it's still on the player to be careful there, I'd give him 2 games personally.

To the Hawks fan saying "how do we know it's not the same injury he suffered before?", he's playing on a fractured foot, not a mashed brain.

I hope he's not concussed but he was out for a second and wobbly, not looking good.
- charlest

Exactly... why risk a penalty or suspension with your team up to make a hit... not smart.

Good job Seabrook...

Exactly... why risk a penalty or suspension with your team up to make a hit... not smart.
- HawksHype

Both the Bickell and Seabrook hits were so "un-Hawk" like. Just idiotic and moronic hits in the most important part of the game.

In fact, I think Bickell's hit was much more dangerous than Seabrook. Bickell clearly moved his leg out to hit the opponent. Seabrook you could argue either way - you cannot argue he knew who he was hitting and what he was attempting to do.

Pay back for suckering McKinnon... Karma..

Not really sure how to react to this:


- charlest

What a POS.

What gets lost in all the Seabrook Drama was Bickells EXTREMELY Dirty Knee on Knee. He clearly turns his skate outwards hoping to make knee contact as he was beat.

NHL has to start suspending players regardless of if the player (Sabotka) is injured or not.

Ummm... hey pal. I don't give a donkey's nuts if you're a blogger or not. You might want to head over to the Hawks thread and talk to your few Blues fans that are on this site about what they are posting.

Just sayin'....
- CaptainBlackhawk

I don't think he left his skates....BUT the principle point of contact was OBVIOUSLY the head....Seabrook did come up on the hit as well although I don't think he left his skates.....however, where the suspension comes in is the puck was gone.....player in a defenensless position....2 games for sure....maybe up to 5......dumb play by a very good player.

Back in 2010, before hits to the head were not considered what they are now, Seabrook got one almost identical to what he gave today from his old roommate James Wisniewski.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vhXmCwt5w

Seabs was out a game (mostly to make sure the hearing had already happened) , and Wisniewski got 8 games. If Seabrook gets less than five for this one, considering this is the playoffs, it's total BS. This dude should know better.

What gets lost in all the Seabrook Drama was Bickells EXTREMELY Dirty Knee on Knee. He clearly turns his skate outwards hoping to make knee contact as he was beat.

NHL has to start suspending players regardless of if the player (Sabotka) is injured or not.
- classic321

That one should be a game as well.

Seabs is not a dirty player and I don't believe his feet left the ice until after the hit. He still needed to let up as Backes was in a very vulnerable position. Mistakes happen but it's still on the player to be careful there, I'd give him 2 games personally.

To the Hawks fan saying "how do we know it's not the same injury he suffered before?", he's playing on a fractured foot, not a mashed brain.

I hope he's not concussed but he was out for a second and wobbly, not looking good.
- charlest

I agree.

Not really sure how to react to this:


- charlest

If I'm remembering the whole play correctly, after the hit, play continued. Puck was shot down to Miller and Seabs got into a scrum with Shattenkirk. That's when the play was whistled dead. So as he got up from the scrum (helmet off) that picture was snapped. At that moment, his penalty hadn't been indicated. You can see in the video where the ref is holding him and Seabs is arguing with the blues players. Again, not trying to back up what Seabs did, but the caption with that picture doesn't seem correct.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...kes--video-220125761.html

If I'm remembering the whole play correctly, after the hit, play continued. Puck was shot down to Miller and Seabs got into a scrum with Shattenkirk. That's when the play was whistled dead. So as he got up from the scrum (helmet off) that picture was snapped. At that moment, his penalty hadn't been indicated. You can see in the video where the ref is holding him and Seabs is arguing with the blues players. Again, not trying to back up what Seabs did, but the caption with that picture doesn't seem correct.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...kes--video-220125761.html
- HawksHype

Yeah, I figured it was something like that. Can't really be sure what he was thinking or what happened when that picture was taken, which is why I didn't really make a strong comment.

