Headshots headshots headshots

03/01/2012 11:15

Written by Brian;

 

We all know this has gone above and beyond an epidemic. But after last night’s game where Eric Nystrom ran Kris Letang, no regard for the puck just looking to lay the player out I’ll admit I’m outraged.

There has been no official word from the Penguins yet as to the status of Letang but it doesn’t take a doctor to realize he was not right. The sad part is, you have that gut feeling Nystrom wont even get a slap on the wrist for this.

 

 

Let’s look at some of the factors the Department of Player Safety is supposed to look at when determining supplementary discipline.

Where was contact made?

- Letang took the brunt of the blow on the chest but per the picture above the head was violently struck

What was the outcome of the check?  

- Letang was injured

Was a penalty assessed on the play?

- Nystrom was assessed a Roughing minor

Does the player have a history of supplemental discipline?

- Yes, Nystrom was suspended for 2 games on April 17th, 2011

 

A lot of signs saying Nystrom should at least get a fine, but he probably won’t. Sad part is the league itself knows there is a concussion epidemic and knows they need to do something about headshots. But the folks in charge now are the goons from yesteryear.

It really amazes me that head shots, in every other level of hockey aside from the NHL are illegal. There should be no grey area, make it black and white. If you make contact with a players head you get a 5 minute major penalty, $2,500 fine, and a meeting with the disciplinary board. Period.  

Don’t tell me I’m only advocating this because I’m a Pens fan, I was very dissatisfied with the performance of Matt Cooke over the past few years and was very vocal about wanting him gone.

Jeremy Roenick made some ridiculous comments on last night’s post game show on NBC Sports. Some “highlights” were when he said Letang should learn to take a hit, asked is these guys play soccer or hockey, and the most ridiculous claim of all was that Letang took all of the blow to the chest and when you get hit in the chest your head flails back.

How can you even make that last statement??!?! When you are hit anywhere in the front of your body (aside from your head) your head snaps FORWARD. When you are hit in the head your head snaps BACK. Ridiculous comment by him. 

As I said in yesterday’s recap Mike Milbury called for a Nystrom suspension, he and Roenick got into it a little. You can see Roenick almost snap when Milbury slaps his chin. (VIDEO BELOW)

Roenick did his normal, attack every fan that disagrees with him on twitter after the post game show. How is NBC Sports still employing him or letting him stay on twitter?