as a ref of many years, ive seen the same hit many times. no charge, no elbow, puck is there. as don cherry says gotta keep your head up boys.
- SaskHawkFan

Please explain that. Puck was nowhere near him when the hit was made. Trouba was closer to the puck than Juju was.

When the decision is made to run a guy you don't want to be the guy who takes the brunt of the hit. So it's natural to elevate as you hit someone so it's the other guy who falls down. Back in the day you would have your stick up high as well to protect against the other guy's stick. But today we know more about the damage from head shots. I'm not proud to say that when I played and threw a hit on a guy with his head down like that I aimed to put my shoulder on the other guy's chest and follow through upwards. Years ago I even coached it. Feel a bit bad about it now knowing what we now know.
- 6628

Thanks for the clarification. It wasn't anything I knew. At least we recognize the problems of those hits now & can properly treat it. Great to hear about Khaira & I hope a fine comes from it for Trouba.

And I remember what the response was to that by Ranger fans.
- 67hawks

And, what was your opinion of that scenario and the league's response?

It's surprising they've either won or kept games close on this road trip/1 game at home without Murphy and McCabe, their 2-3 DMen and C.Jones last night. It's either the team itself is playing much better defensively or the kids are interchangeable with the veterans on the D. Or would they have given up fewer goals with Murphy and McCabe in as a third possibility?
- Popsghostly

Despite what some posters think, McCabe and Murphy are better by a country mile than the 2 lightweights (Mitchell and Kalynuk) who we had in their places last night. I also wondered what the final result would have been if that were not the case.

Please explain that. Puck was nowhere near him when the hit was made. Trouba was closer to the puck than Juju was.
- powerenforcer

That's a Homer statement if ever there was one. He played the puck and was trying to corral it from his feet. If you can't admit that much, you have no business offering opinions.

Please explain that. Puck was nowhere near him when the hit was made. Trouba was closer to the puck than Juju was.
- powerenforcer

Watch the play in real time PE. Jones gives him a pass. He mishandles it and looks for it. The puck is literally between the two players when the hit is made. You can take issue with the hit, but you are wrong on this point.

Please explain that. Puck was nowhere near him when the hit was made. Trouba was closer to the puck than Juju was.
- powerenforcer

he is in the process of receiving a pass and looking down puck bounces off his skate, the puck doesn't have to be on his stick for it to not be interference.


https://ibb.co/5B5YC8S

i did a snip of the video u can clearly see the puck is in his feet

Despite what some posters think, McCabe and Murphy are better by a country mile than the 2 lightweights (Mitchell and Kalynuk) who we had in their places last night. I also wondered what the final result would have been if that were not the case.
- 67hawks

They are different types of defensemen. I'm much more impressed with Mitchell and Kalynuk carrying the puck than McCabe and Murphy. That said, the latter are much better fundamentally, and much more stout to play against.

The Rangers are playing well right now. They likely would have still won, but not by quite as large a margin.

If's/buts... candy/nuts.

That's a Homer statement if ever there was one. He played the puck and was trying to corral it from his feet. If you can't admit that much, you have no business offering opinions.
- Tonybere

This statement is correct. The split second after is where the gray area lies.

That's a Homer statement if ever there was one. He played the puck and was trying to corral it from his feet. If you can't admit that much, you have no business offering opinions.
- Tonybere

A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes

Please explain that. Puck was nowhere near him when the hit was made. Trouba was closer to the puck than Juju was.
- powerenforcer

?????

A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes
- BMoreHawks

I would totally agree with you IF the puck was still at the players feet WHEN the check is made. However in this play, the puck was not at his feet when the check was made. In that play, the checker (Trouba) has to see that the puck is lose and somehow has to minimize the contact. Hell, if he did there was a turnover kicked right to him. He had his sight on damaging the player without any concern of the puck.
Hits are fine in the game when they are to separate player from puck, not to just hit anyone at any time.

