No brainer for the NHL, hit was dirty and Canucks play Flames on Saturday.
What was Garbutt doing going after the puck there? Should have went right after Kassian.
Also can't wait for the Canuck fans (do they still exist?) to start up the #freezack campaign.
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
Glad he won't suit up against the Flames on Saturday. Wouldn't put it past him to seek retribution against us for the last game and take a run at one of our young guys.
Aside from the obvious back issues, I could easily see a couple broken ribs after that hit.
Kassian's reaction to the hit says a lot - despite the Dallas player not having the puck for an easy 2 second count when he lands the hit squarely in the numbers, and the guy he hits crumples. I don't think he thought it was a bad hit.
Coming from a guy like Kassian, I'm actually a little surprised it's only a 3 game suspension. The incident itself should be worth a minimum 5 due to the blatant intent to injure (hitting from behind, into the bench, guy didn't have the puck, etc. Add another 5 on there because it was Kassian, and I think that would be a better starting point. The league and nhlpa need to find a way to protect the players on the ice. Significant suspensions are probably the only way to eliminate this kind of hit from hockey.
Certainly, not every hit from behind is intentional, but I think in this instance, it's pretty clear.
Such an incredibly dirty hit, thankfully Dillon wasn't hurt. 3 games is not long enough for a play which could have resulted in a very serious injury. The NHL needs to stop looking if the player was injured or not and just base suspensions on intent.
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Aside from the obvious back issues, I could easily see a couple broken ribs after that hit.
Kassian's reaction to the hit says a lot - despite the Dallas player not having the puck for an easy 2 second count when he lands the hit squarely in the numbers, and the guy he hits crumples. I don't think he thought it was a bad hit.
Coming from a guy like Kassian, I'm actually a little surprised it's only a 3 game suspension. The incident itself should be worth a minimum 5 due to the blatant intent to injure (hitting from behind, into the bench, guy didn't have the puck, etc. Add another 5 on there because it was Kassian, and I think that would be a better starting point. The league and nhlpa need to find a way to protect the players on the ice. Significant suspensions are probably the only way to eliminate this kind of hit from hockey.
Certainly, not every hit from behind is intentional, but I think in this instance, it's pretty clear.
Totally agree, should have been at least 10 games. Some hits from behind can be hard to prevent if a player quickly turns their back but there was nothing like that here.
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at about the 1:10 mark... is Chris Higgins mocking Dillon as he's getting up? Look like Higgins is holding his ribs and making a face like he's in excruciating pain.
Zach Kassian suspended three games for hit on Brenden Dillon
