Quote (Killingyouall @ Jan 13 2020 07:20pm)
The NHL Wheel of Justice strikes again.
I have no clue what is suspension worthy anymore.... I don't think the players do either.
I thought the hits on Kassian were clean. Getting caught with your head down driving to the net or looking the other way behind the net is your problem imo.
As others have said, what is wrong with playing the man? Whose to say you HAVE to play the puck.
The only explanation I can think of is the league wants to deter players from attacking someone when they hit them clean.
Even if that were the case the penalties he took in retaliation cost the Oilers the game. That is punishment enough....
The problem with hit while Kassian was battling for a loose puck as he came around the net is every winger could do that on every shift if they wanted to abandon their defenseman coverage. The NHL made it clear to players line Raffi Torres and Matt Cooke they wanted wingers charging from the blue line to stop those kinda hits even if it was technically a clean hit. And those hits have all but disappeared. It’s 100% a predatory hit. Kassian is tied up with another forward battling for a puck. I also don’t see how it’s not a head shot , his first point of contact is Kassians neck.
The wheel of justice is that hit, if you wanna play old time hockey, like those hits are you better be ready to answer the bell.