Practically speaking, they need to get this done during the next lockout shortened season if not before.

What is wrong with trying to "destroy" another player? This is the playoffs, guys are trying to hit as hard as they can.
- ClaudeFather

Yes, and 20 years ago I'd have agreed with you based on worldwide ignorance. Presently, we know that violent trauma to the head can lead to all sorts of medical impairments decades into the future. At the time, the Stevens hit on Lindros was deemed legal because we didn't know what a concussion really was or could lead to.

If Wilson really wanted to destroy him with a hit, he could have led with his hip, dipped his shoulder, or generally not exploded up through a guy to the point where he launched himself onto his own bench and still hit him just as hard without breaking his face and concussing him.

Heck, as much as Zac Rinaldo was a POS at times, he's half the size of Wilson and hit just as hard, but generally cleanly and without targeting a player's head. The fact that Wilson violently targeted the head (whether or not it was the PPOC is a different story) is the issue.

On another note, Ovi calling out Crosby for being the wussy he is was worth the price of admission.

Trying as hard as they can to win the game, not injure players. The league deemed that he didn't care about the safety of Aston-Reese so he is being punished for it. There still has to be some level of safety out there regardless of what time of year it is.
- 13sundin13

So he should have went in with the mentality I'm going to hit him but not too hard. Got it, great input.

I can get on board with being super strict on this stuff...as long as you are super strict on everything else. If guys are supposed to be focused on winning and not physically hurting each other you cant let guys get away with slewfoots along the boards, crosschecks from behind, etc. Interference and hooking on key plays have a far bigger impact on a game than this hit. Honestly, if player safety is such a big deal, guys that take high slapshots that hit guys in the head should be suspended too. That is reckless and easily avoided.

So he should have went in with the mentality I'm going to hit him but not too hard. Got it, great input.
- ClaudeFather

He could have not launched is the point. Guys like Orpik and Doan always hit as hard as they could and 99 times out of 100 it was clean. Sometimes they got themselves into trouble, but they hit to hurt, not injure. Wilson hits to injure.

I can get on board with being super strict on this stuff...as long as you are super strict on everything else. If guys are supposed to be focused on winning and not physically hurting each other you cant let guys get away with slewfoots along the boards, crosschecks from behind, etc. Interference and hooking on key plays have a far bigger impact on a game than this hit. Honestly, if player safety is such a big deal, guys that take high slapshots that hit guys in the head should be suspended too. That is reckless and easily avoided.
- forzagesu

Exactly, where does it end? This is a slippery slope.

So he should have went in with the mentality I'm going to hit him but not too hard. Got it, great input.
- ClaudeFather

Tom Wilson clearly pushes the boundaries of legal vs illegal hit. He did this the last 3 years and he did this 3 times in the playoffs. He is reckless and his hits injure players because of his recklessness. He leaves his feet every friggin time.

Eff off already.

So he should have went in with the mentality I'm going to hit him but not too hard. Got it, great input.
- ClaudeFather

Yes exactly, he should hit him to take him out of the play not to take him out for the year. It's just an overall safety thing to limit head injuries which have been proven to have severe long term side effects.

I can get on board with being super strict on this stuff...as long as you are super strict on everything else. If guys are supposed to be focused on winning and not physically hurting each other you cant let guys get away with slewfoots along the boards, crosschecks from behind, etc. Interference and hooking on key plays have a far bigger impact on a game than this hit. Honestly, if player safety is such a big deal, guys that take high slapshots that hit guys in the head should be suspended too. That is reckless and easily avoided.
- forzagesu

I agree with you in principle but there are priorities. Hits to the head are a much higher priority than slew foots and crosschecks.

This hit didn't have a massive impact on the game. ZAR's not a super important player for us and the chances that we would have capitalized on the PP are a smallish 25%. The slew foot on Maatta impacted the game way more. But we're not talking about game impacts here we're talking about player safety.

ITS EITHER EVERY HEAD CONTACT IS A SUSPENSION OR NOTHING,

the second you start to get into the players head's to access if it was intentional or not just leads to such a mess. Longer suspensions are needed too. Players don't care about slap on wrists. Min.. 10 games. end of story.

Such an unwinnable argument, the same play and actions would have a different effect depending on the two players involved, if that exact same play happens and Ovechkin is on the receiving end, Wilson likely ends up getting destroyed himself, due to the strength and size of Ovi. If you base all punishments on results/injuries only, then the whole point is being missed. The evolution of players and equipment means that the game is sooooo fast, headshots will never be completely out until hitting is removed because when big guys are flying into other big guys (or smaller guys) head contact will continue to happen regardless of intent

Athletes play the game on their own volition. They know there is risk of injury. Until the players, their agents, or the NHLPA start speaking openly and objectively about head shots, there will be no impetus to change. If the players themselves, or their almighty Players Assoc don't care about player safety, why should any fan object? It is simply accepted as part of the game.
- HiSticking

I honestly think that the NHLPA is the main culprit here. The NHLPA is way more concerned about protecting their clients' paychecks than their health, so they want to keep suspensions as short as possible.

ITS EITHER EVERY HEAD CONTACT IS A SUSPENSION OR NOTHING,

the second you start to get into the players head's to access if it was intentional or not just leads to such a mess. Longer suspensions are needed too. Players don't care about slap on wrists. Min.. 10 games. end of story.
- Leniwm1

So if Chara lays a hit on Willy Nylander then he's automatically suspended 10 games?

