The Chara debate

[Ruutu15]

I haven't seen a thread on this, and since it's been beaten to death over the last couple of days on the radio...

In your opinion, did the NHL make the correct decision in not suspending or fining Chara? Personally, I think they did make the right decision. Since that's not a popular opinion, I'm interested as to what you guys think.

[ohio BLUES]

I don't think Chara intended to put Pacioretty into the turnbuckle and break his neck. But the hit still lacked the respect for one another that hockey needs. The league could have made a statement that respectless hits are not going to be tolerated with something like 5 games for Chara. Until it does something like that, the incidents surrounding Crosby, Perron, and the others concussed carelessly this season aren't going to stop soon.

[Ruutu15]

I don't think Chara intended to put Pacioretty into the turnbuckle and break his neck. But the hit still lacked the respect for one another that hockey needs. The league could have made a statement that respectless hits are not going to be tolerated with something like 5 games for Chara. Until it does something like that, the incidents surrounding Crosby, Perron, and the others concussed carelessly this season aren't going to stop soon.

I tend to favor Pittsburgh over Washington in that paper-rivalry, but I don't really think the Crosby hit was that intentional.

It's not so much about 'sending a message', because people who say that obviously don't remember Scott Stevens (to name only one). In addition, I don't subscribe to the 'sending a message' thing. It's really no different than mandatory sentences in crime. People know that they can get the needle in some states for murder, but it still happens. There was a point made on NHL Radio on Sirius this morning, and it made sense. To paraphrase: "Right or wrong, 20 years ago, that hit would have ended up on a Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em video".

This opens a whole new debate, really. Most people disagree with me, but this is going to be a product of the "new" NHL moving forward. No obstruction, no red line. The speed of the game has been taken up a notch. 5 years ago, when a player dumped the puck into the zone, the up-defenseman would obstruct the player on the chase, leaving the back defenseman to get the puck. Now, with those chip off-the-boards dump ins, the defenseman can either smoke the player into the boards, or let him dance around and enter the zone untouched. If you're Chara (or any defenseman), do you worry about the opposing player's health, or do you worry about being toasted into the zone since you can't touch him? Since obstruction is never going to be brought back, the red line needs to be brought back into play. It wouldn't be a failsafe against these types of situations (wouldn't have mattered on the Chara hit), but it might slow the game down enough to help things.

[Guppy]

I don't think he should have got off scott free. Fine and/or suspension were a must. That gives signs to others that they are able to do the same thing in the future. The message of those kinds of hits (no matter if they are on purpose or an accident) will not be allowed.

[DaDitka]

I don't think he should have got off scott free. Fine and/or suspension were a must. That gives signs to others that they are able to do the same thing in the future. The message of those kinds of hits (no matter if they are on purpose or an accident) will not be allowed.

Reminds me of the way the NFL handles the 'blow to the head' rule. However, how many times did you see a guy swat at a pass, barely graze the QB's helmet, and then you still saw a drive saving penalty called?

IMO, I'm fine with fines if you want to send a message. You're taking a stand, but not hurting the player's team when he didn't do anything 'wrong'.

I just don't want it to get to where guys are afraid to even check someone near the boards.

[cprice12]

You see guys try to put other players into the padded end of the glass from time to time and it usually ends up as nothing, or a guy getting his bell rung and getting up just fine...this hit just went way wrong.

I think no suspension was a good decision.

However, it doesn't mean it wasn't a dirty play. Shoving someone into the turnbuckle while you finish your check isn't against the rules...but it can be dirty.

I played the game for 15 years and been a student of it for most of my life. Players know where those turnbuckles are and you try to run guys into them if the opportunity presents itself where you are finishing a check and the turnbuckle is right there. It's part of the game. That's one of the dangers of the game...you may get hurt from getting checked into that portion of the boards. It's part of the deal.

Pacioretty said he felt Chara was targeting his head and directed his head into the turnbuckle.
That may be the case...and of course Chara would never admit to it. But I'm not so sure he was targeting Pacioretty's head. I think he just wanted to direct him into the turnbuckle.
It happened so fast. I find it hard to believe that Chara had enough time to actually target the head. I think he just saw the player trying to fly by him after he chipped the puck down the ice and Chara just directed him into the turnbuckle.

It was ferocious and scary...but I think this hit was just a part of the game.
I don't even think it was interference. Pacioretty had just chopped the puck down the ice and Chara was rubbing him out. You see it all of the time as players try to enter the defensive zone.

[thedoc]

I don't think he should have got off scott free. Fine and/or suspension were a must. That gives signs to others that they are able to do the same thing in the future. The message of those kinds of hits (no matter if they are on purpose or an accident) will not be allowed.

