The Seabrook on Backes hit is the kind of hit the NHL is really having trouble dealing with. It is dangerous and can end someone's career, BUT it is tough to fault Seabrook. The speed that the play happened doesn't give him any option to choose his point of contact or avoid the hit, and the hit would have been clean if Backes wasn't so low to the ice. Seabrooks arm is pinned to his side the whole time. His execution is totally clean.
Really unfortunate.
I think the way to prevent concussions from hits like that is to mandate smaller, softer shoulder pads. Increase the risk of injury to the guy delivering the hit and reduce the impact to players heads when they get caught out like Backes.
|