John Toperzer: Should the NHL fine or suspend Nystrom for Letang hit? Pens' good health last all of 9 minutes and 55 seconds Wednesday before Letang suffers injury.

No Letang put himself in that position. Stupid play on his part

No Letang put himself in that position. Stupid play on his part
- FrankDrebbin

Yes, playing the puck is very stupid thing to do in the NHL, let's not put any onus on the hitter who doesn't play it at all.

When Hatcher broke Roenick's jaw, was it Roenick's fault too???

At this point, who cares...What is Letang's status?

This kind of blog just welcomes trolls looking to add their unwanted 2 cents.

No offense meant to you John, you do fine work.

At this point, who cares...What is Letang's status?

This kind of blog just welcomes trolls looking to add their unwanted 2 cents.

No offense meant to you John, you do fine work.
- Doogs

Probably won't know anything on Letang for a couple of days, i believe the last time it was 2 or 3 days later his symptoms showed up.

Yes, playing the puck is very stupid thing to do in the NHL, let's not put any onus on the hitter who doesn't play it at all.

When Hatcher broke Roenick's jaw, was it Roenick's fault too???
- ryman1566

The Hatcher hit was nothing like this one. Letang stretches out to push the puck up the boards leaving himself vulnerable. You are allowed to deliver a hit in the NHL right?

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk confirmed today that he has been told by the NHL that Nystrom will receive no disciplinary action for the hit.

``They just said they had looked at it and there were no grounds for a suspension,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``It was just a hockey play, that's how I saw it.''

this is a hard one to judge. you could very effectively argue it either way.

yes: head was initial point of contact, player delivering the hit didn't play the puck

no: player being hit put himself in vulnerable position at last second, given that, difficult to determine intent. also, hitter has no previous disciplinary incidents, and lets face it, that's important to shanahan.

IMO, nothing will come of it, except maybe a fine.

hope letang is alright, love watching that guy play.

The Hatcher hit was nothing like this one. Letang stretches out to push the puck up the boards leaving himself vulnerable. You are allowed to deliver a hit in the NHL right?
- FrankDrebbin

Considering Max Pac was suspended for the same situation, I would say it is on the hitter to make an effort to avoid the contact. Matt Cooke can do it.....anyone can.

Until all headshots are banned, this poop will continue

John Toperzer: Should the NHL fine or suspend Nystrom for Letang hit?
Pens' good health last all of 9 minutes and 55 seconds Wednesday before Letang suffers injury.
- the-mitch-wilsons

I don't even see why Nystrom was given a roughing penalty on the play. Letang put himself in an awkward position trying to avoid the check, but it was a clean hit. Elbow down, from the front, not a head shot or boarding or anything...

Considering Sullivan's injury history in recent years, I am definitely worried that he'll be out for a while. It's too bad his 6 game scoring streak had to end that way.

If Letang is out for a long time, then Shero's decision to not move Martin, Niskanen, or Lovejoy at the deadline suddenly becomes a GREAT call.

Stuff happens in threes, right?
Maybe we'll find out that Sullivan, Letang, AND Crosby are all healthy?

No Letang put himself in that position. Stupid play on his part
- FrankDrebbin

This is true and how I saw it as well. You don't try and avoid a hit and leave your head sticking out at the last second. He's lucky Nystrom didn't break his neck. Nystrom was playing the man, not the puck and Letang should have just absorbed the hit rather than try and poke it forward. He put himself in a spot. I wish more kids would start playing to protect themselves rather than leaving themselves in vulnerable spots. This is an example of it.

this is a hard one to judge. you could very effectively argue it either way.

yes: head was initial point of contact, player delivering the hit didn't play the puck

no: player being hit put himself in vulnerable position at last second, given that, difficult to determine intent. also, hitter has no previous disciplinary incidents, and lets face it, that's important to shanahan.

IMO, nothing will come of it, except maybe a fine.

hope letang is alright, love watching that guy play.
- sensarmy_11

It is what it is.

Its tough to tell from the replays if he makes contact with Letang's jaw.

The only replay that looks like he clipped his head is from behind Nystrom. The other 2 angles from above and from the corner look like he caught him on the arm/shoulder and Letangs head snapped back.

Leino was suspended earlier this year for a "chicken wing" clip to Matt Read where Read dodged Leino and he kept his arm tucked but stuck it out. Its probably the closest comparable hit ive seen all season but still slightly different.

Tough to tell from it. I laughed about Milbury and Roenick arguing for 20 minutes over the hit on NBCs last night. I think I side more with Roenick that his head snaps back and it wasnt the primary point of contact.

