L’Heureux slewfoots and injures Spurgeon (UPDATE: suspended three games)

[JPT]

Trenin is so awesome

If you're reading the rulebook without context and intent, you're reading it wrong. It appears like you're interpretation of the rule means there are slew foots in essentially every game.


I have no doubt who knows what one is and isn't.

THIS is a slew foot. And even better? No penalty of the play.



What L'Heureux did with his body is nothing of the sort.

They look pretty much the same to me

 

[Coffey]

And Hartman did nothing following this?

 

[StumpyTown]

It took me seeing this kid play about 5 shifts to realize he's a punk who is going to hurt opponents intentionally. He's reckless in his play and clearly, as this play on Spurgeon shows, doesn't have respect for them. Kid needs to learn that you can play on the edge with respect too.

 

[57special]

It took me seeing this kid play about 5 shifts to realize he's a punk who is going to hurt opponents intentionally. He's reckless in his play and clearly, as this play on Spurgeon shows, doesn't have respect for them. Kid needs to learn that you can play on the edge with respect too.

Nothing in his career so far indicates that he is going to change. He's a headcase....always has been.

 

[StumpyTown]

Nothing in his career so far indicates that he is going to change. He's a headcase....always has been.

Sad, but likely true.

 

[Toby91ca]

Not sure what the debate is with this one....I get there isn't a lot of people debating it, perhaps just 1 or 2, but still. Showing a video of a slew foot and saying this isn't a slew foot is kinda weird....I can show one slashing penalty that looks slightly different than another slashing penalty, doesn't make one slashing and the other not.

It looked like a slew foot in real time, so refs called a major penalty to allow them to go to video review....after reviewing the video, they confirmed it was indeed slew footing.....pretty simple.

In terms of supplemental discipline, he'll get some, but not too much I don't think, it was bad, but not as bad as it could have been. I think this guy is going to be getting lots of discipline if he sticks around though.

 

[Leafshater67]

“You’ll know who I am soon” - Zach L’Hereux on the ice, in reply to a chirp.

Guess we’re learning. Someone should have did a Zucker on him.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Im fairly confident he didn't premeditate a Slew Foot. However players know the dangers of the game and the risks of contact and hits especially in certain areas of the ice. It's a fast game and bad things certainly happen but they need to be aware and they need to be accountable.

Ill Sh!t a solid gold brick if Leafy Spurg is back by march 1st. I won't be surprised if he's done for the year. History of leg injuries and he had the back/hip surgery last season. The slow mo shows a violent cascade through the ankle, knee and up into the hip.

Unfortunate. I'd hoped we wouldn't have injuries like last year but frankly this year has been as bad already or even worse so far.

I agree, but that means Spurgeon also needs to be aware and not skate slowly in front of oncoming traffic in that part of the ice trying to do whatever that was. I'm not trying to excuse L'Heureux, and agree he should be and will probably be held accountable for the slewfoot, I just don't understand what Spurgeon is even trying to do. It doesn't look like he's trying to play the puck, puts himself in a weird position to try to initiate contact, and his stick is almost knocked out of his hands when L'Heureux lifted it. Can anyone tell me what Spurgeon is even doing on that play? Is he trying to get away with some light obstruction by being vaguely in the way?

I do agree that it looks bad, and would also be surprised if he comes back sooner rather than later. It's a painful looking collision, so I hope it's not as bad as it look. But, I am also an Avs fan, so I'd be lying if I said I hate the idea of Minnesota being without him for a few months.

 

[abax44]

In regard to the fan incident:

This is L'Heureux's first run-in with the Department of Player Safety in his rookie season. However, he was suspended nine times during his QMJHL career - including once for 10 games when he jammed his stick between panes of glass to jab a fan - and twice in the AHL.

 

[Mubiki]

L'Heuruex has enough skill to stick in the league without being a goon. As others have pointed out most of his other suspensions were not related to dirty play/bad hits. This was a bad play and he will pay a price. But his career arc is more "pest who can score some" than straight up "let me hurt someone" sociopath.

Sure. I don't watch him play enough to comment on his game. My post wasn't about that.

I was responding to a post about Preds fans not defending it. I generally check on team boards after events like this out of curiosity, and I was simply pointing out that almost all of the talk in the game thread were of the "bad call, it was an accident" variety. So they certainly were defending it, just not here.

I don't care about his skill level anyway. It's incredibly easy to not to do what he did. In all likelihood, he just ended a player's season. Depending on the severity, possibly a career, given that Spurgeon is 35.

 

[Mubiki]

I agree, but that means Spurgeon also needs to be aware and not skate slowly in front of oncoming traffic in that part of the ice trying to do whatever that was. I'm not trying to excuse L'Heureux, and agree he should be and will probably be held accountable for the slewfoot, I just don't understand what Spurgeon is even trying to do. It doesn't look like he's trying to play the puck, puts himself in a weird position to try to initiate contact, and his stick is almost knocked out of his hands when L'Heureux lifted it. Can anyone tell me what Spurgeon is even doing on that play? Is he trying to get away with some light obstruction by being vaguely in the way?

I do agree that it looks bad, and would also be surprised if he comes back sooner rather than later. It's a painful looking collision, so I hope it's not as bad as it look. But, I am also an Avs fan, so I'd be lying if I said I hate the idea of Minnesota being without him for a few months.

What are you even taking about?

