Bunting got 5 and a game for elbow to the head of Cernak (suspended 3 games)

[TD Charlie]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he got 1. I just think this is unfortunate result of a borderline play on opportunity to gain control of the puck. It wasn’t a blatant intent to injure targeting. I’m a habs fan who hates the leafs and bunting. But there needs to be a separation of these two types of plays in my opinion

I don’t disagree with any of that reasoning, but i don’t think this guy deserves the benefit of doubt at this point

 

[BruinsBtn]

They did.

When Toronto played Boston in Matthews' 2nd season, Wingels did a fly-by chicken wing elbow to the head of one of the Leafs players.

We were told that the players need to keep their heads up.

I said that hit should have been a suspension then.
I say this hit should be a suspension now.

I think the hit by Hartman on Ehlers is more dangerous and should have been at least 3 games, but since it's Bunting I would not be surprised if it's not 2 games.

Regardless, I think Bunting's career is over.
It wasn't this hit that caused it, but it's just one more incident to throw onto the pile and any GM who would otherwise consider Bunting for a contract would be foolish not to consider how the officials have a rabid hatred for the guy.

He would need to drastically change his play on the ice in order to not be a liability, but given his age, that ship has likely sailed long ago.

You mean this hit?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

That's my point. Bunting WASN'T LOOKING TO HIT ANYONE. 5-6 seconds after the faceoff he turned to his left and Cernak turned to his right and it was Cernak who went INTO Bunting and not the reverse. Many people here believe Bunting made an intentional run at Cernak and was even aiming for his head. That's what I disagree with when its Cernak who went into Bunting leaning forward and down.

If Bunting wasn't intending to hit Cernak and Cernak simply "lunged" into Bunting's elbow/shoulder, then why does Bunting do the chicken wing? If someone runs into you without you even knowing they're there, your arm doesn't fly up the way Bunting's does.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

There was no reason for Bunting to take the angle that he did, based on where the puck was.

And I wanted Tampa to get swept.

 

[wonton15]

It’s probably doing the Leafs a favour if they suspend him for the series.

 

[pcruz]

You mean this hit?

No, I said Wingels and I meant Wingels.

That was yet another hit.
As was the sucker punch by Chara that knocked JT on the ice in the middle of a scrum.
And the dirty hit on Marleau into the curved glass
And the knee on knee by DeBrusk


Come to think of it, none of these plays were penalized

 

[BruinsBtn]

No, I said Wingels and I meant Wingels.

That was yet another hit.
As was the sucker punch by Chara that knocked JT on the ice in the middle of a scrum.
And the dirty hit on Marleau into the curved glass
And the knee on knee by DeBrusk


Come to think of it, none of these plays were penalized

lol. None of those are anything. Are you still trying to imagine some kind of penalty on the cleanest bump ever on Marleau.

This place is insane.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Is the point of this thread to somehow justify this play lol

No, because he got 5 and a game for a legit elbow to the head, that alone is thread worthy.

You underestimate the blind cultist homerism of a small percentage of Leaf fans.

That's my point. Bunting WASN'T LOOKING TO HIT ANYONE. 5-6 seconds after the faceoff he turned to his left and Cernak turned to his right and it was Cernak who went INTO Bunting and not the reverse. Many people here believe Bunting made an intentional run at Cernak and was even aiming for his head. That's what I disagree with when its Cernak who went into Bunting leaning forward and down.

Lol charging it was one stride a leaf player always gets a suspension in the playoffs.

It's nothing. It was a regular reverse hit, made popular by Peter Forsberg. Cernak should keep his head up. 5 and game is enough punishment in 2023.

Told you it would come @TaLoN

 

[UnSandvich]

Should be 2+ games minimum, but given DoPS is still being run by that moron Parros, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s 1 game or time served

 

[pcruz]

lol. None of those are anything. Are you still trying to imagine some kind of penalty on the cleanest bump ever on Marleau.

This place is insane.

I guess you remembered that hit by Ference because it was nothing.

