Tom Wilson gets Match Penalty for brutal hit on Blues' Oskar Sundqvist

[DJones]

Meh, I can't be bothered to be outraged by this.

Looked like shoulder to me.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I’d be surprised if he got more than a handful of games. 4 or 5 tops.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Shoulder or not, it was certainly blindside. Player is driving towards the net, cuts laterally in the middle, but is still focused on driving play towards the net. Wilson is coming from the blue line. Very predatory.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

What is the point that it was acceptable 20 years ago?

It very clearly is not now and has not been for years.

And pretty much none of the players in the NHL were in the league 20 years ago (Thornton and Marleau, sure, and maybe very few others, but you get the point)

its just interesting to note the change in reaction.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Shoulder or not, it was certainly blindside. Player is driving towards the net, cuts laterally in the middle, but is still focused on driving play towards the net. Wilson is coming from the blue line. Very predatory.

is there anything wrong with blindside hits that are shoulder to shoulder?

[chedder]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

is there anything wrong with blindside hits that are shoulder to shoulder?

Not according to the nhl rulebook.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sourc...=1538344124874

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by chedder

Not according to the nhl rulebook.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sourc...=1538344124874

So assuming its shoulder-to-shoulder, then this seems like a pretty clear example where one might say "yo dawg! don't hate the player, hate the game"

Assuming its shoulder-to-shoulder...

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

is there anything wrong with blindside hits that are shoulder to shoulder?

I don’t know. In certain cases I would say likely yes. I can ask you, what other circumstances would you consider - to what degree blindside, how violent, how likely is the hit to injure, how necessary and how avoidable is it? Anything else?

That play was a cheap shot. Trying to place the hit on the shoulder, given the angle of approach of both guys, is there enough margin for error that the risk of knocking the guy into next week was there? Wilson coasted in, had a good long look at Sundqvist, knew Sundqvist didn’t see him.

To me, that hit could easily have shoulder or head as primary point of contact, either as is, or based on Sundqvist moving slightly, so the technicality of whether the hitter is lucky enough not to hit the head isn’t good enough, in my opinion. Hope that makes sense.

[PeteMoss]

Is there another video or are some deciding its shoulder to shoulder based on this video with two angles where you have no idea if it was shoulder or head?

[chedder]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I don’t know. In certain cases I would say likely yes. I can ask you, what other circumstances would you consider - to what degree blindside, how violent, how likely is the hit to injure, how necessary and how avoidable is it? Anything else?

That play was a cheap shot. Trying to place the hit on the shoulder, given the angle of approach of both guys, is there enough margin for error that the risk of knocking the guy into next week was there? Wilson coasted in, had a good long look at Sundqvist, knew Sundqvist didn’t see him.

To me, that hit could easily have shoulder or head as primary point of contact, either as is, or based on Sundqvist moving slightly, so the technicality of whether the hitter is lucky enough not to hit the head isn’t good enough, in my opinion. Hope that makes sense.

Agree Moustache. But according to the cba if the head isn't the primary point of contact its clean (as long as it's not too late) This is where the problems arise.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I don’t know. In certain cases I would say likely yes. I can ask you, what other circumstances would you consider - to what degree blindside, how violent, how likely is the hit to injure, how necessary and how avoidable is it? Anything else?

That play was a cheap shot. Trying to place the hit on the shoulder, given the angle of approach of both guys, is there enough margin for error that the risk of knocking the guy into next week was there? Wilson coasted in, had a good long look at Sundqvist, knew Sundqvist didn’t see him.

To me, that hit could easily have shoulder or head as primary point of contact, either as is, or based on Sundqvist moving slightly, so the technicality of whether the hitter is lucky enough not to hit the head isn’t good enough, in my opinion. Hope that makes sense.

I'd agree a hit like this is uncalled for given the context that the game is meaningless and Wilson is already on the team. So its definitely disrespectful to the game and the league.

But...a shoulder-to-shoulder, high octane, blindside hit does have a place. It has a place within the context of a seven-game series. If this hit is clean, it has the potential to change a game, change a series, change a season. Just like a good clean fight. Just like a sick line brawl.

But yeah...preseason, meaningless game. Sad!

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Is there another video or are some deciding its shoulder to shoulder based on this video with two angles where you have no idea if it was shoulder or head?

Good question.

I see in the video linked a guy who has shot, his shoulder is down and rotating, and see a guy skate through him.

I don’t see that as decisively, or even likely, a clean shoulder to shoulder hit because of how the shoulder is dropped. So even if there is contact on the shoulder it’s not like the guy is straight up and hitting the shoulder means a bunch of crumple zone before the head could be hit.

Whatever technicalities there are in the rules, that was a predatory hit.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I'd agree a hit like this is uncalled for given the context that the game is meaningless and Wilson is already on the team. So its definitely disrespectful to the game and the league.

But...a shoulder-to-shoulder, high octane, blindside hit does have a place. It has a place within the context of a seven-game series. If this hit is clean, it has the potential to change a game, change a series, change a season. Just like a good clean fight. Just like a sick line brawl.

But yeah...preseason, meaningless game. Sad!

Fair opinion that could be better discussed if we had video of a shoulder to shoulder hit that resembled your remark. I see the shoulder here as dropped and the head above the shoulder and unprotected.

Completely agree that in a meaningless game it is unacceptable

[カナダ人です]

Originally Posted by chedder

Not condoning the hit one bit but Sundvist has to be more aware in that position for his own well being. Right across the middle with his head down.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Christ I hate this argument.

"be aware of your position" is not an argument. It's good advice. chedder specifically said he didn't condone the hit, and neither do I. But not putting oneself in dangerous positions, or at least being aware of it, seems extremely logical.

Isn't this taught from minor hockey? Well, it was when I played, but that was a while ago now!

[Murph]

Serious question:

What is Wilson supposed to do in this situation? The situation being, an opposing player cutting through the slot with his head down, intent on shooting.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

It never ceases to amaze me that NHL players will still cut across the middle of the ice with their head down.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Murph

Serious question:

What is Wilson supposed to do in this situation? The situation being, an opposing player cutting through the slot with his head down, intent on shooting.

Not destroy him.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Not destroy him.

In an exhibition game.

[ripTDR]

Originally Posted by Murph

Serious question:

What is Wilson supposed to do in this situation? The situation being, an opposing player cutting through the slot with his head down, intent on shooting.

Uhhh...serious answer...let up a bit? Stick check? Go retrieve the puck?


Can't believe people are justifying his actions.

[ripTDR]

Originally Posted by Hey Connor, It's Mess

It never ceases to amaze me that NHL players will still cut across the middle of the ice with their head down.

...Trying to score goals...which is the point of the game...