Again, I think it comes down to whether or not the league thinks (as I do) that Kronwall had time and opportunity to avoid the head contact and still make a check or a hockey play. If they think he had time to avoid it and did not, then he should be suspended.

If they think that he could not reasonably be expected to avoid contact with the head in that situation, then he shouldn't be suspended.

I think it's a textbook example of the kind of hit the league wants to eliminate, as was the Richards hit on Booth, and the Cooke hit on Savard. They are all basically the same play in my view. A player not paying close enough attention to his surroundings, and getting hit directly in the head by the checking player. Rule 48 was allegedly created to eliminate those types of hits. Neither Cooke nor Richards had as much time to line up their hits as Kronwall did his. Both were more "bang-bang" plays than this hit. Yet they were both shown as examples of hits that should be avoided.

To me, this seems like another tailor made example of what the rule is supposed to eliminate.
- BringBack25

I hope they see it this way.
If they don't suspend it will seem to be very hypocritical of what they said the goal was, to eliminate these head shots.

Did the skater have the puck? Yes. Was the hitter's shoulder down? Yes. Was the hit primarily a hockey hit or intent to injure? Hockey hit.
- rockychocbill

Matt Cookes hit on Savard was considered a hockey hit too.

Did the skater have the puck? Yes. Was the hitter's shoulder down? Yes. Was the hit primarily a hockey hit or intent to injure? Hockey hit.
- rockychocbill

so suckering a guy in and putting your shoulder/elbow into his skull is a hockey hit? i just learned something. skater's head down is not a part of it, in fact it makes it more illegal, and if you don't think there was intent to injure there.... i just don't know what you're looking at

quintessential example hmmm

please seriously forward to shanahan
- Don'tForgetTocchet

i like how the refs blew the whistle

Jake looked up at Kronwall before he touched the puck...there's no debating that. Clement was saying how Kronwall 'baits' players by backing up and then moving in to bury them.

Sounds like intent to injure to me.
- wolfhounds

I won't go that far. Baiting players has been around since the dawn of hockey, and I don't think it equates to an intent to injure. Kronwall is known for it, and Jake has a responsibility to know who is out on the ice with him and not fall for that kind of play.

You may feel that it's not very sporting, or perhaps even dirty to bait players like that, but it's not illegal. Some would argue that it's a art form. To me, none of that is relevant in terms of whether or not Kronwall should be suspended.

It all comes down to whether or not Shanny feels he could have avoided the head contact and chose not to do so.

Did the skater have the puck? Yes. Was the hitter's shoulder down? Yes. Was the hit primarily a hockey hit or intent to injure? Hockey hit.
- rockychocbill

according to shanahan, it doesn't mater what the intent was. eayost is providing evidence of that.

- thenighttrain17

didn't get it quite right, he probably cannot spell teammates correctly

Huh?



- MBFlyerfan

Ugh...it's not hard.

The person is the primary target, not the wall. Just like Jake was the primary target, not the ice.

But Kronwall turned and led with his shoulder right into Jake's head.

Debating the 'primary' target is like when your girlfriend asks you "so whatcha thinking?" It's just fking stupid.

What did he hit? He hit the head. Did he mean to hit the head? Who gives a poop. He definitely meant to hit Jake.

Did the skater have the puck? Yes. Was the hitter's shoulder down? Yes. Was the hit primarily a hockey hit or intent to injure? Hockey hit.
- rockychocbill

downie's hit on mcammond was a hockey hit then

Ugh...it's not hard.

The person is the primary target, not the wall. Just like Jake was the primary target, not the ice.

But Kronwall turned and led with his shoulder right into Jake's head.

Debating the 'primary' target is like when your girlfriend asks you "so whatcha thinking?" It's just fking stupid.

What did he hit? He hit the head. Did he mean to hit the head? Who gives a poop. He definitely meant to hit Jake.
- wolfhounds

IN A VULNERABLE POSITION!

I won't go that far. Baiting players has been around since the dawn of hockey, and I don't think it equates to an intent to injure. Kronwall is known for it, and Jake has a responsibility to know who is out on the ice with him and not fall for that kind of play.

