'Vicious attack'? This is hysterical even by modern standards; you may not like the hit (if I was on the Canadiens I'd want a piece of Scheifele for sure) but it was a clean, legal, textbook hit (not late, hands down, didn't leave his feet, wasn't targeting the head etc...) I don't know when this happened, but at some point hockey fans (or maybe just commentators) became so delicate that they freak out and want suspensions whenever a guy gets hurt – even if it's a clean hit, they find reasons to say it was dirty because they're emotional; maybe instead of trying to turn hockey into soccer just go watch soccer? Isn't the world cup coming up or something?

Point is this: We legit don't want to hurt anyone.

Playoffs are supposed to be the cream of the crop, not what's left floating on top.

Go Habs, but play clean, give us a playoff to remember for the RIGHT reasons.

And I'll say it now... MB, before the NMC comes in, if we have a chance to trade for Ehlers without compromising the future? DO IT! Because he's the player I want to see representing the Habs.

5 games would be fair
- DonCherries

Pretty close!

lol
- LordHumungous

Lol at you! I said 5 he got 4

I thought 1 game max would have been appropriate - only to make his (legitimate) charging penalties from the previous game actually matter.

Beyond that:
Attempted hockey play? Questionable
Hit to the head? No - not principle point of contact
Jumped to hit? No
Kept striding for maximum impact? No
Prior history? No

4 games was excessive.
Signed, a Habs fan.
- ElbowingPenalty

So for everyone who wants precedent. Here it is. 8 regular season games and 4 playoff games for a player who dislodging a player from the puck.

Some systems have the first forward in on a forecheck to take the body and second forward pick up the puck. This action happens multiple times in a game! Any heavy hit now using this tactic should be a suspension. Since the intent of the first forward was to hit the player and dislodge the puck. Schiefele was hitting the player to prevent the goal. AND if he was 1/2 second earlier he would have done this and the hit would have basically been the same.

Saying that there was intent to hurt is subjective and reading into someone’s mind. But NOW every hit like schiefele’s should be thought of as intent to hurt and player and offending player given 4 playoff games or 8 regular games suspension.

This will change the game of hockey! 🙄

So for everyone who wants precedent. Here it is. 8 regular season games and 4 playoff games for a player who dislodging a player from the puck.

Some systems have the first forward in on a forecheck to take the body and second forward pick up the puck. This action happens multiple times in a game! Any heavy hit now using this tactic should be a suspension. Since the intent of the first forward was to hit the player and dislodge the puck. Schiefele was hitting the player to prevent the goal. AND if he was 1/2 second earlier he would have done this and the hit would have basically been the same.

Saying that there was intent to hurt is subjective and reading into someone’s mind. But NOW every hit like schiefele’s should be thought of as intent to hurt and player and offending player given 4 playoff games or 8 regular games suspension.

This will change the game of hockey! 🙄
- Jetter

https://youtu.be/XxBL85rr0jI
Scheifele might not have deserved 4 games but he deserved to be suspended. He could have easily tried to poke check that puck. He was going for the hit and screwed his team in the process.

https://youtu.be/XxBL85rr0jI
Scheifele might not have deserved 4 games but he deserved to be suspended. He could have easily tried to poke check that puck. He was going for the hit and screwed his team in the process.
- Buff36

Yes suspension.

He was given a charging major. Couldn’t serve it in the game maybe there should be a rule that if a major is assessed and cannot be served there should be a 1-2 game suspension automatically attached.

Yes suspension.

He was given a charging major. Couldn’t serve it in the game maybe there should be a rule that if a major is assessed and cannot be served there should be a 1-2 game suspension automatically attached.
- Jetter

I just think that the DOPS needs to be overhauled, very inconsistent.

And on the topic of intent. Let’s open up another can of worms

Schiefele will play against Montreal again at some point.

He will have to drop the gloves because there will be a fight in the name of retribution.

What will the intent of the canadien player be? To knock his head off? Hit him and but not that hard? Prevent schiefele from hitting any players hard again?

What if the canadien player lands a punch that concusses him? Then what? What was the intent of the canadien player?

Would this then be something the league has to look at or will it be brushed under the carpet.

And on the topic of intent. Let’s open up another can of worms

Schiefele will play against Montreal again at some point.

He will have to drop the gloves because there will be a fight in the name of retribution.

What will the intent of the canadien player be? To knock his head off? Hit him and but not that hard? Prevent schiefele from hitting any players hard again?

What if the canadien player lands a punch that concusses him? Then what? What was the intent of the canadien player?

Would this then be something the league has to look at or will it be brushed under the carpet.
- Jetter

The Code

but it was a clean, legal, textbook hit
- Godel

I would suggest not relying on beer league textbooks and look at the actual NHL rulebook. It really doesn't get any clearer that the hit was in fact no legal at all.

4 games was to much of a suspension. 1 to 2 likely come off on appeal
- Ravenz93

Well the appeal first goes to Bettman, who will predictably rule to uphold the suspension after taking a few days to formulate a response. Then a subsequent appeal can go to a neutral arbitrator who again likely takes a day or two to rule. Point being it will take at least a week for any appeal to that level to play out at which point 3 games will have already been played. Appeal likely occurs anyway to try and set precedent, but I doubt he gets back on the ice before the suspension runs its course.

