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

[Duodenum]

In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was
avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be
considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the
opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor
timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the
body upward or outward.
(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by
assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full
body check unavoidable.


Clean hit, Knies needs to keep his head up there.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Basically this for me head was the initial and primary point of contact and allowing hits like this will just lead to more violent concussions.

But then again some people think the #1 priority for NHL players should be avoiding getting hit in these ways over you know actually playing the game.

Post 163 slo mo video, shows otherwise.

 

[toddkaz]

What happened to....Growing up playing hockey and the coach saying keep your head up?

It was a beautiful hit and Knies should have been paying attention. Its a contact sport.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Clean hit and not even remotely close to the Reaves headhunting.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Clean hit and not even remotely close to the Reaves headhunting.

McCluskey obviously never played or is a leafs fan.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Good hit.

 

[Michoulicious]

2nd concussion for Knies in 2 years (against Florida in the playoffs was the last one if I remember).

That is concerning, hopefully he is ok.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

As some leafs fans told us two nights ago…

“Clean hit”

I’ll repeat that sentiment.

Well, not me. Here was my post in the Reaves on Nurse hit thread. My conscience is clean.

Ryan Reaves hit on Darnell Nurse. 5 min major + ejected (upd. Suspended 5 games)

Reaves will almost certainly get some games because the principal point of contact is the head and the angle of approach means the check doesn’t go through the head and into the body (which is legal). But this isn’t a blindside and Reaves isn’t jumping up into the hit. Nurse is leaning forward...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[dirtydanglez]

Perfectly timed hit.... if he doesn't leave his feet.

you know whitecloud is allowed to leave his feet after contract right?

 

[Anglesmith]

So someone must be new to hockey or not understand physics if they feel differently?

"Feel differently" is vague, so generally no.

If someone posts a screenshot with the hitter elevated off the ice after the collision and claims that it proves that the hitter jumped into the hit, then either the poster is unfamiliar with what is meant by jumping into a hit or is unable to deduce that the screenshot is after contact, which speaks to inexperience, or they are unaware of the fact that a collision can cause a body to gain an upwards velocity without requiring upwards velocity beforehand, which speaks to not understanding physics.

So in that case, I'm open to additional suggestion, but I'm not sure what other options exist.

 

[Mr Papagoergyo]

Remember when player safety was important. Wonder whatever happen to that.

 

[zoA]

you know whitecloud is allowed to leave his feet after contract right?

His leading foot is already coming off the ice right before contact (the full skate blade isn’t on the ice). I think he launched himself a bit too early. To me the hit is borderline, but it is what it is. DoPS just spins a wheel anyways, so onward we go.

 

[Romang67]

Remember when player safety was important. Wonder whatever happen to that.

For like a month under Shanahan until people complained the suspensions were too harsh?

 

[Golden_Jet]

For like a month under Shanahan until people complained the suspensions were too harsh?

I remember that as well

 

[Leaf Fans]

As some leafs fans told us two nights ago…

“Clean hit”

I’ll repeat that sentiment.

Me too! Keep your head up kid!

 

[hockeykicker]

 

[dirtydanglez]

His leading foot is already coming off the ice right before contact (the full skate blade isn’t on the ice). I think he launched himself a bit too early. To me the hit is borderline, but it is what it is. DoPS just spins a wheel anyways, so onward we go.

he's even allowed to have 1 foot off the ice prior to contact.

 

[Heldig]

Like a lot of hits I guess. But in this case, he certainly launches himself upwards into the hit, I don't know how anyone could argue with me that.

Yes because that is how you are taught to check. Arms tucked in, bend at the knees and extend into the hit.

A nice little NHL clip from Brendan Shanahan. Legal hits start at 1:38

 

[kevsh]

Clean hit and not even remotely close to the Reaves headhunting.

Not disagreeing with you but I'll put it this way: If Whitecloud wanted to target Knies' head with the intention of knocking him out or just hurting him badly, and - this is the important part - do it in a way that would likely not lead to a penalty or suspension (i.e. do it legally) what would/could he have done differently?

I'd argue, nothing.

All he had to do was ensure that he didn't leave his feet before making contact, not make contact with Knies' head first and of course no elbows, sticks, etc. And that is my issue with the rule as it stands: By having the loophole that essentially any hit to the head is okay as long as the head isn't the first point of contact then a player can do what Whitecloud did last night, but intentionally.

 

[BullyHockey]

This is like a Yanny and Laurel situations. " He left his feet" ," he didn't leave his feet"; "he hit the head", "he hit the body"

Usually when its this disputed it's probably legal but dirty or violent. Maybe could've given him a roughing just to manage the game, the decided against it. I think its OK personally.