Back in 2010, before hits to the head were not considered what they are now, Seabrook got one almost identical to what he gave today from his old roommate James Wisniewski.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vhXmCwt5w

Seabs was out a game (mostly to make sure the hearing had already happened) , and Wisniewski got 8 games. If Seabrook gets less than five for this one, considering this is the playoffs, it's total BS. This dude should know better.
- yzermaneely

First time offender. Seabs has never been suspended before, Wiz had been suspended several times before that hit in 2010. 8 games in regular season is like 2 in playoffs anyways. Again, first time offender. Seabs will sit for 1-2 games in my opinion.

He will get two games . Hope Backes can return soon . Did not look good

HAHAHAH I love Don Cherry just laying into Duncan Kieth.

any word on backes?
- Jurco_28

According to Hitchcock, "how do you think he is? He's not good."

Pretty uncharacteristic move by Seabrook. That's really not his style, then again it seems the Blues have managed to get the Hawks to play down to their dirty crap. Blues players hacking and slashing constantly behind the play. Everyone targeting Toews and giving him cheap shots every chance they get or the ref is turned around. Really the way Backes plays the game, is he surprised someone took a run at him? Guy should play with his head on a swivel. Not condoning the hit..... But the way this series is going and the way the Blues play the game..... Is anyone surprised???? Hawks get angry and do stupid poop. The Blues should be happy they clearly have the Hawks off their game and playing dirty stupid hockey. That can only mean good things for the Blues if not for Backes health. I hope he's okay and not concussed but hey..... That's hockey for ya sometimes. Seabrooks been on the receiving end of similar hits and it sucks. Don't like to see those plays happen to anybody. Series coulda been a lot of fun now its just getting ugly.

Seabs is not a dirty player and I don't believe his feet left the ice until after the hit. He still needed to let up as Backes was in a very vulnerable position. Mistakes happen but it's still on the player to be careful there, I'd give him 2 games personally.

To the Hawks fan saying "how do we know it's not the same injury he suffered before?", he's playing on a fractured foot, not a mashed brain.

I hope he's not concussed but he was out for a second and wobbly, not looking good.
- charlest

Nice fair assessment by a Blues fan no less, good post Chuck. Don't think Seabs meant to hit him in the head as Backes dipped his shoulder and head while Seabs was coming at him and couldn't let up, but resulted in a head shot. It is what it is and Seabs will get 1-2 games in the press box.

Bigger question is how long with Backes be out? Backes is much more important to his team than Seabs is to his.

Pretty uncharacteristic move by Seabrook. That's really not his style, then again it seems the Blues have managed to get the Hawks to play down to their dirty crap. Blues players hacking and slashing constantly behind the play. Everyone targeting Toews and giving him cheap shots every chance they get or the ref is turned around. Really the way Backes plays the game, is he surprised someone took a run at him? Guy should play with his head on a swivel. Not condoning the hit..... But the way this series is going and the way the Blues play the game..... Is anyone surprised???? Hawks get angry and do stupid poop. The Blues should be happy they clearly have the Hawks off their game and playing dirty stupid hockey. That can only mean good things for the Blues if not for Backes health. I hope he's okay and not concussed but hey..... That's hockey for ya sometimes. Seabrooks been on the receiving end of similar hits and it sucks. Don't like to see those plays happen to anybody. Series coulda been a lot of fun now its just getting ugly.
- Ballam

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa! My team's losing! Waaaaaaaaaaa!

Timeout here.

Read the Hawks thread and you can see how angry about this I am and how much I'm ripping on Seabrook AND Bickell.

Seabrook did not leave his feet, c'mon... stop with the homer crap

And the principle point of contact wasn't his head - at least not when he started his hit, and Backes leaned down prior to getting hit.

Call it actually how it happened.
- CaptainBlackhawk

Captain Blind...He did launch hi.self I to Backed Nd left his feet.?.why do you think he fell..He was off balance being I. The air. And he led with his shoulder to the head , what game were you watching.