Quote:
Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger
I think he hit the head first and a lengthy suspension should be coming Trouba’s way. I’m a bit biased as I’ve always disliked him.
Regardless, I don’t think there’s any place in todays NHL for predatory hits against a defenceless player. It’s not a hockey play, it had no benefit to his team or the game, it didn’t effectively separate the man from the puck, it was most certainly not the best available play to regain possession of the puck. Literally the only purpose of that hit was to injure another player.
If pro and college football can introduce targeting, so can the nhl. There is no place in the game for hits whose sole purpose is to injure.
If you need to see people attempt to injure each other with no consideration to actually playing a sport, go watch MMA. Injuring the other guy is the purpose of that sport. It is not the purpose of hockey.
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I have to adamantly disagree with the bolded. It was absolutely a hockey play, and he was literally separating the man from the puck. I bristle at the idea that there's no place for a body check, especially when you're trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone. I have no issue with the general idea of the play.
However, the player was vulnerable. He did also hit his head first before anything else. He could have let up a little but chose to hit him as hard as he could. To me, this is a cultural issue the NHL has about "blowing guys up", and that has to change, but it will take time.
To me, it's absolutely suspension worthy for the hit to the head on a vulnerable player, but probably no more than 2 games.