[News] Aulie hit on Stajan - Aulie suspended for two games

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

6'9" Zdeno Chara hits 5'9(?)" Johnny Gaudreau. Tell me where the initial point of contact would be? Height is definitely a factor. If they don't take height into consideration, then Gaudreau would barely ever get hit and short guys would run the table in the NHL. Chara would have to drop to his knees and hipcheck Gaudreau to avoid contact with the head. Height has to be 100% a factor.

So your interpreting the rule to say that if your taller you can smoke guys directly on the head as much as you want? Because that is what your saying.

If it is the hitters responsibility to avoid the head as the principal point of contact, then you better be well aware of where the victims head is and make sure you avoid it.

It's like saying Chara can walk around swinging his stick at waist level even if he keeps smoking JG in the face, and it shouldn't be high sticking because of his height. And of course that is wrong.

[btimbit]

How many would still not like the hit if it was Giordano laying out Hall?

Stajan was hunched over, looking down, while receiving a suicide pass.

I firmly believe it's the hitters responsibility to avoid the head contact, but that's why I liked the 5 min major. Suspension would be too much imo. Wasn't malicious or dirty. Dangerous, sure, but not targeted. Head contact was accidental.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

How many would still not like the hit if it was Giordano laying out Hall?

Stajan was hunched over, looking down, while receiving a suicide pass.

I firmly believe it's the hitters responsibility to avoid the head contact, but that's why I liked the 5 min major. Suspension would be too much imo. Wasn't malicious or dirty. Dangerous, sure, but not targeted. Head contact was accidental.

Totally agree. But let's not pretend this is a good clean hit either (not saying you are)

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Totally agree. But let's not pretend this is a good clean hit either (not saying you are)

Squeaky clean no way. I'm just saying I think a suspension would be a bit much

[Ryan Coke]

I agree too, it wasn't a malicious hit. But most head shots aren't malicious or intentional, but they are careless. Same as here.

As for if it was Gio on Hall, well I like open ice hits in general. But based on the way the rules are currently in order to minimize concussions, it would be illegal if Gio hit Halls head as the primary point of contact, and I would be worried that he might get a suspension.

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

So your interpreting the rule to say that if your taller you can smoke guys directly on the head as much as you want? Because that is what your saying.

If it is the hitters responsibility to avoid the head as the principal point of contact, then you better be well aware of where the victims head is and make sure you avoid it.

It's like saying Chara can walk around swinging his stick at waist level even if he keeps smoking JG in the face, and it shouldn't be high sticking because of his height. And of course that is wrong.

No. It doesn't give him free reign to check to the head, but good on you for putting words in my mouth. I said that height should be a factor.

Let's look at the facts:
- Keith Aulie stands 6'6"
- Matt Stajan stands (up right) 6'1"
- Keith Aulie does not leave his feet
- Matt Stajan is hunched over
- The head is the initial point of contact for Aulies shoulder

At a standing height of 6'6", Aulie leans into the hit, not leaving his feet and not raising his elbow or shoulder. Stajan attempts to receive a suicide pass from Brodie, but doesn't end up touching it. Yes, the play is interference. Yes, the initial point of contact is the head. Was the head targeted? From looking at the replay, no. The call on the ice was the right call. 5 and a game. No need for supplementary action.

Aulies height should be a factor. It shouldn't solely determine whether Aulie gets more games or not, but to say it doesn't effect the outcome in some way is ridiculous and narrow minded. Now stop trying to put words in my mouth. Thanks.

[Iggy Snipe]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

No. It doesn't give him free reign to check to the head, but good on you for putting words in my mouth. I said that height should be a factor.

Let's look at the facts:
- Keith Aulie stands 6'6"
- Matt Stajan stands (up right) 6'1"
- Keith Aulie does not leave his feet
- Matt Stajan is hunched over
- The head is the initial point of contact for Aulies shoulder

At a standing height of 6'6", Aulie leans into the hit, not leaving his feet and not raising his elbow or shoulder. Stajan attempts to receive a suicide pass from Brodie, but doesn't end up touching it. Yes, the play is interference. Yes, the initial point of contact is the head. Was the head targeted? From looking at the replay, no. The call on the ice was the right call. 5 and a game. No need for supplementary action.