You may feel that it's not very sporting, or perhaps even dirty to bait players like that, but it's not illegal. Some would argue that it's a art form. To me, none of that is relevant in terms of whether or not Kronwall should be suspended.

It all comes down to whether or not Shanny feels he could have avoided the head contact and chose not to do so.
- BringBack25

Certainly a well-stated PoV.

if he said he was going to burn your house down would you take it very serious being a cop?
- 2Real

whether or not you want to take it seriously, i bet dollars to donuts it's illegal in your state.

Those hits in the videos were not penalties last year, but this year they are. There is slight variation in situations, but Shanahan makes it pretty clear at the end (using pretty much the exact same wording) that it's the responsibility of the hitting player to avoid the head as the principal contact point. He never says those players specifically targeted the head... he says that regardless, the head can't be the principal point of contact.

quintessential example hmmm

please seriously forward to shanahan
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Not quite quintessential. Letang was following through on a shot and the hit was a boerderline late imo. Letang was in a more vulnerable position there than Jake was tonight imo. Jake knew Kronwall was at the blue line. Pacioretty came a fair ways away to lay that hit on Letang.

if he said he was going to burn your house down would you take it very serious being a cop?
- 2Real

If someone was dumb enough to write something like that on a public forum and then actually did it, would be pretty shocking. But there are stupid people in the world.

Writing something like that can certainly generate being investigated. Not the smartest thing to say, even in jest.

whether or not you want to take it seriously, i bet dollars to donuts it's illegal in your state.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Do you get the money and the donuts if you win that bet? Cause if so, that's sweet.

Wish we talking about the goalie's amazing play, at a critical point in the season.

Instead its injuries and head shots.

If someone was dumb enough to write something like that on a public forum and then actually did it, would be pretty shocking. But there are stupid people in the world.

Writing something like that can certainly generate being investigated. Not the smartest thing to say, even in jest.
- PLindbergh31

just wondering i seriously doubt berry has the balls to try and burn my house down so i'll just sit and laugh at him

Disagree. Voracek had the puck and was skating out of the zone. Kronwall was standing his ground. Voracek took two looks up the ice coming out of the zone. He was not vulnerable in the sense of the term as it applies to the rule imo.

Was Lindros in a vulnerable position before Stevens clocked him? Pretty much the same play in my view.
- rockychocbill

Absolutely Lindros was vulnerable. And what makes it completely different is the rules that are now in place. Kronwall didn't stand his ground. They even talked about in the post game of how Kronwall backs up for a few strides to show the player that he's retreating and then when he sees the player vulnerable, moves in for the hit. It was a predatory hit on a vulnerable player.

whether or not you want to take it seriously, i bet dollars to donuts it's illegal in your state.
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Wish we talking about the goalie's amazing play, at a critical point in the season.

Instead its injuries and head shots.
- Marc D

Bryz played awesome...but he is losing his team all around him...

Not quite quintessential. Letang was following through on a shot and the hit was a boerderline late imo. Letang was in a more vulnerable position there than Jake was tonight imo. Jake knew Kronwall was at the blue line. Pacioretty came a fair ways away to lay that hit on Letang.
- rockychocbill

what if crosby comes back and is hit in the same way and his career ends?

Not quite quintessential. Letang was following through on a shot and the hit was a boerderline late imo. Letang was in a more vulnerable position there than Jake was tonight imo. Jake knew Kronwall was at the blue line. Pacioretty came a fair ways away to lay that hit on Letang.
- rockychocbill

when i said quintessential i was quoting shanahan from the video i quoted for my post.

Bryz played awesome...but he is losing his team all around him...
- wolfhounds

not now he's not. they are now rallying to him.

Not quite quintessential. Letang was following through on a shot and the hit was a boerderline late imo. Letang was in a more vulnerable position there than Jake was tonight imo. Jake knew Kronwall was at the blue line. Pacioretty came a fair ways away to lay that hit on Letang.
- rockychocbill

Did you even listen? Shanahan says Letang knows he should expect to be hit, but that he can't expect to be hit in the head, thus the suspension. None of the qualifiers you discuss were even talked about by Shanahan.