The hit is VERY close to being head hunting. But also VERY close to not. I don't see Trouba really going totally with his elbow. The timing and angles give Trouba the benefit of the doubt.
The thing that bothers me is the Hawks player was in a vulnerable position and did NOT have possession of the puck. I am sorry you can't run guys just because the puck is near them. If 16 is carrying the puck, in control, with possession then yes Trouba hit is fine. But that was not the case. Trouba took advantage of basically a defenseless player.
I think it is pretty clear that the puck is by, or hit Khaira. It is also very clear that Trouba's elbow is up and the first point of contact is his head. - Chunk
Seth Jones gave Khaira the pass. Khiara does not accept the pass cleanly and it hits his stick and goes into his skates. Just watch the first 4 seconds a few times. Looks like Khiara knows the pucks is there and looks down to gather it when contact is made.
The hit was devastating but clearly not his elbow, clearly in that view you see Trouba's shoulder come make contact with Khiara chin. In the reverse angle it does appear that first contact was Trouba's right shoulder to Khiara's left shoulder but moves quickly to the chin.
The hit is VERY close to being head hunting. But also VERY close to not. I don't see Trouba really going totally with his elbow. The timing and angles give Trouba the benefit of the doubt.
The thing that bothers me is the Hawks player was in a vulnerable position and did NOT have possession of the puck. I am sorry you can't run guys just because the puck is near them. If 16 is carrying the puck, in control, with possession then yes Trouba hit is fine. But that was not the case. Trouba took advantage of basically a defenseless player. - kwolf68
The pass hit Khaira right on the tape. At this point, Trouba has already decided to step up and play the body. The fact that Khaira doesn't play it cleanly and it ends up in his skates doesn't mean the puck is not his.
Guys get hit all the time without even having the opportunity to reach the puck first and it isn't deemed illegal. Why on earth would this be?
A really unfortunate result, and I hope Khaira ends up ok long term. But, there was no head hunting here. Just a player known for his physicality making a hit that is somewhere right along the borderline of legal/illegal.
The pass hit Khaira right on the tape. At this point, Trouba has already decided to step up and play the body. The fact that Khaira doesn't play it cleanly and it ends up in his skates doesn't mean the puck is not his.
Guys get hit all the time without even having the opportunity to reach the puck first and it isn't deemed illegal. Why on earth would this be?
A really unfortunate result, and I hope Khaira ends up ok long term. But, there was no head hunting here. Just a player known for his physicality making a hit that is somewhere right along the borderline of legal/illegal. - Tonybere
The slow motion play the puck is between his feet he has no control or possession. I guess this was just "finishing a check". At least you admit it was borderline. The end result is we probably see which side this play falls under based on the color of our team jerseys.
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL Joined: 11.06.2015
Dec 8 @ 10:48 AM ET
Seth Jones gave Khaira the pass. Khiara does not accept the pass cleanly and it hits his stick and goes into his skates. Just watch the first 4 seconds a few times. Looks like Khiara knows the pucks is there and looks down to gather it when contact is made.
The hit was devastating but clearly not his elbow, clearly in that view you see Trouba's shoulder come make contact with Khiara chin. In the reverse angle it does appear that first contact was Trouba's right shoulder to Khiara's left shoulder but moves quickly to the chin. - climbdenali12
After watching again, I'll grant that it likely isn't his elbow (I still can't really tell from the replays), but to say Trouba's arm doesn't come up is false. It's a quick play, but I don't think Trounba is without fault, and I could understand if the league gives him a couple games off. I could also see that they don't do anything (who knows these days with the DOPS).
It hits his tape then immediately he loses it between his feet. His inability to control the puck forced him to drop his head to find it. Trouba wanted the hit more than the puck fine. Trouba had to see 16 drop his head, it didn't matter. That's hockey I guess.
No matter what it's a lot better than some of the dogpoop we saw in the Jets/Leafs game. Not sure what the refs were doing in that one, but it was amateur hour.
After watching again, I'll grant that it likely isn't his elbow (I still can't really tell from the replays), but to say Trouba's arm doesn't come up is false. It's a quick play, but I don't think Trounba is without fault, and I could understand if the league gives him a couple games off. I could also see that they don't do anything (who knows these days with the DOPS). - Chunk
Players can't be penalized for what happens after initial contact, unless it is "obvious" he intentionally tries to injure the player, which I think everyone can agree...Trouba didn't try to hurt him after initial contact. poop happens! Geez...move on
No matter what it's a lot better than some of the dogpoop we saw in the Jets/Leafs game. Not sure what the refs were doing in that one, but it was amateur hour. - kwolf68
Poink's was too and the mugging of Austin Matthews while the ref just sorta hung out was odd to see. Let someone just pound on one of the sports best young stars. Way to protect the NHL assets.
