Whitecloud hit on Knies | Knies did not return to the game.

[qc14]

I personally wish this type of hit WAS against the rules though, that they moved towards an IIHF style "any head contact is an illegal hit" but I am a medical professional so I am biased.

Thank you for this, it's a much more detailed explanation of what I was writing up.

Feel like it's been pretty clear for a while now that refs will only call majors (and DoPS will only suspend) when the head is the only point of contact and there's absolutely no mitigating factors whatsoever (turning at the last second, big guy hitting smaller guy, etc.). They will look for any excuse not to call the major/suspend and Whitecloud gets just enough of the body and Knies is leaning down just enough that they have an out. This is how Trouba has avoided suspension despite putting at least 10 guys out for significant chunks of time. I don't like it and think it's dangerous, but it's not inconsistent.

This is just like goalie interference to me where we're getting close to the point where people saying "I just want consistency" or "spin the DoPS wheel" are almost being purposefully obtuse. There is consistency, it's just in a way that no one likes

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

It's a hit to the head. It's not even debatable when you see the still images with space between players gone. Maybe not intentional, since Knies is hunched a bit, but it's hard to credit unfortunate circumstances when buddy is jumping off the ice.

If you do not think this is a hit to the head, based on trolling or bias, then you are precisely the prototypical hfboards poster you like to laugh about.

 

[hangman005]

holy shit; me agreeing wholeheartedly with a sens fan, what happened to the sport we loved?

@NyQuil is just hoping he'll be suspended when we play tomorrow.

Well that's the story I'm running with anyway

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Beautiful hit. Game needs more of this. Proper read, gap control, and then stepping up and finishing through. Great Hockey play by Whitecloud.

Unfortunate result for the receiving player but bad awareness by him.

 

[Lou Sassole]

This was a clean hit, we are at a point where these players aren't keeping their heads up anymore because they feel safe they won't get hit because of how the league has become so soft.... you can see kniies look up than puts his head down and boom....

This. Can you imagine how many points Lindros would've had in this league? 200+.

 

[Enniskillen]

Isn’t it strange how the fans of the hittee and the fans of the hitter always see the hit completely differently. Not a specific comment about this hit but just a comment in general.

 

[Heldig]

View attachment 933425
That’s a full body check imo
Not an illegal headshot

Directly facing the player. Full body contact. Beauty hit.

 

[Pierre Larouche]

How is anyone saying it’s clean, he clearly jumps into the hit

Worst call of the year. Whitecloud leaves his feat and explodes into Knies with his elbow up into the Knies's head. WTF?

 

[DJJones]

It's a hit to the head. It's not even debatable when you see the still images with space between players gone. Maybe not intentional, since Knies is hunched a bit, but it's hard to credit unfortunate circumstances when buddy is jumping off the ice.

If you do not think this is a hit to the head, based on trolling or bias, then you are precisely the prototypical hfboards poster you like to laugh about.

I mean ya, no one is saying there was no head contact. There's always head contact on a hit like this.

It's just permitted head contact.

 

[Heldig]

It's a hit to the head. It's not even debatable when you see the still images with space between players gone. Maybe not intentional, since Knies is hunched a bit, but it's hard to credit unfortunate circumstances when buddy is jumping off the ice.

If you do not think this is a hit to the head, based on trolling or bias, then you are precisely the prototypical hfboards poster you like to laugh about.

So if the player with the puck just hunches over and keeps his head down he is free from being bodychecked and can just dipsy doodle around the ice?

Whitecloud's skate come off the ice after the hit. It is the momentum of following thru a big collision. He is directly in front of Knies. Knies just doesnt see him.

 

[TheHudlinator]

Understand being upset as a leaf fan but Knies needs to keep his head up so he can protect himself

 

[Mattb124]

It's a hit to the head. It's not even debatable when you see the still images with space between players gone. Maybe not intentional, since Knies is hunched a bit, but it's hard to credit unfortunate circumstances when buddy is jumping off the ice.

If you do not think this is a hit to the head, based on trolling or bias, then you are precisely the prototypical hfboards poster you like to laugh about.

You seem to think all hits to the head are illegal, which is not the case. Read the rule.

 

[Enniskillen]

All the usual Leafs haters crawled out, if the situation was reversed, they would be foaming at the mouth with rage and demanding Knies suspension.

 

[Kerberos]

Nothing wrong with that hit. Perfectly clean.

 

[jfhabs]

Feet leave the ice, principal point of contact is the head. Can't believe there wasn't even a 2 min let alone a review. I expect a suspension for that. Probably 1-2 games.

 

[Heldig]

All the usual Leafs haters crawled out, if the situation was reversed, they would be foaming at the mouth with rage and demanding Knies suspension.

Such a trite comment. All this "woke" and "hater" crap ruins discussion. FANS of hockey can see a play and judge it without worrying if it hurts your feelings.

 

[Former Referee 68]

How is it that reaves does the same hit unintentionally and gets 5 minute major kicked from the game and 5 game suspension yet Vegas get nothing and instead put on a power play meanwhile the hit was worse and intentional and skates came off the ice bs

are you Daft? its not anywhere even remotely close!! Reaves targeted the head Whitecloud hit body first. I hate the knights! i hate the knights

 

[Shark Finn]

guy made a whole ass account for this

Hey, if this gets hfboards new users, I'm all for it...

 

[Rude Dog]

lol at anyone defending the hit because his feet were on the ground. He hit him in the head. Likely caused a concussion. Stupid play. Stupid analysis by anyone defending it.

 

[Enniskillen]

Such a trite comment. All this "woke" and "hater" crap ruins discussion. FANS of hockey can see a play and judge it without worrying if it hurts your feelings.

Lol, using caps automatically requires mandatory DEI training.

 

[TheNumber4]

Not the same hit as the Nurse hit, but still dirty. Not a blindside shot. Knies was bent over and did change head positions. Either way, the NHL is a joke when it comes to headshots.

 

[Intermission]

Not the same hit as the Nurse hit, but still dirty. Not a blindside shot. Knies was bent over and did change head positions. Either way, the NHL is a joke when it comes to headshots.

he got up and clipped him.. stop it NHL

 

[1989]

View attachment 933444

To me, that's a clean hit by the definition of the rulebook but it's not a hit I like to see (regarding possible injury) but you also can't be Knies skating head-down, deep crouch through the neutral zone.

Whitecloud's skates are clearly in contact with the ice. His elbow is tucked. His job here is to defend and separate player from puck via bodycheck contact, and he's going north-south here. IMO it's not Whitecloud's responsibility to hit him from a different angle if it's the less efficient and no less legal method. Knies is leading with his head.

Far too many posters as per usual in these topics not knowing that head hits are permissible, fully legal hits. Doesn't make the hits necessarily likeable, though.

 

[Shocker]

Feet at the ice on the moment of the impact, straight from the front, head not the main point of contact, clean but massive hit.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Seems clean.