Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhettzky
So how would you enforce that? Based on velocity of the accidental contact? If the contact was deemed to be accidental (and again resolute, this incident aside), how can you suspend a player? I have seen ref's get nailed hard and have yet to see anyone argue a suspension. That's why your comment struck me as odd.
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It's usually pretty simple to tell if the play is accidental or not. Especially if the player and/or official are looking in opposite directions, if a player simply falls, etc.
If you have a play like last night where the play had to be stopped as the official was in obvious pain laying on the ice and the footage cannot show if there was intent on Wideman's part or not I think err on the side of caution and hand out some sort of discipline.
There's no black and white answer. Look at this thread and poll, it's split pretty evenly. All I can do is comment on the hit last night and I would have no problem with the NHL handing out some sort of punishment in that instance.