Paul Stewart: Lucic Has Earned His Mistrust

I think Ryan Miller would have to agree with you Paul

Lucic is one of those players who I would still not like even were he on the team I root for.

Lucic is a caveman, nuff said

A mere slash on the hand would've been one thing, but it was a well-placed slash on the wrist, a very vulnerable area to begin with, but coupled with Lucic having been outstretched reaching, and that area above the cuff and below the elbow pad is all wrist bone. Was it a full bore hatchet job? No, but it was a two-handed wack that could've very easily done plenty of damage. And to sit and say that Connauton was already tied up with another player (Toffoli) is an exaggeration as well: the whistle had blown and the defenseman was giving Toffoli a rough ride for just standing there, he hadn't jabbed at the puck or the goalie after the whistle, he was just hanging around.
I'm not going to disagree with your feeling regarding Lucic's character, but to dismiss what led up to that sucker-punch is not appreciating the dirtiness of the chop to begin with. AND, there was no arm up to call the slash initially, and had nothing taken place there wouldn't have been one. So far, Lucic has lost his cool a few times and twice were against division rivals. I'm cool with it.

A mere slash on the hand would've been one thing, but it was a well-placed slash on the wrist, a very vulnerable area to begin with, but coupled with Lucic having been outstretched reaching, and that area above the cuff and below the elbow pad is all wrist bone. Was it a full bore hatchet job? No, but it was a two-handed wack that could've very easily done plenty of damage. And to sit and say that Connauton was already tied up with another player (Toffoli) is an exaggeration as well: the whistle had blown and the defenseman was giving Toffoli a rough ride for just standing there, he hadn't jabbed at the puck or the goalie after the whistle, he was just hanging around.
I'm not going to disagree with your feeling regarding Lucic's character, but to dismiss what led up to that sucker-punch is not appreciating the dirtiness of the chop to begin with. AND, there was no arm up to call the slash initially, and had nothing taken place there wouldn't have been one. So far, Lucic has lost his cool a few times and twice were against division rivals. I'm cool with it.
- Stu17

Totally agree! Connauton deserved everything he got and decided to dive in the process. I won't argue Looch's character issues but he's been a great team player thus far for the Kings. Stew, I love your writings but this seems to be a bit over the top or showing a lot of zebra bias.

While I do not agree with what Looch did. The slash wasn't being called until they saw the replay and what got that reaction from Looch. Connauton also did a swell job of playing dead.

A mere slash on the hand would've been one thing, but it was a well-placed slash on the wrist, a very vulnerable area to begin with, but coupled with Lucic having been outstretched reaching, and that area above the cuff and below the elbow pad is all wrist bone. Was it a full bore hatchet job? No, but it was a two-handed wack that could've very easily done plenty of damage. And to sit and say that Connauton was already tied up with another player (Toffoli) is an exaggeration as well: the whistle had blown and the defenseman was giving Toffoli a rough ride for just standing there, he hadn't jabbed at the puck or the goalie after the whistle, he was just hanging around.
I'm not going to disagree with your feeling regarding Lucic's character, but to dismiss what led up to that sucker-punch is not appreciating the dirtiness of the chop to begin with. AND, there was no arm up to call the slash initially, and had nothing taken place there wouldn't have been one. So far, Lucic has lost his cool a few times and twice were against division rivals. I'm cool with it.
- Stu17

So its fine for Lucic to use his stick as a pitchfork? Connauton was trying to get his stick in on Lucic to stop him from impaling his teammate. One would think that this was tit-for-tat with Lucic jamming his stick into 1 player and Connauton giving him a whack to get him to stop. But no, Lucic decides to sucker punch him.

What does it matter if the original slash on Lucic was not going to be called?

If Lucic had enough time to realize there was no penalty on the play he had enough time to decide NOT to slash and then sucker punch KC.

New Kings fans (Meaning most of you): There is a difference between on-ice calls and supplementary discipline. Now that I have given you that nugget of wisdom, pay attention to that fact as you move forward in your young hockey-watching lives.

So its fine for Lucic to use his stick as a pitchfork? Connauton was trying to get his stick in on Lucic to stop him from impaling his teammate. One would think that this was tit-for-tat with Lucic jamming his stick into 1 player and Connauton giving him a whack to get him to stop. But no, Lucic decides to sucker punch him.
- TYTY1414

Pitchfork? There was no spearing. What teammate was about to be impaled? The goalie? Did you even see the play? Lucic was going for a loose puck, a play that happens all day every day. A whack on the stick, even the glove, would've been acceptable, but that wasn't the case.

What does it matter if the original slash on Lucic was not going to be called?

If Lucic had enough time to realize there was no penalty on the play he had enough time to decide NOT to slash and then sucker punch KC.
- mungozen

It matters because had the arm been up for the call, Lucic probably does not throw the punch. If you watch the play, and I know watching the play doesn't matter to most of you, when the whistle blows Lucic looks up right to the official behind and off to the side of the net and sees nothing being called so he goes vigilante.

It matters because had the arm been up for the call, Lucic probably does not throw the punch. If you watch the play, and I know watching the play doesn't matter to most of you, when the whistle blows Lucic looks up right to the official behind and off to the side of the net and sees nothing being called so he goes vigilante.
- Stu17

Because that's okay?

Guy runs a red light and almost hits you...cop doesn't see it so you go run him off the road? But it's okay?

First of all the slash on the wrist wasn't this two handed over the top chop. It was trying to prevent a goal. A minor penalty at best. Part of the price you pay when you go to the net. You know you're going to get hit, slashed, cross checked, etc. But acting like a baby because you aren't getting a call and then sucker punching a guy from behind? Please.

Looch has been and always will be a big baby around the net. For a guy who is supposed to be one of the most feared players in the league he sure acts like a big baby.

