The NHL has been attempting to crack down on headshots for years. Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson decided to push these rules by delivering a high and hard hit to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine. Andersson was suspended four games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for the hit. This suspension will result in Andersson also missing the 2023 NHL Heritage Classic.
However, the Flames will likely appeal to the NHL’s commissioner, Gary Bettman. I don’t appeal to the commissioner if I were in this position. Andersson’s hit saw him raise his arm and elbow Patrik Laine. While the initial point of contact may have been the shoulder, when you raise your arm, as Andersson did in this hit, it results in head contact on the play that is otherwise avoidable.
The initial play saw Andersson be assessed a major penalty and game misconduct on the play; both calls stood. This was a great call made by the referees, and Andersson’s subsequent hearing and suspension were no surprise.
Now, this suspension sets the tone regarding how the NHL plans to handle headshots. The NHL took this as an opportunity to set the tone, but for what cause? Since the NHL has been more adamant about cracking down on headshots and issues like concussions and CTE later on after a player’s career, this is the NHL taking it seriously. For the NHL, this was personal and something they needed to do long ago. Andersson’s hit on Laine was predatory and had a clear intent to injure.
After the NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Rasmus Andersson for four games, the rest of the league is likely looking at this and received this message. If I were Ryan Huska, I’d be thoroughly disappointed with one of my top defensemen making such a boneheaded decision and now will be forced out of action for four games.
ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting – Inside The Rink
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’d like to know how much hockey you played yourself.
Lots of sports writers have things to say, but they have no idea what it is like when you Are out there, plaYing
The guy crouched down also in That hit
I know myself from playing the game for many years at some pretty high level
Also coaching for over 20 years.
when they took hitting out a hockey up until peewee that caused a real problem.
When you’re a little kid and you learn to take a hit. You also learn how to receive a hit.
And you learn not to Skate with your head down
Or be in area were you’re croaching down
You don’t drop your head when you’re receiving A hit
Hitting and receiving a hit Should be taught and installed when you first start.
That is when you learn not when you’re 12 or 13. And kids are all different sizes at that time.
Plus when you get to professional levels, especially the game is so fast. You only have a split seconds To make a decision
Anyways, when Scott Stevens used to hit like that. You Learned very quickly not to.have your head down.
Maybe sometimes you reporters should look at the situation Then study, maybe the guy that’s taken Hit made a mistake.