End of the road for Shanahan?

[calumniate]

Here's an interesting article by Travis Yost (Senators blogger I believe - yeah maybe a little slanted):

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?b...4#.UYkiPbWmiAh

Has some pretty good points with a bit of context referencing to other similar situations.

[Mike F]

Here's my take:

1. Eller's serious injuries occured because his face smacked the ice;
2. Eller's face smacked the ice because he made no attempt to brace his fall with his arms;
3. Eller made no attempt to brace his fall with his arms because he was knocked our by the contact

In my experience, getting knocked out by a full body shot where your head whips around just by the rotation of your torso doesn't usually happen; it's usually by a shot to the jaw ("on the button"). To me ,the video supports the latter, with Gryba's shoulder connecting with Eller's chin.

I also agree with Shanahan that it looked like Gryba made little effort to go shouder-to-shoulder, and either intended or made no effort to avoid making it a glancing blow across the front of Eller that made contact to the head much more likely.

Injury + shot to the head + little effort to avoid head = suspension as a reasonable choice, IMO.

[Stay Golden]

To me there is no rational reason why Bork should not have been facing a suspension.
He simply took advantage of a game that went out of control. That elbow normally would be a 5-6 game suspension.
Montreal seems to have gotten a favor on that one. No matter Bork will be the cause of a turnover resulting in the GWG for the Sens. Hockey karma is funny that way.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Mike F

I also agree with Shanahan that it looked like Gryba made little effort to go shouder-to-shoulder, and either intended or made no effort to avoid making it a glancing blow across the front of Eller that made contact to the head much more likely.

Injury + shot to the head + little effort to avoid head = suspension as a reasonable choice, IMO.

But this illustrates the underlying issue. This suspension might have the effect of scaring defenseman from "stepping up" and delivering a hit as it is almost impossible to deliver a shoulder to shoulder hit when you are stepping up and you just hope that the hit is shoulder to chest instead of shoulder to chin. A guy like Chara will has little chance of delivering a shoulder to chest hit on majority of forwards in the NHL.

[Mike F]

People have been throwing out the "This is going to completely take hitting out of the game" argument since the rule was implemented, but we still have a series like St. Louis vs. LA, which is as physical a series as I've seen in recent memory, and which hasn't had a single reviewable incident.

Hate to bring him up in a positive light, but Matt Cooke is proof that a guy can take the dangerous element out of his game but still play a physical, agitating style.

Players will adapt without abandoning hitting.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Mike F

People have been throwing out the "This is going to completely take hitting out of the game" argument since the rule was implemented, but we still have a series like St. Louis vs. LA, which is as physical a series as I've seen in recent memory, and which hasn't had a single reviewable incident.

Which is why we're having a discussion about Shanahan.

Originally Posted by DarkSaturn

Same garbage as ever... punishing the results rather than the intent.

Meanwhile, this probably doesn't even get looked at:

[PIMking]

holy jesus if this is suspension worthy they may as well make this womens hockey and not chick.

[mykalberta]

Shannahan is as he always been, a mental midget who is nothing more than a figurehead for the league to "crack down" on these "dangerous" hits.

How does someone who is 6+ inches taller hit someone else without their shoulder impacting their head?

People who skate with their head down are the players we dont want in the league. It makes the league look like a joke to have those players skating around because it shows the leagues overall skill degrading.

The 1 thing the NHL doesnt need is its average skill level degrading - its already stretched way past the number of teams the current skill level can support IMO.

[thefoss1957]

How are these not worthy of a Shanaban?

Morrow Turnbuckling Cizikas' head repeatedly into the ice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=y5lv_94Y90c So much for protecting player's heads as a point of emphasis.

Letang Knowingly Crosschecking Official: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=DlY3s2ZyCks Rulebook says: MANDATORY 10 GAME SUSPENSION! (Rule 40.3)

Supplementary disipline is a joke if these two incidents are allowed to slide...wait, supplementary disipline is already an arbitrary joke!

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

How are these not worthy of a Shanaban?

Morrow Turnbuckling Cizikas' head repeatedly into the ice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=y5lv_94Y90c So much for protecting player's heads as a point of emphasis.

Letang Knowingly Crosschecking Official: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=DlY3s2ZyCks

Rulebook says: MANDATORY 10 GAME SUSPENSION! (Rule 40.3)

Supplementary disipline is a joke if these two incidents are allowed to slide...wait, supplementary disipline is already an arbitrary joke!

Well known player(s) combined with no huge injuries that the league just cannot ignore means it will likely be allowed to slide. Pathetic but I can honestly say I would be absolutely floored if they did take some sort of action.

Discipline in the league really is a bad joke.