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

[btimbit]

So many worse hits get nothing. Don't like it.

No Hit League

[Yoho]

If you google "Matt Stajan hit" YouTube has a bunch of different videos where he's "destroyed" by different NHLrs.

Pretty crappy for him.

[FlamesAddiction]

I can't say that I agree 100% with the suspension, but I get it. It is a bit of a slippery slope and for the sake of player safety, I think they need to take a conservative approach.

[jayswin]

Really surprised with that outcome. I'd figured the in game discipline was enough, and at the very most we'd see one game.

Personal opinion: The 5 and game was sufficient, two games is overkill.

[btimbit]

They need to rewrite the head contact rule and take the "circumstances" part out of it.

It's direct contact to the head, but Aulies body position is textbook. He gets low, he doesn't drive upwards or leave his feet. There was no injury on the play. Head contact happens for 3 reasons.

-Stajan is hunched over
-Stajan is looking at his feet
-Aulie is a taller player.

Can't believe I'm defending a hit on a flame from an oiler, but as a fan of the game that should just be a penalty. I didnt like that the hit seemed early, before Stajan had a chance to receive the pass, but other than that I don't like the call.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

They need to rewrite the head contact rule and take the "circumstances" part out of it.

It's direct contact to the head, but Aulies body position is textbook. He gets low, he doesn't drive upwards or leave his feet. Head contact happens for 3 reasons.

-Stajan is hunched over
-Stajan is looking at his feet
-Aulie is a taller player.

Ok, but then this scenario gets murky:

Player A gets smoked from behind from player B, but player B was just following through like a normal hit.


Look at it like a car collision. Even if the other guy is in the wrong, you have to do your best to avoid collision

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Ok, but then this scenario gets murky:

Player A gets smoked from behind from player B, but player B was just following through like a normal hit.


Look at it like a car collision. Even if the other guy is in the wrong, you have to do your best to avoid collision

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

I can understand if the leagues view on it is because of the timing of the hit, being so early Stajan doesn't have much chance to look back up. But even then 2 games seems excessive.

Like you said earlier, it's definitely not a squeaky clean hit. But 2 games? Come on.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

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

I can understand if the leagues view on it is because of the timing of the hit, being so early Stajan doesn't have much chance to look back up. But even then 2 games seems excessive.

Like you said earlier, it's definitely not a squeaky clean hit. But 2 games? Come on.

I don't mind the suspension. Just because you have a guy in a vulnerable spot, doesn't give you license to blow him up. Not anymore.

The intent of contact shouldn't be to injure regardless of technicality. For that reason I'm fine with suspension, just needs to be applied consistently then. Certainly not the most egregious one, but there it is.

He could see Stajan was not looking and had time to ensure head want principle point of contact and he didn't change the hit.

[keratosis]

At least Aulie seems like a good kid and likely won't be a repeat offender.
The big Problem I see is that guys like Cooke
are let off easy.

[btimbit]

I don't disagree, but 2 games just seems excessive.

Going back to my previous argument, if that was Giordano laying out Hall in the exact same hit, and there was no injury, most of us would be laughing our asses off. Then freaking out at the discipline.

Even the sportsnet guys were bashing the call, saying the game misconduct was too much. That argument doesn't hold much, because... Sportsnet, but still.

If the NHL doesn't want head contact, I get it, absolutely. But then make a rule that says "no head contact". Take the "circumstances" part of the wording out, just say no head contact.

Other than the timing I really don't see what else Aulie could've have done differently

[nik-]

Originally Posted by btimbit

So many worse hits get nothing. Don't like it.

No Hit League

No Hit to the Head League.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

No Hit to the Head League.

Then they should just say that.

From the hit to the head rule.

"whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered"

If they don't want head contact and want to put the onus squarely on the hitter, those sentences need to go.

[nik-]

They don't get it perfect, but they don't want hits like that in the game. Neither do I.

After learning in the last few years how it affects ex-players I don't get any entertainment from someone getting ####ing railed right in the head.

[keratosis]

[QUOTE=btimbitThen they should just say that. /QUOTE]
Yup. That we can agree on. To me its a no brainer.
no pun intended

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

They don't get it perfect, but they don't want hits like that in the game. Neither do I.

After learning in the last few years how it affects ex-players I don't get any entertainment from someone getting ####ing railed right in the head.

Absolutely, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Only thing Aulie could have done differently there is not hit him. Try making that distinction at game speed.

I hate to use such a cop out argument like this but I do feel that's a slippery slope. These hits will sometimes happen as long as hitting is a part of the game. That's why I don't whine about how much money these guys make, they deserve it, but it's part of the risk of playing.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Absolutely, but sometimes it's unavailable. Only thing Aulie could have done differently there is not hit him. Try making that distinction at game speed.

I hate to use such a cop out argument like this but I do feel that's a slippery slope. These hits will sometimes happen as long as hitting is a part of the game. That's why I don't whine about how much money these guys make, they deserve it, but it's part of the risk of playing.

Then don't hit him. Because that's exactly what the league wants, they don't want you to hit someone in a vulnerable position, whether it's their fault for being in that position or not. Brain trauma causing an impacted post-playing life doesn't care whether it was your fault or someone else's for that time for your head got destroyed in a hit.

You don't HAVE to hit someone. People are saying this "What's Aulie supposed to do?" like not hitting Stajan there is some big crime. It's not, it's just one less hit in a game where there are a TON of hits. Doing the "No Hit League" BS just adds nothing.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

Then don't hit him. Because that's exactly what the league wants, they don't want you to hit someone in a vulnerable position, whether it's their fault for being in that position or not. Brain trauma causing an impacted post-playing life doesn't care whether it was your fault or someone else's for that time for your head got destroyed in a hit.

You don't HAVE to hit someone.

For sure, but how's he supposed to make that distinction at game speed? "better not hit him in case he drops his head"

Again, I'm not in any way saying it's a clean hit, but 2 games seems excessive.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by btimbit

For sure, but how's he supposed to make that distinction at game speed? "better not hit him in case he drops his head"

Again, I'm not in any way saying it's a clean hit, but 2 games seems excessive.

Two games for some bottom pairing Defender (on the ####ing OILERS) is nothing. If he "can't avoid it" ... too bad imo. You're not allowed to hit people in the head like that and there's a cost to doing so.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by nik-

Two games for some bottom pairing Defender (on the ####ing OILERS) is nothing. If he "can't avoid it" ... too bad imo. You're not allowed to hit people in the head like that and there's a cost to doing so.

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.

I simply don't agree with the onus being 100% on the hitter. Accidental headshots are going to happen, it's ####ty, nobody wants to see it, but what is punishing the guy going to accomplish? It's not like it was targeted.

[nik-]

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.

I simply don't agree with the onus being 100% on the hitter. Accidental headshots are going to happen, it's ####ty, nobody wants to see it, but what is punishing the guy going to accomplish?

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. This has nothing to do with size. He was crouched and hit him right in the head coming at an angle. It's textbook.