To Suspend or Not to Suspend?

by Casey Richey on May 2, 2009 8:54 AM CDT in Opinion

Obviously one of the biggest headlines from last night was Nick Lidstrom's 2 goal game and a gritty performance from both teams. But, what most people are going to be talking about in this series is Mike Brown's vicious hit on Jiri Hudler. Oh, you missed it?

So what are the players saying about it? Of course Brown doesn't think he should be suspended.

"It's the playoffs, I want to play," he said. "I want to help the team. I don't know if it's necessary to get that suspension. It was just a clean hit. "

Hm...Clean hit? Is that why he followed through with his stick? Is that why he nailed a player that was looking the opposite direction? Is that why his "clean hit" hit Hudler in the noggin? It's obviously one of those things that you determine whether it was clean or not based on your own opinion. My feeling, and the feeling of many around the league it seems, is that if Donald Brashaer got a 5 game suspension for his hit in Round 1, why should this guy get any less?

Here's what Jiri had to say following the hit:

"I didn't see him coming," Hudler said. "It happened really quick. I didn't have the puck for at least two seconds. It was kind of late, but there's nothing I can do right now. Obviously, it's a hit on the head. I don't want to be out of line, but I hope (the League) will get a look at it and do the right thing."

I don't think he's out of line at all in asking for the League to look at it. It was late, it was to the head, and if you're going to suspend Brashaer for something identical, it has to be the same across the board for every player. If it was a Wings player, I'd be saying the same thing.

Duck's coach Randy Carlisle also disagreed with the hit and went on to even criticize Johan Franzen's goal/running over of Jonas Hiller.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" he said. "We're supposed to be protecting the goalie. The guy puts the puck in the net and runs the goalie over. That's the way it goes."

I think Franzen's play was obviously clean and you don't want him to run over Hiller, but it's not like he ran over him and then the puck went in.

Poll

Do you think Mike Brown's hit was dirty and should he deserves a suspension?

No it was a clean hit.

46 votes

Yes it was dirty, but no suspension is needed

47 votes

Yes it was dirty, and he should be suspended

144 votes

237 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Just me?

The Versus commentator (I have no idea who that is and am too lazy to go look it up) seems to think it is a completely clean hit. Nothing negative at all in his commentary whereas the Versus crew at the break (Engblom and the other guy) were talking he was done for the series. Seems weird there is so much disparity in the comments.

.0128 > 45-35

by chrisabo on May 2, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions

This is definitely a dirty hit. He looks like he’s trying to put his fists through Hudler’s head. Brown could have easily finished that check with just his body and had it be a huge hit. But he decides to take a shot at Hudler’s head in the process. There is no place for hits like that in hockey, and I hope that the League takes the proper actions in this case.

blackhawkey.com

by ChineseBeatle on May 2, 2009 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

the announcers on the canadian channel

Seemed mostly in agreement that the hit didn’t deserve a suspension, and some thought Huds should’ve had his head up, and was a good hit. Imho, it was a bad hit. And it seems to me I have seen other guys be suspended for hits of that nature, so nayner!
I found overall that they seemed a bit harsh toward the Wings. But then again, our boys weren’t exactly playing thier best hockey, either. I’ll tell ya’ll what, though: when they go to commercial you darn well know who’s gonna be on the powerplay when they come back!!
GO WINGS!!

by HockeeJunkee on May 2, 2009 5:47 PM CDT reply actions

All I’ve seen are the online replays, but it looks dirty to me. A bit late, and Brown went straight for Hudler’s head and followed through with his elbows/forearms. I feel like Brashear’s was way later; he lined the guy up and intended to injure him. Brown /might/ have just meant to finish a check and came up high accidentally, but Brashear meant to hurt the guy. In all honesty, I think Brashear should have only been given 1 or 2 games, and I’m fine with Brown only getting the misconduct. But the NHL not giving Brown any extra suspension is incongruous with the suspension of Brashear.

by nWolv13 on May 2, 2009 9:57 PM CDT reply actions