The NHL is pretty stupid with it's punishment but there is no way that should be a suspension.
If the roles are reversed the only difference is Backes waits until the guys back is turned to drill him in the boards from behind and then punches in the back of the head when he is on the ice.
The Seabrook on Backes hit is the kind of hit the NHL is really having trouble dealing with. It is dangerous and can end someone's career, BUT it is tough to fault Seabrook. The speed that the play happened doesn't give him any option to choose his point of contact or avoid the hit, and the hit would have been clean if Backes wasn't so low to the ice. Seabrooks arm is pinned to his side the whole time. His execution is totally clean.
Really unfortunate.
I think the way to prevent concussions from hits like that is to mandate smaller, softer shoulder pads. Increase the risk of injury to the guy delivering the hit and reduce the impact to players heads when they get caught out like Backes.
The NHL is pretty stupid with it's punishment but there is no way that should be a suspension.
If the roles are reversed the only difference is Backes waits until the guys back is turned to drill him in the boards from behind and then punches in the back of the head when he is on the ice.
You can't judge the suspension or lack thereof because you don't like the victim.
(Unless it's a Canuck...)
It really wasn't that terrible a hit. It was just borderline illegal in a couple of ways. Not flagrantly so.
Anyway I just want to give some props to Vladi Sobotka for his play to make that game winner happen. Creates a neutral zone turnover, gains the blue line, backs off the D, stops up on the wall and feeds the point for a one-timer. Guy is such an underrated player.
So hits to the head are not illegal now? I'm not really seeing an argument from the clean hit crowd other than the Backes hate, which is not an argument at all. He elevates his shoulder and his shoulder hit his head.
Quote:
Originally Posted by moon
The Chi/St. Louis winner gets an easy 2nd round match-up and maybe can rest up to face the beat up winner of the Pacific.
As for this gem moon I suppose we can bring it back up in a couple weeks.
Here's my argument: his feet sort of leave the ice a bit and he's leaning into it so it's a charge, I guess, but it's borderline. The head is arguably the main point of contact, but he goes right through Backes's body, it's not like he picks the head like that headshot on Oshie a couple weeks ago. Plus, Backes is turning and is a bit lower than he would ordinarily be because he's on his edges when Seabrook makes contact, so his head's lined right up with the shoulder.
There's no elbow, not sure where people are getting that. He doesn't take strides into the hit. Puck is in the vicinity, not interference. So like I say, yeah it's an illegal check I think but it's very close to the line, more so than most hits that have that kind of consequence.
So hits to the head are not illegal now? I'm not really seeing an argument from the clean hit crowd other than the Backes hate, which is not an argument at all. He elevates his shoulder and his shoulder hit his head.
As for this gem moon I suppose we can bring it back up in a couple weeks.
Not saying the hit isn't illegal; technically it is, but it is still tough to get it out of the game; that's the problem with that hit IMO.
Here's my argument: his feet sort of leave the ice a bit and he's leaning into it so it's a charge, I guess, but it's borderline. The head is arguably the main point of contact, but he goes right through Backes's body, it's not like he picks the head like that headshot on Oshie a couple weeks ago. Plus, Backes is turning and is a bit lower than he would ordinarily be because he's on his edges when Seabrook makes contact, so his head's lined right up with the shoulder.
There's no elbow, not sure where people are getting that. He doesn't take strides into the hit. Puck is in the vicinity, not interference. So like I say, yeah it's an illegal check I think but it's very close to the line, more so than most hits that have that kind of consequence.
The refs just made up the charging part cause they had to make up something after the commotion.
The refs just made up the charging part cause they had to make up something after the commotion.
Should have been boarding or illegal hit to the head, but not sure it's charging.
Edit: Does look like he leaves his feet, too, but I have a hard time with that part of a hit, as post contact follow through usually leads to the hitter's feet leaving the ice.
Last edited by IamNotKenKing; 04-19-2014 at 05:51 PM.
The refs just made up the charging part cause they had to make up something after the commotion.
Ya charging was the wrong call, but the refs could have easily called 5 for interference there. Backes never gets possession of the puck, he misses it on the boards, so he isn't expecting the hit, at least he's not expecting it as much as he would have if he didn't miss the puck.
