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

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

Whether you agree with it or not is irrelevant. The NHL has stated the onus is on the hitter. If the only way you can "do your job" is to hit someone, you're a pretty poor defender. Defenders aren't required to hit someone to do their jobs.

Then they need to rewrite the rule because they haven't said that at all.

If that didn't hit the head, that's a great hit. Aulie did all he could.The only way that's avoidable is by not hitting him at all, you're absolutely right. How is the hitter supposed to know beforehand that that hit ends up contacting the head and not the shoulder where he aimed. Accidents happen.

The only way to accomplish what you're suggesting is to take hits out completely. Because accidents can and will happen. It sucks but it's unavoidable

[saillias]

The puck went right through Stajan so I think the interference part of the play factors in to the suspension. You can't level someone just because they are the vicinity of the puck, glad the NHL laid the law down. If Aulie wasn't attempting to take someone's head off and play his position there he could have maybe tried to catch that pass

[Joborule]

Surprised that this even gets a game. The match penalty should've been enough since I don't think it was malicious of a hit. (Head didn't even look like intended point of contact) It was a suicide pass gone wrong.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Then they need to rewrite the rule because they haven't said that at all.

If that didn't hit the head, that's a great hit. Aulie did all he could.The only way that's avoidable is by not hitting him at all, you're absolutely right. How is the hitter supposed to know beforehand that that hit ends up contacting the head and not the shoulder where he aimed. Accidents happen.

The only way to accomplish what you're suggesting is to take hits out completely. Because accidents can and will happen. It sucks but it's unavoidable

But it did. Which is the entire point.

Accidents can and will happen, and it will cost the player. I'm fine with that because it's happening less and less.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't mind the suspension but the next time a marquee player (instead of a nobody) is laying that same hit he better get two games as well as consistency of punishment is where the league has issues.

I like the suspension as while some will complain about taking hits out the NFL is doing the same thing with defenceless receivers and it's all in the name of preventing concussions which have lifetime consequences for players long after they are done playing. Fans can complain all they want but they will adjust and players will be safer.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

But it did. Which is the entire point.

Accidents can and will happen, and it will cost the player. I'm fine with that because it's happening less and less.

We're simply not going to agree on this. I don't like it, it seems like punishing someone for something they don't have control over.

Thanks for the good discussion nik.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by btimbit

If Aulie doesn't hit him there, Stajan gets around him and he didn't do his job. He's not in position to do anything else

Then he's out of position, and he's not a good defender. This also ties into the size argument; if you have no other way to defend other than running someone over if you are 6'5", you're not going to last long in the league. The best thing Aulie could have done is nothing at all, and relied on some other form of defense to break up the play. Right or wrong, it seems that is what the league wants these days.

I get what you're saying though. 5 years ago that's a legal hit. Nowadays, you might as well not even attempt it.

[keratosis]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't mind the suspension but the next time a marquee player (instead of a nobody) is laying that same hit he better get two games as well as consistency of punishment is where the league has issues..

You are so right on this one

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't mind the suspension but the next time a marquee player (instead of a nobody) is laying that same hit he better get two games as well as consistency of punishment is where the league has issues.

Well we all know THAT ain't happenin. That's probably the single most frustrating thing I have with the disciplinary committee; total lack of consistency (IMO).

Just wait. Some big name star will take a guys head off, and people will stand back and call it gritty.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

If Aulie doesn't hit him there, Stajan gets around him and he didn't do his job. He's not in position to do anything else.

That's just not true. There was a hit there to be made, it needn't be devastating

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That's just not true. There was a hit there to be made, it needn't be devastating

Sure, but people love big hits. It's unfortunate that it hit his head but it's not like he aimed for it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Sure, but people love big hits. It's unfortunate that it hit his head but it's not like he aimed for it.

You're missing my point. He's staring at Stajan and knows he's vulnerable. He finished the hit hard anyways. He didn't have to and took the risk of blowing up his head. Now he lives with the suspension

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I've always said the NHL needs to hand out harsher punishments, so I'm not upset with Aulie getting 2 games, but the bigger issue is consistency.

As someone has already pointed out, the Despres hit on Smid was much worse and got nothing. No penalty, no fine, no suspension.

If you want to give Aulie 2 games, fine.....I like that they're trying to get rid of head hits, but at least be consistent with it. That's what bugs me.

[Ryan Coke]

I would also say that there is something between 'headshot' and nothing.

He hit him too far forward....his head was down, but it was that way before he got hit, it wasn't like he suddenly leaned into Aulies shoulder at the last second. So as he is coming in for the hit, he needed to make the adjustment to get lower and him farther back to as to avoid his head. He needed to target the shoulder.

I'm not even arguing whether I like the way the game has gone or not, but that is the way it is now. Hit, but the responsibility for not hitting the head is overwhelmingly the hitters.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Sure, if it's a hit from behind, absolutely. I don't really see what Aulie could have done differently though

Aulie could have targeted the shoulder.

Heres a screen cap that's as early in the hit as the video showed:



Based on this, it looks like Aulie's trajectory was lining up with the centre of Stajan's body, not his shoulder, making contact with the head highly probable.

Regarding Stajan's movement, if Aulie had been targeting the shoulder, any dipping or leaning by Stajan would have moved Stajan's head further from the target area, not into it. I.e Aulie would have hit more of Stajan's back and less of his shoulder.

[Vulcan]

I couldn't make out who made the pass, anybody? Someone mentioned it was Brodie but I was thinking it was Engelland while Diaz is known for it.

[sureLoss]

It was Brodie:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/g...-the-new-year/

[Mike F]

It was Brodie.

Edit: [sigh] sureLoss-ed

[Locke]

This is clearly a league conspiracy against the Oilers!!

How can they be expected to compete without Aulie?

McDavid for sure....

[btimbit]

People need to stop watching the hit in slow motion or still frames and acting like Aulie had lots of time to look at Stajan and fully asses the situation. This happened at game speed.

Head contact in of itself is not against the rules. If they want it out of the game completely, then need to say so, not just pick and choose to occasionally over-enforce it.

Again, not saying it was a clean hit, way too early, but 2 games for that is an absolute joke. Especially after the Hansen-Wingels one last week was just a small fine. And the Despres-Smid one was nothing.