Does Giordano get suspended for the hit on Aho? Update:No hearing scheduled - Per NHL

[CedarMeter]

Slowed it down and it looked to me his shoulder got him in the face. Who knows. He'll probably get a game.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by GGG

Principle point of contact was the head. No intent to hit the head

I don't agree. I think his lower arm contacts lower in the chest at first which is where he's aiming to make contact. The entire impact is off kilter as a result of the dangerous angle Aho is cutting in at.

The only reason the head comes into contact the way it does is the irresponsible position Aho's coming into Gio at (not looking).

If your username indicates you're a boxing fan, I'd liken it to someone claiming a rabbit punch is thrown when the fighter on the receiving end is turning their head away.

Gio's elbow is tucked and he's trying to legally separate player from the puck. Aho is cutting in while looking away with his knees facing forward while his upper body twists away. His body is coming into contact with Gio more than the other way around and to me that's all on him.

[Southside]

No way. DOPS is a joke if they don't fire this one right out. It's a hockey play, not a hit to the head.

[Darth Tkachuk]

According to Toronto maple Sportsnet, it was a hit to the head. It clearly was not. Cassie Campbell called it a clean hit, even after all the replays. There won't even be a hearing on this one. I don't know how the linesman behind the play supposedly has a better view than the official right in front of the play has.

[topfiverecords]

Give him 5 days off

[PeteMoss]

Here's the rule:

Rule 48 – Illegal Check to the Head
48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an
opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and
such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was
avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be
considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the
opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor
timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the
body upward or outward.
(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by
assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full
body check unavoidable.
(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body
or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way
that significantly contributed to the head contact.
48.2 Minor Penalty – For violation of this rule, a minor penalty shall be
assessed.
48.3 Major Penalty – There is no provision for a major penalty for this rule.
48.4 Game Misconduct Penalty – There is no provision for a game
misconduct for this rule.
48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match
penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately
injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.
If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by
the Commissioner at his discretion.

[PeteMoss]

Based on that - don't think he gets suspended.

Head wasn't picked. He didn't extend his body or even really take an angle. Aho put himself in a vulnerable position.

[Enoch Root]

Based on the wording above, there is no reason whatsoever to suspend Giordano

Also, very interesting that there is no provision for a major penalty

[driveway]

5 and a game was a fine call, doesn't deserve a suspension.

[shogged]

What’s Gio supposed to do? Let him skate into the slot and get a shot off? It’s unfortunate aho was injured but every defencman in the league would have made that hit. Keep your head up

[CedarMeter]

Interesting reading some of the sportsnet comments. Some posters want him drawn and quartered.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...sebastian-aho/


Sedna Andes
“The rules say an illegal hit. Aho's head was the principal point of contact. Take a look at the replay in slow motion. "Beginning with the 2010-11 NHL season, any form of "lateral or blind side hit to an opponent, where the player's head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact" (which is known as an illegal check to the head) became prohibited."

[-TC-]

It’s gonna all be interpretation... the rule reads no, and Gio doesn’t have a history of dirty play, but...

[Slanter]

I think he gets suspended. He definitely hit him in the head, and Giordano's skates left the ice. I know he didn't jump to initiate the hit, but he was driving up with his shoulder. Into Aho's head. Should probably be a suspension.

[FanIn80]

Considering TSN called it a "knee-on-knee-hit-to-the-head" during their highlight package for the game, I fully expect the league to throw the book at Gio.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I mean, it's very straightforward.

Gio moves to the middle of the ice to protect a high danger area defensively.

Aho Skates right into him with his head down.

Gio happens to make contact with his head and knee, but tried his best to hit him right in the chest.


So, we have incidental contact to the head, zero intent from the defender, and the attacker put himself in a vulnerable position.

If I hear of even a fine, I'll be pissed. Guys have to be able to play defense in the NHL. This is a case of the attacker having zero clue of his surroundings.

Sucks that he got hurt, but he's lucky it wasn't someone like Radko Gudas delivering that hit. It might have been a career ender.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

The whole point isn't that the move was stupid, it's to try and prevent players from devastating one another when mistakes get made. That's the culture change they are trying to impact.

All Gio needs to do there to prevent a goal is separate Aho from the puck. He doesn't need to make a statement hit. I have no issue with Gio trying for a statement hit as he did, nor Iam I saying the hit makes Gio dirty. But the whole point is putting full responsibility on the person hitting if you take advantage of a mistake and go for a lights out hit vs simple puck separation. If you can't ensure proper execution of said hit, you might pay the price. Aho is going to pay the price regardless for his mistake.

Statement hit? He was practically standing still and just edged his body out to contact Aho.

What was the statement there, "meh" ?

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I think he gets suspended for 2 games.

It is similar (but not the same) to the Buffalo hit at 0:57 in the DoPS educational video, where they say "poor angle of approach".

https://www.nhl.com/video/hard-hits-...560/c-49929203

Edit: main difference is that the Buffalo player was moving and Gio wasn't.

So... how can it be “poor angle of approach” when the hitter is stationary and the recipient of the hit was the only player moving?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Here's the rule:

By the rule book, even the match penalty was absurd. He can only give the match penalty if there was clearly intention to do so.

[TheGrimm]

This better be a non-issue by tomorrow, the flip flop call was rediculous enough. Aho put himself in an incredibly vulnerable position and Gio tried his best to take him out cleanly, you could even see him crouch to avoid hitting him in the face, he practically tried to get himself hurt. I feel bad for him but that was just a dumb play.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Here's the rule:

So after reading the rule I feel he should have gotten a minor penalty for the rule.

The principal point of contact was the head and it was avoidable as Gio was moving up rather than into Aho. He could have let up. However there is no intent to injure therefore per 48.5 no match penalty or supplementary discipline is warranted.

I'm disappointed the NHL doesn't have a blanket no head shots rule as this and most of the Legal hits on the headshot safety video warrant suspensions in my opinion. If this happened to Gaudreau I would be pissed.