Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I'll wade back in as it seems like folks objected to me bowing out which wasn't my intent.
I think the Sam check is an important part of the conversation as it really pushes to think about what checking is now and what it should be. And the ramifications of evolving the game.
For me, a lot of what I want to do is simply provoke that conversation. How far should the sport re-define the concept of body checking with what we now know about concussions. A hit like this, is not illegal at all, so it provides an important example to debate. The stuff that is way over the line is easier, as the debate is more about how to eliminate that stuff. The stuff that is in the squishy middle is hard.
My view is that concepts like "finishing your check" need to be removed. That the entire sense that intimidation and violence is part of the game, is what needs to shift.
How you go about doing that though is very hard. What would this check have looked like if Sam had just intended to do enough to take the puck? I don't know for sure, but those are the questions I'm interested in posing and discussing.
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Anyone who thinks the Sam Bennett on Compher hit needs to be removed from hockey needs to find a new sport to watch...