18 days after a hit from Doug Weight sent him to the hospital and crashing out of the lineup, the Carolina Hurricanes have activated forward Brandon Sutter from injured reserve list. Sutter has missed eight games due to a concussion thanks to the Weight hit. To make room for Sutter, the Hurricanes sent forward Dwight Helminen back to Albany of the AHL. There's no word yet on whether or not Sutter will be in the lineup tonight as the Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals with first place in the Southeast Division on the line.
Like it or not, Weight's devastating hit on Sutter has reignited a serious debate in the NHL over how to regulate hits to the head. For some, but not all hockey fans, it's perplexing to see Weight's hit on Sutter go officially unpunished, while other hits that seemed to cause far less damage have resulted in significant suspensions.
What's worse, this isn't one of those debates when you can easily categorize one side or the other as meatheads or mamby-pambies. One on hand, there's legitimate concern that punishing checks like Weight's would significantly change the game. Yet on the other hand, others are concerned that we're on the edge of seeing a hockey player maimed or even killed in the run of play.
Still others claim that hits like Weight's are indicative of a lack of respect for other players that has erupted in an era that has to live with the instigator rule. They claim, and I think with some merit, that if the instigator rule was eliminated, that many of these hits would disappear from the game as the players policed themselves.
Looking ahead, I can't see the NHL taking any sort of dramatic action. Like always, they'll just muddle through, that is, until circumstances or public opinion force their hand.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2008 @ 10:34PM
Tom Furth said...
It would seem that the most appropriate penalty to me in ANY
sport involving serious injury or intent to injure would be to
penalize the offending player the same number of games
suspension as the injured player might miss up to and
including a lifetime suspension. This would certainly curtail
many of the more aggressive type hits when suspension would
mean loss of income and possible loss of an entire career.
Reply
11-13-2008 @ 10:16AM
momma diesel said...
Hey look who's back how nice....Now keep your head up kid or your going to end up in the Lindros drooling retard hall of fame.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 6:46AM
Islebethere4u said...
First of all, writing an article claiming various groups of unknown and apparently nameless people are having anything close to serious or "meritted" discussions about hitting or fighting or penalties for bad hits in the NHL is hogwash. To the educated and well informed observer (fan who has watched and enjoyed for 10+ years, ex-player ref....) there is a HUGE difference between "taking a run at somebody" with intent to inflict harm and the "hits" and "Collisions" that normally take place. If you watch the Weight hit on Sutter, you will see confirmation of what Weight stated, that Sutter should have pulled up instead trying for a desparate attempt to poke the puck past Weight. Look closely and you'll see that Sutter foolishly lowered his head at the last possible moment, making it impossible for Weight to pull up and avoid Sutters head. It was a clean hit with no intent to injure as evidenced by Weight's arm and elbow being tucked close to his body and no exagerated body movement or embellishment to make the hit seem any harder or more severe than it turned out to be.
The correct call was made in this instance, and that was a no call. So please stop insulting everyone's intelligence with this talk about the league not doing enough and nothing to back it up!
Reply