Quote:
Originally Posted by sempuki
Of course there's that element, but I don't think big open ice hits fundamentally contribute to that element, since by definition players never see the hit coming.
And it's about player brain damage -- not audience pearl clutching.
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Agreed on the audience aspect. True
However as someone that played a decent level of hockey, although a while ago, it certainly does play a part in how one carries or will lunge at the puck in the open ice. In this case the onus is clearly on Dal Colle to realize its best not to stare down at the puck especially in the neutral zone. It’s not like he was bending over near the boards. I can assure you unless he wants a short career he will probably not take a hit like that often.
In junior he may have had an extra second to get his head back up while retrieving the puck but in the show it’s just too fast and the players are that much bigger and stronger.