ITS EITHER EVERY HEAD CONTACT IS A SUSPENSION OR NOTHING,

the second you start to get into the players head's to access if it was intentional or not just leads to such a mess. Longer suspensions are needed too. Players don't care about slap on wrists. Min.. 10 games. end of story.
- Leniwm1

if you deliver a solid body check, and the other player's head gets hit, it's a a fair hit.

if you do what wilson did (who doesn't seem to know how to throw a body check), and drive your shoulder into another player resulting in major head contact, then you get suspended.

i think what the nhl has actually done is a fair compromise to keep hitting in the game.

Such an unwinnable argument, the same play and actions would have a different effect depending on the two players involved, if that exact same play happens and Ovechkin is on the receiving end, Wilson likely ends up getting destroyed himself, due to the strength and size of Ovi. If you base all punishments on results/injuries only, then the whole point is being missed. The evolution of players and equipment means that the game is sooooo fast, headshots will never be completely out until hitting is removed because when big guys are flying into other big guys (or smaller guys) head contact will continue to happen regardless of intent
- wilkobecks

That about sums it up, thank you.

ITS EITHER EVERY HEAD CONTACT IS A SUSPENSION OR NOTHING,

the second you start to get into the players head's to access if it was intentional or not just leads to such a mess. Longer suspensions are needed too. Players don't care about slap on wrists. Min.. 10 games. end of story.
- Leniwm1

There are more standardized ways to gage intent by analyzing the motion of the hitter and the position of the player getting hit. If there is distinct upward motion towards the head then one can assume intent. If the player hit braced themselves for contact in a normal fashion that didn't leave their head exposed to an otherwise clean check, then one can assume intent.

Yeah the system isn't perfect and sometimes guys will get suspended who really didn't have intent, but its the closest thing to fair.

I agree with you in principle but there are priorities. Hits to the head are a much higher priority than slew foots and crosschecks.

This hit didn't have a massive impact on the game. ZAR's not a super important player for us and the chances that we would have capitalized on the PP are a smallish 25%. The slew foot on Maatta impacted the game way more. But we're not talking about game impacts here we're talking about player safety.
- Victoro311

I disagree. I think slew foots are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than hits to the head. With a hit to the head, you (generally) have a short amount of time to see the player coming and to try to brace yourself. With a slew foot, you have no idea that it is coming, and you have no way to protect yourself from falling backwards and slamming your head onto the ice.

I have never played pro hockey, but even as an amateur, I have never attempted to slew foot a player or trip a player by pushing his skates from behind, because I think that is the most dangerous thing than you can do to a player. That's just my opinion.

So if Chara lays a hit on Willy Nylander then he's automatically suspended 10 games?
- mgriffen

I said the same thing years ago concerning a possible Chris Pronger hit on Nathan Gerbe. Just by laying a clean shoulder hit, Pronger would be making contact with Gerbe's' head based on their height.

That is why I have an issue with automatic suspensions. You have to at least use some common sense, something which the NHL/NHLPA fight against tooth and nail.

I agree that players should be suspended longer, but given the NHL this is a decent chunk of time.

Again, I disagree with it, but it follows their pattern of never disciplining any player in a way that'll change what they are doing wrong.

I said the same thing years ago concerning a possible Chris Pronger hit on Tyler Ennis. Just by laying a clean shoulder hit, Pronger would be making contact with Ennis' head based on their height.

That is why I have an issue with automatic suspensions. You have to at least use some common sense, something which the NHL/NHLPA fight against tooth and nail.
- jmatchett383

You also need to look at trends. In Wilson's case, he has had plenty of charging, boarding, and other reckless penalties. If there is a trend that a player is reckless and causes injuries (directly affecting player health and team revenues), then a clear message needs to be sent every time a line is crossed.

What is wrong with trying to "destroy" another player? This is the playoffs, guys are trying to hit as hard as they can.
- ClaudeFather

Do you have enough nuance to understand that its possible to still hit a guy and knock him on his wallet without injuring him? The idea behind a good bodycheck is to separate the guy from the puck, take him out of the resulting play, or both...if the goal is to "destroy" a guy, then there is intent to injure...and all protestations about being an "honest player" go out the window. Lets not kid anyone: Wilson was trying to inflict maximum damage in the spot and guess what, that's what he achieved.. The DOPS video pretty clearly lays that out and that there are lots of ways to deliver the hit that doesn't end up with a head shot.

I said the same thing years ago concerning a possible Chris Pronger hit on Nathan Gerbe. Just by laying a clean shoulder hit, Pronger would be making contact with Gerbe's' head based on their height.

That is why I have an issue with automatic suspensions. You have to at least use some common sense, something which the NHL/NHLPA fight against tooth and nail.
- jmatchett383

but i think the nhl has it right on that. this is an example of bigger playing blowing up a smaller player who has is head down.

it's a well executed body check that results in head contact; but no suspension. not at all like what wilson did.

You also need to look at trends. In Wilson's case, he has had plenty of charging, boarding, and other reckless penalties. If there is a trend that a player is reckless and causes injuries (directly affecting player health and team revenues), then a clear message needs to be sent every time a line is crossed.
- chimpira

I do agree, but then you can get into a "you haven't ever exactly crossed the line, but you've come really close a lot" kind of scenario. Which is my whole issue with the "repeat offender" thing.

I honestly think that the NHLPA is the main culprit here. The NHLPA is way more concerned about protecting their clients' paychecks than their health, so they want to keep suspensions as short as possible.
- jmatchett383

Exactly! If the players, or their reps, are okay with the conditions and risks of the game, then fans should be as well. If there is no ownership of work product/ safety, from those whom practice the craft, the fans' voices are just noise. It boils down to a stupid debate/ argument that IMO is driven by homer'ism. Athletes accept risk, whether they're on the ice, behind the steering wheel, or on horseback. Don't understand why fans cannot accept the same.