I mean, I don't remember it being a penalty that night, but it was deemed suspension worthy by the league.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bruins-defenceman-andrew-ference-suspended-1-game-1.1332090

 

[b in vancouver]

It's really hard to describe something as predatory when the player committing the infraction isn't looking at the recipient.

A predator that isn't looking at its prey isn't going to catch much and will starve to death.

This was a reckless hit.

There is no need to exaggerate the incident. The truth is bad enough.

I've played a lot of hockey in my life and have peripheral vision.
He knows exactly what he's doing there. It's actually hard to elbow someone in front of you.

If you don't like 'predatory' how about 'intent'? As in he 'intended to elbow him in the head'. Or how about 'tried to take someone's head off'? Is what we used to call it.
Reckless is a stick riding up, a shoulder that catches a guy too high, some hitting from behind penalties, too much speed, etc.
It is not elbowing someone in the head after leaving your skates.

 

[cole von cole]

He definitely deserved a match penalty for that. That's gotta be a suspension, too. For 2 games at least

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Deserves what he gets. Bonehead play from a bonehead player.

 

[BruinsBtn]

I guess you remembered that hit by Ference because it was nothing.

I mean, I don't remember it being a penalty that night, but it was deemed suspension worthy by the league.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/bruins-defenceman-andrew-ference-suspended-1-game-1.1332090

Wow that suspensions really goes against your theory that nothing against the Leafs is ever punished eh? That's a tough one to swallow!

 

[Il Stugotz]

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Is Dubas going to write to the league again and this time apologize for Buntings earlier dive and his unprovoked elbow to the head.
The guy has a pretty well deserved reputation at this point.

 

[HofT]

Is Dubas going to write to the league again and this time apologize for Buntings dive and his unprovoked elbow to the head.

He should do both

 

[Suntouchable13]

Ooof. Looks like Leafs are so done with him.

 

[toddkaz]

You mean this hit?

The point of contact of that hit looks like the upper arm. Elbow is a stretch. I would post a still shot of point of contact but I am still shots cant catch elbows.

 

[Xirik]

Ooof. Looks like Leafs are so done with him.

Wonder what player exactly like Bunting the leafs will get next after he's gone.

Kadri------>Bunting------>????

 

[pcruz]

Wow that suspensions really goes against your theory that nothing against the Leafs is ever punished eh? That's a tough one to swallow!

Let's wait and see whether Bunting is given the same penalty that Ference was given there.

Don't forget that Ference had received another suspension just a year previous for another incident.
In that case, it was a 3 game suspension.
That was followed by yet another 3 game suspension for an illegal hit to the head in 2014.

Here is the Wingels hit.

It was on Marner who had already been hit by Chara.
You can clearly see the elbow come up to the face of Marner.

No penalty, no discipline.
Kadri got a penalty on the play though, as he should.

 

[BrokerD]

3 games

 

[pcruz]

The point of contact of that hit looks like the upper arm. Elbow is a stretch. I would post a still shot of point of contact but I am still shots cant catch elbows.

Sure, let's give Ference the benefit of the doubt.
He was a fairly clean player.
All he had was a 3 games suspension before that hit, and a 3 game suspension afterwards.

I'm sure it was just a love tap on the arm. You know, the area we call the upper arm of the head.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

I'm fine with the 5 minute penalty but a one stride hit if you want to call it a hit ? really calls for a suspension the league need's to protect these all star player's named Cernak.

The fact that you think the punishment depends on the “star level” of the player, shows you don’t give a shit about safety.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Regardless, I think Bunting's career is over.
It wasn't this hit that caused it, but it's just one more incident to throw onto the pile and any GM who would otherwise consider Bunting for a contract would be foolish not to consider how the officials have a rabid hatred for the guy.

He would need to drastically change his play on the ice in order to not be a liability, but given his age, that ship has likely sailed long ago.

IDK about all that. He's scored 23 goals in each of the last two seasons. Matt Cooke stuck around for quite some time without that level of offensive production, and was even able to turn around his public perception around the league later in his career.