I couldnt see this garnering more than a 1 game suspension max. If he gets more than 1, its more of the same selective suspension bullpoop we know and are used to.

this is a hard one to judge. you could very effectively argue it either way.

yes: head was initial point of contact, player delivering the hit didn't play the puckno: player being hit put himself in vulnerable position at last second, given that, difficult to determine intent. also, hitter has no previous disciplinary incidents, and lets face it, that's important to shanahan.

IMO, nothing will come of it, except maybe a fine.

hope letang is alright, love watching that guy play.
- sensarmy_11

You don't have to play the puck...

Its tough to tell from the replays if he makes contact with Letang's jaw.

The only replay that looks like he clipped his head is from behind Nystrom. The other 2 angles from above and from the corner look like he caught him on the arm/shoulder and Letangs head snapped back.

Leino was suspended earlier this year for a "chicken wing" clip to Matt Read where Read dodged Leino and he kept his arm tucked but stuck it out. Its probably the closest comparable hit ive seen all season but still slightly different.

Tough to tell from it. I laughed about Milbury and Roenick arguing for 20 minutes over the hit on NBCs last night. I think I side more with Roenick that his head snaps back and it wasnt the primary point of contact.

I couldnt see this garnering more than a 1 game suspension max. If he gets more than 1, its more of the same selective suspension bullpoop we know and are used to.
- theblueandgold

No suspension coming

I don't even see why Nystrom was given a roughing penalty on the play. Letang put himself in an awkward position trying to avoid the check, but it was a clean hit. Elbow down, from the front, not a head shot or boarding or anything...
- jtommyt

If all of this talk about eliminating/reducing concussions is going to have any validity whatsoever, then the ref has to call a penalty there. Search your feelings; you know it to be true.

If all of this talk about eliminating/reducing concussions is going to have any validity whatsoever, then the ref has to call a penalty there. Search your feelings; you know it to be true.
- kill.monsters

It was a roughing penalty. Nothing more, nothing less. Both players are accountable for what happened.

Considering Max Pac was suspended for the same situation, I would say it is on the hitter to make an effort to avoid the contact. Matt Cooke can do it.....anyone can.

Until all headshots are banned, this poop will continue
- ryman1566

If Nystrom got suspended it still does nothing to change the fact that Letang is probably concussed. Letang needs to realize the pay he made puts himself out there to get crushed. I guess my point is even if you ban head shots (witch I agree with) its still gonna be up to the players to protect themselves and not put themselves in this type of situation. I honestly dont think Nystrom was purposely targeting the Head

I see so many comments about playing the puck. Last week 5 Tampa players tried to play the puck against Malkin and we all saw how that turned out. Hockey is always play the body in order to get the puck. That being said possible fine but doubtful.

You don't have to play the puck...
- jtommyt

tru, you DON'T have to play the puck. And when you don't, you must be more aware of the your hit you are going to deliver. Not just in this situation, but all situations.

For those of you who decided to drop by today, if Matt Cooke delivers that hit on Jamie Benn, what is your response?

I see so many comments about playing the puck. Last week 5 Tampa players tried to play the puck against Malkin and we all saw how that turned out. Hockey is always play the body in order to get the puck. That being said possible fine but doubtful.
- DONMURDOCH14

The key moving forward is not playing the puck vs. playing the body. It is when you do decide to engage physically, your primary goal should be to acquire puck possession, not inflicting personal damage.

I see so many comments about playing the puck. Last week 5 Tampa players tried to play the puck against Malkin and we all saw how that turned out. Hockey is always play the body in order to get the puck. That being said possible fine but doubtful.
- DONMURDOCH14

To the point, there is nothing in the rules about having to play the puck. Body checking, by definition, is separating the man from the puck. That was all Nystrom's trajectory was about. he had Letang squarely set up to be hit and Letang jumped out of the way and tried to poke the puck forward. I put the fault on Letang for the reason I said previously in this thread.

If all of this talk about eliminating/reducing concussions is going to have any validity whatsoever, then the ref has to call a penalty there. Search your feelings; you know it to be true.
- kill.monsters

For what? It's a contact game. Concussions will occur. This wasn't dirty.

tru, you DON'T have to play the puck. And when you don't, you must be more aware of the your hit you are going to deliver. Not just in this situation, but all situations.

For those of you who decided to drop by today, if Matt Cooke delivers that hit on Jamie Benn, what is your response?
- ryman1566

Giving Cookes history I would probable think he did it on purpose. Your earn your reputation.