[News] Kadri has hearing for his hit on Backstrom - UPDATE: suspended for 3 games

[devo22]

Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety Thursday afternoon for a hit on Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center.

At 7:07 of the first period, Kadri hit Backstrom while driving to the net. Backstrom initially remained in the game after being attended to on the ice, but was replaced by Josh Harding at 10:31 of the first period and did not return.

Kadri received a two-minute minor for goaltender interference on the play.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: goalie interference/charging. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...d=nhl:topheads

[Resolute 14]

I know one of the referees in that game was making his NHL debut, but it is hard to believe they didn't call that a major penalty.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Goalie interference and a head shot. I don't think he has a suspension history. Backstrom unable to complete the game.

Add it all up, I say 3 games.

Silly he got the match penalty for the Granlund hit. That should have been a charge for 2 mins. Oh well.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Goalie interference and a head shot. I don't think he has a suspension history. Nackstrom unable to complete the game.

Add it all up, I say 3 games.

Silly he got the match penalty for the Granlund hit. That should have been a charge for 2 mins. Oh well.

i thought the granlund hit was a bit vicious also, but tough to say if it's actually illegal.

[Poe969]

I don't like Kadri, I don't like the leafs. I hope he gets 3 and 2, I'm not sure if they'll give him two suspensions or just one but I really hope he gets a few games.

[MyFlamesFirst]

From a Minnesota perspective, I would be upset if Kadri didn't get suspended. I would say 5 games is firm but fair.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i thought the granlund hit was a bit vicious also, but tough to say if it's actually illegal.

I'm OK with the call in real time, but upon review there's nothing suspendable IMO. But yeah, I prefer the refs initial reaction to call the penalty then to leave the whistle put away.

[Itse]

I thought the Granlund hit was a clear headshot too, which makes 2 in 1 game. Totally deserving two suspensions. Not that he's going to get them.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i thought the granlund hit was a bit vicious also, but tough to say if it's actually illegal.

I think the officials applied the wrong rule. For a check to the head match penalty, the referees obviously felt that Kadri targeted the head with intent to cause injury. This, frankly, is the penalty they should have called on his hit on Backstrom. A boarding minor would have been fair on the Granlund hit.

[King Theo]

This is the first that I am seeing the hit on Backstrom, wow! He goes deep into the crease the puck was going the other way he had no need to go there, and then he lowers his arm to make sure it hits Backstrom in the head. He should get 5 games for that hit to the head. The Granlund hit maybe its just a fine maybe 1 game.

[Redliner]

He's a Leaf. 1 game, tops.

[devo22]

I can't check right now, but I think I saw one of the TSN guys tweeting that the league isn't looking at the Granlund hit. Suspension will be for the Backstrom incident only.

I think somewhere between 3 and 5 games would be fair. I expect him to get 2-3 max though

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Redliner

He's a Leaf. 1 game, tops.

I hate the Leafs as much as anyone, but their top UFA acquisition sat out the first 10 games on a suspension. They are not above it.

[19Yzerman19]

Yeah, an automatic suspension. There was no discretion as to the number of games on that one.

This was pretty egregious. There's no one pushing Kadri, there's no puck in the area he's focused on, he just decides to smoke Backstrom in the mask. Given that it appears totally intentional I'd like to see a 5+ gamer. But I agree with most that 3 is more likely. We'll see.

[FlamesAddiction]

Any word on how long Backstrom will be out?

[nmhen]

I'm guessing 2 games. Completely unnecessary to hit Bax at all, much less with the chicken wing up in his face. I felt giving him the major on the Granlund hit was more about not penalizing him enough for the Bax hit and trying to keep the game from exploding (even though it was close and the Wild had shown almost zero willingness to respond) than it was because it was strictly deserved for that hit.

No word on Bax's prognosis yet.

[The Yen Man]

That was a brutal hit on Backstrom. I can't believe no one on Minny pummeled the little s*** for that.

[Henry Fool]

Minnesota made a huge mistake by making it public that Harding was feeling ill.

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I hate the Leafs as much as anyone, but their top UFA acquisition sat out the first 10 games on a suspension. They are not above it.

The 10 game suspension for coming off the bench is a standard, and in the case of Clarkson there was no way they could have justified waiving it. Not really a great example of the league laying down the law on the leafs.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

That was a brutal hit on Backstrom. I can't believe no one on Minny pummeled the little s*** for that.

No kidding, who cares if he is a skill guy (Kadri) he should have been pummeled and should have been run over with hits the rest of the game.