I thought 1 game max would have been appropriate - only to make his (legitimate) charging penalties from the previous game actually matter.

Beyond that:
Attempted hockey play? Questionable
Hit to the head? No - not principle point of contact
Jumped to hit? No
Kept striding for maximum impact? No
Prior history? No

4 games was excessive.
Signed, a Habs fan.
- ElbowingPenalty

While I will agree that the head was not the principal point point of contact, there is no doubt he hit his head. He drives his shoulder into Evan's upper chest/collarbone area right under his chin. Head comes forward and hits shoulder and the follow through is high with elbow extended (though this is a normal motion on hits).

Though he did not jump prior to the hit, he did drive forward and up and his feet left the ice after contact. Admitingly its tough for your feet to stay on the ice in such a hit with nothing (like boards) on the other side to stop your momentum. Evans is out before he hits the ice.

That he did not keep striding is probably one of the key things that helps DOPS determine intent. If he is striding all the way back he likely has an even stronger play on the puck. While player is free to take the body, its pretty clear here that with an empty net that playing the puck has higher odds of success.

While there is no history, the clear ability to derive intent his what warrants the longer suspension. We are not in the guys head, but his actions prior to the hit scream I'm going to crush this guy, not I'm going to stop this puck at all costs and you say that explained as the main reasoning in the DOPS video. Your always free to crush a guy, as long as its legal. Since this was charging, now you have a major foul and intent becomes the most important factor in determining length of suspension. I felt he deserved the rest of the series, so 6 games, 4 in the end seems a reasonable reduction from that.

If he arrives a split second sooner and prevents him from scoring, we are talking about what a great play it was.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed.

And quite frankly, every coach in the NHL is going to tell his player to hit the guy in that situation. You would also think any player in Evans' position, putting the puck in the net a split second before the other team arrives, is going to expect to get hit.

The only thing I would say about Schiefele is that, you would think he had more chance to stop the goal if he used his stick to swipe at the puck. Creaming the guy might be more fun, but a dive with his stick had a better chance at saving the puck I would think.

https://youtu.be/XxBL85rr0jI
Scheifele might not have deserved 4 games but he deserved to be suspended. He could have easily tried to poke check that puck. He was going for the hit and screwed his team in the process.
- Buff36

yeah, that's the crazy part.... Had he used his stick instead, he very well may have stopped the goal.

I dont understand why this hit is needed in hockey.

you can still have hitting but also make sure your players are not being peeled off the ice.

The NFL is arguably a more violent game and they have all but gotten rid of crap like this.

College Football has a targeting penalty which carries a suspension.

Maybe the NHL needs a new targeting penalty?
This by the way was clearly targeting. He had one intent.

Id rather see McDAvid/Mackinnon going end to end on a great rush then i would watching a dude completely bury a guy because hes mad.

Before you say "Go watch golf/soccer, no i dont want hitting out of the game, i want these hits out of the game.

I dont understand why this hit is needed in hockey.

you can still have hitting but also make sure your players are not being peeled off the ice.

The NFL is arguably a more violent game and they have all but gotten rid of crap like this.

College Football has a targeting penalty which carries a suspension.

Maybe the NHL needs a new targeting penalty?
This by the way was clearly targeting. He had one intent.

Id rather see McDAvid/Mackinnon going end to end on a great rush then i would watching a dude completely bury a guy because hes mad.

Before you say "Go watch golf/soccer, no i dont want hitting out of the game, i want these hits out of the game.
- ImThatGuy

You're never going to be able to take one specific hit out of the game, without taking many of them out. Players will always push the boundaries, for competitive advantage, and there will always be some hits that cross the line, regardless of where the line is.

I'm not saying softening the game is a completely bad thing, but the stricter they are, the less hits there will be.

Scheifele not appealing the suspension

Scheifele not appealing the suspension
- Buff36

Cuz he knows he's a d1ck

Cuz he knows he's a d1ck
- DonCherries

A d!ck that can throw a real nice hit.

A d!ck that can throw a real nice hit.
- prock

So apparently you're smarter than the league.
Prock for Dops

Team Perros leads the series 2-0

And I saw about 35 charges in that game. Lots of distance and pretty violent. Might not have enough players to finish the series if Mr. P stays consistent.

Team Perros leads the series 2-0

And I saw about 35 charges in that game. Lots of distance and pretty violent. Might not have enough players to finish the series if Mr. P stays consistent.
- Kcannon98

Game 2 was the worse playoff game I have ever witnessed. It actually seemed like a Tuesday night game in the middle of February.


BTW. Kyle Connor went to play the puck and missed badly and Tofolli scores! And Connor wears the goat horns for not taking the man.

Everyone be careful now. Hits like schiefele’s will now be 4 games in playoffs and 8 regular season. And if you a repeat offender, the sky is the limit.

2 games was enough.

Can’t wait to see what the league will give the Montreal player for intentionally fighting schiefele for retribution! Hope the player doesn’t concuss schiefele or hurt him with a vicious punch. Hope also this player is not a repeat offender. 8
Game suspension would be peanuts in comparison.

So apparently you're smarter than the league.
Prock for Dops
- braidan

Every person here thinks they're smarter than the league, and calls them incompetent nearly every decision they make, so a sarcastic comment like that using their decision is just foolish. I'm sure you'll call them wrong the next several decisions they make.