Reminds me of the way the NFL handles the 'blow to the head' rule. However, how many times did you see a guy swat at a pass, barely graze the QB's helmet, and then you still saw a drive saving penalty called?

IMO, I'm fine with fines if you want to send a message. You're taking a stand, but not hurting the player's team when he didn't do anything 'wrong'.

I just don't want it to get to where guys are afraid to even check someone near the boards.

Exactly

[big d note]

I think this is similar to the effort by the league to cut down on the boarding hits where the guy has his back turned a few feet from the boards and gets plowed headfirst into the glass. That's also not a direct hit to the head, but it's a serious risk for head injuries. Whether the player is near the boards or a turnbuckle, the hitter can recognize that and let up to avoid a dangerous hit. Of course the player that gets hit needs to keep his head up and try to avoid those situations, and this isn't a pass to put yourself in that position in order to try to draw a penalty, but the game moves so fast that it can't always be avoided. I think Chara should have gotten 2-3 games to send a message to the Ruutus, Cookes, Averys and everyone else in the league that this type of hit is not acceptable.

[cardsfan04]

I don't think it was dirty, just unlucky. If he made the exact same hit 1 foot up the boards, nobody thinks anything of it.

[not_a_wings_fan]

I have absolutely no problem with the hit. None.

The result sucked. But I didn't see anything that was dirty or intentional there.

Maybe the league needs to look at how the arena is set up.

As far as targetting the head, Chara's a pretty tall dude, but he bent down on the hit and went for the shoulder. I didn't see an elbow or anything. Clean hit.

[SamJunior]

As far as targetting the head, Chara's a pretty tall dude, but he bent down on the hit and went for the shoulder. I didn't see an elbow or anything. Clean hit.

So, what do you think now?

[not_a_wings_fan]

As far as targetting the head, Chara's a pretty tall dude, but he bent down on the hit and went for the shoulder. I didn't see an elbow or anything. Clean hit.

So, what do you think now?

I think I clearly see his forearm on the guys upper arm and shoulder pad. Clearly. The glove is in front of the head from perspective, but that's a clean check - and the picture makes it even clearer for me. And his knees are bent bigtime to be on the shoulder - just like I said.

I don't like the outcome at all, but I don't think Chara did anything other than play tough hockey.

[Stone Cold]

The NHL made the right call. I don't get why the referee called a major for a freaking INTERFERENCE penalty. I agree that the rink needs reconfiguration though.

[WaukeeBlues]

Guys have been purposefully running opposing players into that divider thing for years. Unfortunately, someone got really hurt. Doesn't change the fact it's been happening as long as the League has been around.

[rbochan]

"He's in the hospital so he has the right to be emotional" - Chara on comments made by Pacioretty

Scumbag.

[fargoblues]

Eliminate the instigator rule. Shit like this would take care of itself in a hurry.

[DaDitka]

I love how people slow down the play r take a snap shot and then try to decide intent.

Sorry people, that sh*t happened at full speed. It was a 'HOCKEY PLAY' that had unfortunate results.

Conversely, if no one was hurt, that play would instantly be shown at the Scott on every 'Casino Queen presents BIG HITS' and every home game.

Everyone needs to pull their panties up and play hockey.

[dmiles2186]

I love how people slow down the play r take a snap shot and then try to decide intent.

Sorry people, that sh*t happened at full speed. It was a 'HOCKEY PLAY' that had unfortunate results.

Conversely, if no one was hurt, that play would instantly be shown at the Scott on every 'Casino Queen presents BIG HITS' and every home game.

Everyone needs to pull their panties up and play hockey.

Hindsight always makes it easier to construct an argument. This wasn't blatant like McSorely or Bertuzzi. Full speed and violent. The result was a sickening hit and a terrible injury. Do I think Chara wanted to pound Max into the boards? Sure. But my guess is he didn't intend for this to happen.

[JPonder94]

If only he was here to help us with what we should have done...



God bless you Captain Hindsight!

[cprice12]

I don't believe Chara when he said he didn't know where he was on the rink.
He's an elite defenseman...one of the best in the world. He knew exactly where he was...and he knew exactly what he was doing.
Yeah, it happened fast, but it wasn't too fast for Chara to check him.
He shoved him into the post...no question in my mind. Players do this all of the time...but this time a guy really got hurt. It sucks, but it is what it is.

It's not a penalty...not sure why it was called a penalty. It's definitely dirty though. It's just part of the game. It's like checking someone intentionally into an open door along the bench...it's not a penalty, but it's a dirty play.

It's just a lack of respect for opposing players. Until that mentality changes, you'll see this once in a while...and I don't think it's a good thing if the mentality changes. Hockey is a dangerous sport...that's part of the deal. It's not the ice capades...it's the NHL.