I would totally agree with you IF the puck was still at the players feet WHEN the check is made. However in this play, the puck was not at his feet when the check was made. In that play, the checker (Trouba) has to see that the puck is lose and somehow has to minimize the contact. Hell, if he did there was a turnover kicked right to him. He had his sight on damaging the player without any concern of the puck.
Hits are fine in the game when they are to separate player from puck, not to just hit anyone at any time.
- powerenforcer

PE. Stop. The puck is literally at his feet when the check is made. You are patently wrong.

Go back to page 1 of the comments. Play one of the available videos starting at about the 40 second mark. Clear as day.

A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes
- BMoreHawks[/quote]

No...prevailing FACT is that if a player puts his head down, then he can't be prepared for what is about to happen because he can't see what is coming.

And I remember what the response was to that by Ranger fans.
- 67hawks

Ugh...the play was over and whistle was blown...AND it wasn't a hockey play...what is your point?

A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes
- BMoreHawks

Clearly you gotta look down every once in awhile. But, Khaira decided locating the puck at his feet was more important to him at that moment then protecting his body. That decision backfired hard.

For the record, a lot of players with more awareness would have looked up first to make sure they weren't about to get nailed before looking down to locate the puck. A little self preservation is sometimes the wise thing to do.

I would totally agree with you IF the puck was still at the players feet WHEN the check is made. However in this play, the puck was not at his feet when the check was made. In that play, the checker (Trouba) has to see that the puck is lose and somehow has to minimize the contact. Hell, if he did there was a turnover kicked right to him. He had his sight on damaging the player without any concern of the puck.
Hits are fine in the game when they are to separate player from puck, not to just hit anyone at any time.
- powerenforcer

What's your explanation for all the times when a player gets smoked just BEFORE they reach the puck, always without penalty?
By the book, it's interference. But, its part of the game now.

[quote=BMoreHawks]A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes
- rrentz[/quote]

No...prevailing FACT is that if a player puts his head down, then he can't be prepared for what is about to happen because he can't see what is coming.

I’m not arguing that a player who is looking down is vulnerable. That’s the whole point. Just wondering where he is supposed to look when the puck is in his feet? As soon as he looks down any hit is legal and his own fault because he looked down.
In this situation I don’t think khaira’s head moved much in the seconds leading up to the hit. Yes, it was down as he was trying to corral a pass at his feet but that shouldn’t absolve trouba from making contact with his head.
Then again, maybe that’s the way the rule is written… your dumb enough to look down while the puck is at your feet then to the hospital with you I guess.

I have two issues with this hit and these type of hits:

1. Khaira's head was down for a long time, long enough for Trouba to realize this and pull up.

2. Trouba was not going for the puck or trying to make a hockey play at all...he was going around all game just trying to hit people. This was even stated before the game, to watch out for Trouba, as the prior game, that is all he was doing. I have no problem with taking the body when going for the puck... I do take issue with players just taking runs at players to put them on their asses.

I’m not arguing that a player who is looking down is vulnerable. That’s the whole point. Just wondering where he is supposed to look when the puck is in his feet? As soon as he looks down any hit is legal and his own fault because he looked down.
In this situation I don’t think khaira’s head moved much in the seconds leading up to the hit. Yes, it was down as he was trying to corral a pass at his feet but that shouldn’t absolve trouba from making contact with his head.
Then again, maybe that’s the way the rule is written… your dumb enough to look down while the puck is at your feet then to the hospital with you I guess.
- BMoreHawks

It's not about him being dumb...it's something that players in the NHL and all levels are taught. keep you head up. majority of players take slap shots w/out looking down. Khaira taking a quick glance up in the most dangerous part of the ice before finding the puck would've gave him that split second to adjust. He didn't, and paid the consequences.