Spezza hit was bad and he typically never plays like that. I think that first hit really worked the Leafs into a frenzy.
Don't think it was intentional by Trouba. Trouba is absolutely in the right to make the hit there. Whether intentional or not, the initial contact is to the head and the league puts an onus on the player to avoid head contact. Think he'll get fined, maybe a game.
After watching again, I'll grant that it likely isn't his elbow (I still can't really tell from the replays), but to say Trouba's arm doesn't come up is false. It's a quick play, but I don't think Trounba is without fault, and I could understand if the league gives him a couple games off. I could also see that they don't do anything (who knows these days with the DOPS). - Chunk
Trouba has to get lower, shoulder right to the jaw then the momentum is whiplash like and smacks his noggin on the ice. Football term, principal point of contact is the head.
Poink's was too and the mugging of Austin Matthews while the ref just sorta hung out was odd to see. Let someone just pound on one of the sports best young stars. Way to protect the NHL assets.
Spezza hit was bad and he typically never plays like that. I think that first hit really worked the Leafs into a frenzy. - kwolf68
Matthews is going to have to man up. If he continues to allow guys to “mug him” as you say, he’ll continue to get mugged. And Matthews isn’t as innocent as you want to believe. He likes to get aggressive and then when it gets turned back on him he allows himself to get rag dolled. Remember last playoffs in a scrum when he put Shea Weber in a headlock then pushed him over but suddenly went limp and crumpled to the ice when an enraged Weber got back up looking for payback?
Anyway, good to see a Rangers fan hang out, maybe we'll see you guys in the playoffs. You guys got any openings in 2026? - kwolf68
Lmao.
I hope you guys turn it around sooner than that! Regardless of all the off-ice shyte you guys are dealing with, Toews is one of my favourite players of the 21st century.
Really glad to hear Khaira is doing well.
Location: Why did I move back here again?, IL Joined: 11.06.2015
Dec 8 @ 11:14 AM ET
Players can't be penalized for what happens after initial contact, unless it is "obvious" he intentionally tries to injure the player, which I think everyone can agree...Trouba didn't try to hurt him after initial contact. poop happens! Geez...move on - rrentz
Totally agree. And the initial contact was to the head. I'm not totally laying everything on him, but he does own a good share of responsibility here. There are ways to make that hit that don't involve Khiara's chin.
It hits his tape then immediately he loses it between his feet. His inability to control the puck forced him to drop his head to find it. Trouba wanted the hit more than the puck fine. Trouba had to see 16 drop his head, it didn't matter. That's hockey I guess. - kwolf68
I think you are using NFL rules of possessing the ball in your argument here
Thanks. Definitely not the elbow. Shoulder does come up and hits his head first. I guess we'll see what the league does. - Chunk
Here's the rule directly from the league rule book. Trouba hit him squarely through the body as he came at him head on, he didn't "pick" his head. Khaira looked for the puck in his feet right before contact, putting himself in a vulnerable position and materially changing the position of his head which contributed to head contact. There's no argument from me that Trouba didn't hit him in the head. The question is whether it's avoidable and I don't think it was considering the criteria below. It was unfortunate but I'd be shocked if there was any supplemental discipline given how the rule is written.
Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an
opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and
such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was
avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be
considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the
opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor
timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the
body upward or outward.
(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by
assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full
body check unavoidable.
(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body
or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way
that significantly contributed to the head contact.
Because I saw you responded to what I said yesterday, I just wanted to clarify what you said. Only because I never played hockey. I know it was unfortunate that Khaira had his head down in trying to locate the puck, which can happen, but his head was down a little too long. You said "checker's instinct." So, they aim high to deliver a hit like that? - I Am The Breadman
When the decision is made to run a guy you don't want to be the guy who takes the brunt of the hit. So it's natural to elevate as you hit someone so it's the other guy who falls down. Back in the day you would have your stick up high as well to protect against the other guy's stick. But today we know more about the damage from head shots. I'm not proud to say that when I played and threw a hit on a guy with his head down like that I aimed to put my shoulder on the other guy's chest and follow through upwards. Years ago I even coached it. Feel a bit bad about it now knowing what we now know.