Also after re-watching the play Looch gives a brief glance at the official at the net but not the one in the neutral zone who usually calls the penalties in front of the net as the down low official is looking for the puck in a goal scoring situation. Again Looch is a big baby who is not a smart hockey player and his reputation speaks for himself.

I seem to recall Perry taking a pretty painful slash against LA recently. You know what he didn't do? Go and sucker punch the player who slashed him.

Cann made no attempt to even play the stick or puck when Lucic was going for the rebound and slashed Lucic right above the gloves where there is no padding. Now I'm not condoning what Lucic did but you get what you give. Lucic is a beast, don't poke the bear.

- getzlaugh

Remember when he said to Dale Weise "I'm going to kill you next year?" Total scumbag. Now would I root for him if he were on my team? Of course, but there's no condoning thuggery which is the way Lucic usually plays.

Totally agree! Connauton deserved everything he got and decided to dive in the process. I won't argue Looch's character issues but he's been a great team player thus far for the Kings. Stew, I love your writings but this seems to be a bit over the top or showing a lot of zebra bias.
- arh777

Hahaha, I'm sorry but did you say he dived?....so you're saying that because he was knocked down after being unexpectedly punched in the head by a guy the size of Luch.....that he must have dived?

It matters because had the arm been up for the call, Lucic probably does not throw the punch. If you watch the play, and I know watching the play doesn't matter to most of you, when the whistle blows Lucic looks up right to the official behind and off to the side of the net and sees nothing being called so he goes vigilante.
- Stu17

I don't know, I reviewed the same play, and I bet his thought process went more like this:

"Hand hurt, hand hurt"
"Grrr.....grrrr, must kill Connauton"
"Ohhh, he not looking.....slash, Punch"
"Me happy"

"Stupid Ref"

Because that's okay?
- Stripes77

Never said it was ok, did I? Simply stating MO as to why what went down, went down.

Guy runs a red light and almost hits you...cop doesn't see it so you go run him off the road? But it's okay?

Not ok, but road rage happens all the time

First of all the slash on the wrist wasn't this two handed over the top chop. It was trying to prevent a goal.

Which I readily admitted when I said "Was it a full bore hatchet job? No, but it was
a two-handed wack that could've very easily done plenty of damage"

Also after re-watching the play Looch gives a brief glance at the official at the net but not the one in the neutral zone who usually calls the penalties in front of the net as the down low official is looking for the puck in a goal scoring situation. Again Looch is a big baby who is not a smart hockey player and his reputation speaks for himself.

And there is now way the official in the NZ sees that contact, which is why Lucic looks at the ref right on top of the play... I could see Joe Thornton reacting that way, Doan, maybe Malkin, Ovechkin, Benn...

I don't see how matt cooke and raffi torres get 20 games and lucic gets one. At least cooke and torres were making hockey plays, the games just too fast now days to throw the body around like those two did, no time to discern where your shoulders going. Lucic knew exactly where his punch was going to land, in the head from behind.

Never said it was ok, did I? Simply stating MO as to why what went down, went down.


Not ok, but road rage happens all the time


Which I readily admitted when I said "Was it a full bore hatchet job? No, but it was
a two-handed wack that could've very easily done plenty of damage"


And there is now way the official in the NZ sees that contact, which is why Lucic looks at the ref right on top of the play... I could see Joe Thornton reacting that way, Doan, maybe Malkin, Ovechkin, Benn...
- Stu17

That's what they are trained to look for...especially in a 4 man system

If you want to know the reason it wasn't called it's because of the reputation he has built up with the officials. Him acting like a buffoon and his post game rants aren't going to help his case either.

Players get reputation calls called against them all the time, they also don't get the benefit of the doubt when they get fouled either. If he wants to complain about the officiating he needs to look in the mirror and ask himself why he has this reputation.

You trying to justify why he went on a rage is comical. Giving me a reason why he did what he did is fine but there is NO WAY any of it is justified except the retaliatory slash. It would have been minors to both guys and a little back and forth yelling, but because Lucic is such a meathead he gets the extra 2 and thrown out of the game and is suspended for the next one. Real smart team player right there...

That's what they are trained to look for...especially in a 4 man system

If you want to know the reason it wasn't called it's because of the reputation he has built up with the officials. Him acting like a buffoon and his post game rants aren't going to help his case either.

Players get reputation calls called against them all the time, they also don't get the benefit of the doubt when they get fouled either. If he wants to complain about the officiating he needs to look in the mirror and ask himself why he has this reputation.

You trying to justify why he went on a rage is comical. Giving me a reason why he did what he did is fine but there is NO WAY any of it is justified except the retaliatory slash. It would have been minors to both guys and a little back and forth yelling, but because Lucic is such a meathead he gets the extra 2 and thrown out of the game and is suspended for the next one. Real smart team player right there...
- Stripes77

It doesn't matter what training the NZ ref has, he doesn't see the play because it happens in a position where Lucic's body is shielding the point of contact. If anything, the NZ ref sees a slash, but doesn't see where the slash makes contact. And BTW, there was no extra 2. They got coincidental minors and Lucic got the game. Kings remained on the PP.

- getzlaugh

That pic is hilarious!! I always thought he looked a little Quasimodo-ish...

The only way this stops is the refs start calling all the cr#p that happens in scrums around the net.

I cross check you, you slash me, my team mate pushes yours, 2 more start slashing each other. It needs to stop, and the only way it happens is if calls begin to be made. Let them play 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 for a while.

It's not tough to hack someone if front of your net. Its cheap. This summer, when the NHL Network shows SC playoffs from the 60s, watch how the players skate over to the face off circle rather than hacking and whacking after the whistle.