A lot of people have pointed out that juju’s head was down and “gotta keep your head up”. I guess I just don’t understand what a player is supposed to do when the puck is at their feet. Give up on it I guess. If you look down your fair game to take a hit to the head and wind up in the hospital. This seems to be the prevailing opinion that once a player looks down anything goes
- BMoreHawks

This is what I do not understand about the rule or that hit last night. If the head is down, and you're the charging player coming in full speed, what part of the body do you think you are going to hit with your forearm or shoulder? Couldn't be anything but the head, right? So, how is that not a head shot? Especially, if Trouba doesn't even attempt to play the loose (and available) puck?

This one was made worse by Khaira raising his head right before the hit, thereby getting the shoulder/arm armor right on the chin.

Shaw, who lost his career to too many hits like that, had something to say about it today:

@shawz15er
@NHLPlayerSafety
we gunna see you protect your players or you gunna just point the finger at Jujhar saying he put himself in the position like you told me on many occasions?

I have two issues with this hit and these type of hits:

1. Khaira's head was down for a long time, long enough for Trouba to realize this and pull up.

2. Trouba was not going for the puck or trying to make a hockey play at all...he was going around all game just trying to hit people. This was even stated before the game, to watch out for Trouba, as the prior game, that is all he was doing. I have no problem with taking the body when going for the puck... I do take issue with players just taking runs at players to put them on their asses.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Almost every hockey player... past, present, and future at every level licks his chops when they can make a hard hit. Problem now is that slow motion makes fans think that the player can slow down, or take into account all of the factors before they go for the hit. If Trouba hesitated, even for a millisecond, the puck is past him and Chi. may of had an odd man rush. Sure....lets not make the hit and give the other team the advantage b/c I might maybe, kind of, sort of , might hurt the other player w/ a clean check

I have two issues with this hit and these type of hits:

1. Khaira's head was down for a long time, long enough for Trouba to realize this and pull up.

2. Trouba was not going for the puck or trying to make a hockey play at all...he was going around all game just trying to hit people. This was even stated before the game, to watch out for Trouba, as the prior game, that is all he was doing. I have no problem with taking the body when going for the puck... I do take issue with players just taking runs at players to put them on their asses.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

1. Khaira received a tape-to-tape pass coming out of the zone that he mishandled. Trouba stepped up to stop the breakout. Once the puck is mishandled (which took a millisecond) Trouba's split second options are finish his hit or let the puck go by him and potentially have an oddman rush going the other way.

2. Open ice hits are hockey plays. Stepping up at the blueline is a hockey play. Trouba playing a physical brand of hockey does not mean he's running around looking to cheap shot guys

This is what I do not understand about the rule or that hit last night. If the head is down, and you're the charging player coming in full speed, what part of the body do you think you are going to hit with your forearm or shoulder? Couldn't be anything but the head, right? So, how is that not a head shot? Especially, if Trouba doesn't even attempt to play the loose (and available) puck?

This one was made worse by Khaira raising his head right before the hit, thereby getting the shoulder/arm armor right on the chin.

Shaw, who lost his career to too many hits like that, had something to say about it today:

@shawz15er
@NHLPlayerSafety
we gunna see you protect your players or you gunna just point the finger at Jujhar saying he put himself in the position like you told me on many occasions?
- pdx2ord

Feel bad for Shaw, and others who got hurt, but NO rule change will stop hits in the fastest game on two feet. Hate to say it, but Shaw gave it much more than he received. A bit hypocritical

@walsha
According to @Forbes, NHL franchise values are up on average over 32% from last year. Several teams are value at $1 Billion+. A lot of great info here including HRR projections thru 2024-25. https://forbes.com/sites/...eys-first-2-billion-team/

@walsha
With NHL franchise values exploding, see how important it was for Gary and the owners to impose a hard salary cap on the players. As you can see, the NHL lockouts were for the fans. Winking faceFranchise values up 32% while elite players making the same as they did in 2001-02. #GarysWorld

======

Soooo...about all those statements that they cannot afford to raise the Salary Cap...

Beginning to think the NHL might be the worst run professional sports league of the big four (or at least they have the greediest cadre of owners)