Quote:
Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
Is that really what you saw here? Trouba thinking, "oh he's got his head down, I'm going to destroy him"? I agree with Transplant, I think he was going to hit him regardless - the d-man is going to step up and make that hit if he thinks he can get there at the same time as the puck before the player has any chance to do anything with it. That pressure can create a 2 on 1 down low because your forwards are still below the dot and the other team is looking to break out. It's a bit of a risky pinch but it happens a few times a game, just not always with a big hit involved.
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Well, no I don’t believe any athlete is thinking in full sentences when reading and reacting and making quick plays. They rely on practice and experience playing the game within the rules to make split second decisions and act on them. I do believe the entire intent of stepping up to play the body on a breakout is to “light the player up”. It’s physical intimidation. It’s within the rules, but that’s what it is.
So a lifetime of “light that player up” is why he stepped up on the player. D pick their spots on plays like this and almost always do it when a forward doesn’t have their head up. Otherwise they’d get sidestepped 9 times out of 10.
I don’t believe he’ll get a suspension based on the criteria for a “illegal check to the head”, but I also don’t like the play and wouldn’t miss it. Maybe personally going through post concussion problems makes me biased. Used to like these plays, but with what we know I no longer like it. And no I’m not watching a different sport.