Torres hit on Hossa

[Roman]

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Ok, so I think we all can guess where Krestanovich stands on this hit from last night, but what do you all think about it? Hard hit, unfortunate result? Illegal hit? Charging? What say ye?

[ShawnD]

late hit, left is feet, puck was no where near hossa, made contact to the head.  I think TSN is saying an indefinite suspension has been put out for now.  And for Torres to say it was a good hockey play is just absolutely ridiculous.  He is a repeat offender, IMO, 15-20 games.  Send a ******* message already.

[Geoff Fox]

Well, I would say its an illegal hit. but not because i think he targeted the head.  He left his feet (charging) and the puck was no where around (interference).  I think its unfortunate that Hossa left on a stretcher, but i dont think he was hit in the head by Torres.  I know Blackhawks fans would disagree.  I have two big concerns about this incident: 1) Torres was completely out of control and was going to make that hit regardless of where the puck was and that is a little scary.  2) I believe he will get a suspension based on the fact that Hossa was taken away on a stretcher and not on the facts of the physical nature of the hit.  I believe Shannahan has been incredably inconsistent this year with rulings and mostly using some subjective, unknowable metric of 'intent' with his rulings.  Intent cannot be judged by watching a replay.  He also also been using his posistion politically trying to improve the 'image' of the game by being harder on hits like this that result in Sports Center moments of players being attended to by medics.   I know this has been a long response, but here is the so what.  If the league bases is decisions on result rather than action, very soon you will have European Soccer style diving ALL OVER the NHL.  Reference Mike Smith in game 2 of this same series.

**EDIT: One of the worst things about this play: NO PENALTY WAS CALLED!!  Are you serious?

[ShawnD]

looks like shoulder to chin to me.  shanaban has been terrible at suspending people.  I really hope the NHLPA pushes for a third party or panel of people for suspensions in this CBA.

[Lord Bodak]

The NHL needs a simple rule change to solve this.  Any hit to the head = 5 minute penalty.  Take all discretion out of it.  The only way to change the attitude of the players is to give them real consequences, not the "wheel of discipline" random suspensions that they have been giving out.

[Geoff Fox]

looks like shoulder to chin to me. 

I respect that call Shawn, just dont agree with the 2 views i saw.  A view from the Hawks bench would be definitive.   I believe the rule states 'head is priniciple point of contact', that video doesnt show that to me. 

Dont get me wrong, i am not saying your view point is incorrect.  But with no passion as a fan of neither team, I dont see it.  I do think the wreckless nature of the hit does require review and the refs should be disciplined for missing an obvious charging or interference call.

[Randy]

Hopefully Raffi will get an early start on his golf game and off season workouts.  A vicious and illegal hit (in a number of different ways).  Shanahan really needs to unload on a player for this type of play to discourage others from doing it.  And right now Raffi is my number one candidate to the the poster boy for ramped up penalties by Shanahan.

[ShawnD]

IDK if it means anything, but hes the first player to have an indefinite suspension before his hearing even happens.  IMO take a 1/5 of next season away from him.

[Frntrowhockeyfan]

The real issue is what needs to change in terms of rules/penalties---

-Do you go after a player who leaves his feet?
-A player who targets the head?
-A player who clips another player low?
-A player who knowing sticks his knee out for the trip/knee on knee?
-A player who uses his hip to impede a player in a vicious manner?

EVERY One of these issues has come up the last few weeks of the regular season and here in the playoffs.
So, What is to be done? Change the rules! Enforce the repeat offender rule? Put more language in the rule to clarify. Or add it to the new CBA........

[Lord Bodak]

-Do you go after a player who leaves his feet?
-A player who targets the head?
-A player who knowing sticks his knee out for the trip/knee on knee?

These three are already explicitly illegal.  Maybe the first step should be making the referees read a rulebook...

[NYR99NHL]

Left his feet, no puck near, repeat offender. Just taking those 3 things into consideration he will be suspended. If Shanahan determines it's head shot then it could be a long suspension. Stay tuned.....

[Frntrowhockeyfan]

-Do you go after a player who leaves his feet?
-A player who targets the head?
-A player who knowing sticks his knee out for the trip/knee on knee?

These three are already explicitly illegal.  Maybe the first step should be making the referees read a rulebook...

Agreed..
Maybe more clarification
Stiffer Penalities
OR
The VP of Player Safety being more uniform...

[WranglerSM]

What I can't understand is why the NHLPA isn't more vocal and more proactive with this stuff.  Why is there no peer pressure? At the Ford factory one worker doesn't sneak up behind another worker on the line and hit him over the head with a pipe (thanks NHL Home Ice).  Sure, union workers compete for salary against each other, but they stick together in the grand scheme of things.

My opinion, it doesn't matter what the league says.  Until the NHLPA, the players themselves, hold each other accountable, this kind of crap won't ever leave the game.

[JAR1]

The VP of Player Safety being more uniform...

I think this is the most significant.  There is no replacement for consistent response with a real deterrent effect.  I don't think we've seen this yet.  Either discipline has been ineffective (the impact of the action is well worth the punishment) or it has been completely inconsistent.  

[Frntrowhockeyfan]

....or it has been completely inconsistent.  

I think this is the MOST True Statement!