Aulies height should be a factor. It shouldn't solely determine whether Aulie gets more games or not, but to say it doesn't effect the outcome in some way is ridiculous and narrow minded. Now stop trying to put words in my mouth. Thanks.

I tend to agree with everything you said. Height differences make a huge difference in body contact situations. If both players are 6-6, it is a whole different story. It would have been a 2 minute interference penalty.

The right call was made in the given circumstances. Can't hit the head.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

6'9" Zdeno Chara hits 5'9(?)" Johnny Gaudreau. Tell me where the initial point of contact would be? Height is definitely a factor. If they don't take height into consideration, then Gaudreau would barely ever get hit and short guys would run the table in the NHL. Chara would have to drop to his knees and hipcheck Gaudreau to avoid contact with the head. Height has to be 100% a factor.

Nah, Chara would just have to eat a lot of Mexican the day of the game.

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Dear lord, a Chara fart would knock him flying 20 feet!

[habernac]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Aulie was in complete control....if Stajan doesnt lean forward at the last moment there is no contact with his head...unless you are suggesting Aulie shouldnt have hit him at all, im not sure what else could have been done.

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

6'9" Zdeno Chara hits 5'9(?)" Johnny Gaudreau. Tell me where the initial point of contact would be? Height is definitely a factor. If they don't take height into consideration, then Gaudreau would barely ever get hit and short guys would run the table in the NHL. Chara would have to drop to his knees and hipcheck Gaudreau to avoid contact with the head. Height has to be 100% a factor.

Aulie showed exactly how to do it in a replay I watched last night. He used his arms to hit the other player's shoulder and avoided his head altogether.

[MissTeeks]

2 games for Aulie

“@NHLPlayerSafety: Edmonton's Keith Aulie has been suspended 2 games for an illegal check to the head of Calgary's Matt Stajan.”

[csnarpy]

I don't have the quote but TSN reports he got 2games

Edit: and there you go ^^

[Yamer]

Glad they're bringing the hammer down, but given the history of the player and NHL discipline I'm surprised Aulie got 2.

[Gaskal]

Pleasantly surprised.

[JJ1532]

Don't agree with that and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, how was this clumsy but unintentional hit worse(and worthy of a 2 game ban) than the one Smid received from Despres?

So Despres deliberately smashed Smid in the head(an injury which he is yet to return from) and he didn't even receive an on ice penalty.

Yet Aulie makes a clumsy(and yes, slightly dangerous) hit on Stajan(which he was able to get up and skate away from) and gets a match penalty, a 5 minute major and now a 2 game ban.

Something doesn't add up here.

[Winsor_Pilates]

2 games away from the Oilers sounds like a reward

[Enoch Root]

I used to be in the 'keep your head up' camp. But the game has changed due to concussions.

Think about the situation along the boards... the player shouldn't turn their back to the other player, it's dangerous. Nonetheless, if they do and the player hits them in the back - in the numbers - it's a suspension. The player throwing the hit has to hold up if they see the numbers.

Same thing here. Stajan was in a vulnerable position. But if you want to stop injuries, you have to put the onus on the player throwing the hit. If the opposing player has their head down, if you can see the top of their helmet, you have to hold up.

It's the only way to stop injuries.

I am not surprised he got a suspension, and I think we'll see a lot more of them from open ice hits.

^ re Smid: absolutely, that should have been a suspension.

[Ryan Coke]

I'm surprised as well that he got 2 games, I certainly wasn't expecting that.

But it seems to validate the concept that it is the hitters responsibility to avoid the head as their primary point of contact. All the other factors are pretty negligible....if your throwing a hit, make sure you can get shoulder.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Personally, I found the hit on Smid to be worse. I'm surprised he got suspended at all.

[calgarywinning]

I think that the suspension is just a result of the League sending a message to all players to reduce hits of this style. Regardless of height, the NHL doesn't want players hitting in a dangerous manner with the potential for concussion and impact on players career. The game is being cleaned up.

[locsofblu]

2 game suspension is a bit surprising. Imo playing for the oilers is punishment enough.