I'm confused why you are so confused. He is clearly going to play that puck. It doesn't really matter how fast he's going, he's entitled to the same ice. He just didn't expect a player to catch up, grab him, and slewfoot him into the boards.

This literally happens a hundred times a game. Generally, the player in pursuit will either try to skate around, or initiate legal contact. He chose to do neither, and now he's likely suspended and Spurgeon's season is over. The only thing confusing here is L'Heureux's dumbass decision making.

 

[Koivu11]

 

[LevelingSolo]

How do you even pronounce that

 

[abax44]

How do you even pronounce that

Le Rue, Le Row? I'm guessing, I'm not sure either.

 

[elmaco]

That's a real bad play. Also pretty stupid for Trenin to jump over his injured teammate to try and get at the guy. Nobody ever accused hockey players of being smart I guess.

It's the thought that counts.

 

[elmaco]

How do you even pronounce that

"Leroo", at least what the announcer said in that youtube video.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

What are you even taking about?

I'm confused why you are so confused. He is clearly going to play that puck. It doesn't really matter how fast he's going, he's entitled to the same ice. He just didn't expect a player to catch up, grab him, and slewfoot him into the boards.

This literally happens a hundred times a game. Generally, the player in pursuit will either try to skate around, or initiate legal contact. He chose to do neither, and now he's likely suspended and Spurgeon's season is over. The only thing confusing here is L'Heureux's dumbass decision making.

Watch the replay from behind, starting around 3:15 below and point to the thing that L'Heureux does that you think is a "grab". I don't see either hand leave his stick, or a hook, or anything of the sort. It looks to me like there's a legal stick lift that Spurgeon apparently didn't expect, and L'Heureux elbowing him in the front of the shoulder on the follow through. It's almost like Spurgeon believed he was entitled to the ice, despite not actually getting there first.

With that said, I don't like the fact that L'Heureux's left leg extends behind Spurgeon's legs like it does, and agree that's enough to call it a slewfoot, but that's about the only thing he does that I have a problem with. And, even with that, I can't tell if he does it on purpose, or if it's just a reaction in the moment to Spurgeon falling back against his leg.

 

[Il Stugotz]

If you click on the tweet it goes to a video where George Parros (Princeton '03) explains why it was slewfooting, and as a bonus, you can hear him pronounce "L'Heureux".

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I agree, but that means Spurgeon also needs to be aware and not skate slowly in front of oncoming traffic in that part of the ice trying to do whatever that was. I'm not trying to excuse L'Heureux, and agree he should be and will probably be held accountable for the slewfoot, I just don't understand what Spurgeon is even trying to do. It doesn't look like he's trying to play the puck, puts himself in a weird position to try to initiate contact, and his stick is almost knocked out of his hands when L'Heureux lifted it. Can anyone tell me what Spurgeon is even doing on that play? Is he trying to get away with some light obstruction by being vaguely in the way?

I do agree that it looks bad, and would also be surprised if he comes back sooner rather than later. It's a painful looking collision, so I hope it's not as bad as it look. But, I am also an Avs fan, so I'd be lying if I said I hate the idea of Minnesota being without him for a few months.

Generally you slow down when approaching the boards, as that is a solid object that hurts to run into at full speed. At the same time, you try and stop the opponent from getting to the puck first. Does that help?

 

[Dingo]

Must be nice, not being the Oilers, and having the League actually give a shit if your players get slewfoot and injured:

god. Listen to the announcers.

"MacKinnon, he's so hot right now!"

can do no wrong once the media decides you are a golden goose. That was a power move according to the play by play.

Between that and guys itt saying L'Hereux's isnt a slewfoot....

I remember when Boston fans were saying Lucic sticking Dekeyser in the nuts from behind when the puck wasnt even there was a gritty, hockey play.

Homerism will be the end of us all.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

..we gotta fix our schools or somethin, idk man, what a take. That you L’Huereux?

State of Hockey is a notorious anti-wild poster.

 

[TheNumber4]

god. Listen to the announcers.

"MacKinnon, he's so hot right now!"

can do no wrong once the media decides you are a golden goose. That was a power move according to the play by play.

Between that and guys itt saying L'Hereux's isnt a slewfoot....

I remember when Boston fans were saying Lucic sticking Dekeyser in the nuts from behind when the puck wasnt even there was a gritty, hockey play.

Homerism will be the end of us all.

Agreed 100%

Glad you brought up the announcers actually. The announcers always default to defending trash plays and defending trash reffing. A lot of it is homerism, a lot of it seems like a directive from the top to never put the NHL in a negative light. And I swear it makes fans dumber having to listen to their BS PR campaign.

Look at this clip of this Rempe hit.

“What a huge hit”

“He caught the Go Train wow”

….

….


….

“Wait did he jump off his feet? Uhhhh anyways…..”

 

[10YearsHaveGone]

3 games. Got off light IMO.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

DoPS ruling is 3 games. Honestly I'm pleasantly surprised he got that many.

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Generally you slow down when approaching the boards, as that is a solid object that hurts to run into at full speed. At the same time, you try and stop the opponent from getting to the puck first. Does that help?

How about instead of "generally", you point to specific examples in the replay?

From what I'm seeing, they're still in the circle when L'Heureux lifts his stick, so it seems a little early for Spurgeon to already be slowing down to avoid cointact. And he's not really skating much faster at any point leading up to the moment of impact, so how is that slowing down?

And what's his plan to stop the opponent from getting to the puck first? Just being vaguely in the way, with no other intentions?