Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
Personally I find it annoying when someone pretends to have all the answers when they don't.
But I'll try
The acceptable amount of contact for me is whatever is required to take the puck. So that removes "finishing the check" which I think is a big part of the overall shift that needs to be made.
I think checking should be more about stick checking, angles, and body positioning.
The challenge is figuring out what that means for open ice contact. I've been meaning to go back and watch players like Nik Lindstrom, who I view as being a model for how this should work, to sense check if
- was he more physical than I recall?
- How did he check in open ice
Body positioning is hard when players are moving on skates. But was does an open ice check look like if the intent is to get the puck, not punish the player?
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If the Avs player holds the puck a second longer, Bennett stil blows him up and result is the same. But then he’s not finishing the check. A lot of finishing the check involves rubbing guys out along the boards after playing the puck, which IMO are the less violent hits and not as likely to lead to injury.
So I’m not sure the direction you’re going is necessarily the one that results in fewer injuries.