The Chara hit

[budha]

Well I have not seen any comments on this yet, so I figured I would start a thread/poll.

I think that he should not be suspended. When I think of dirty players in the NHL Chara's name would be one of the last ones that I would think of. IT was a hockey play in a bad part of the ice. IT happened 5 feet either way and it would have been a 2 minute penalty for interference and it would have been over. The result was absolutley terrible, and I Would be surprised if the Canadien player every plays again, but really it was not dirty.

[boydo]

Re: The Chara hit

From what I know about Hockey (very little), I don't think I've heard either of these guy's names before...so I guess he's not a dirty player...or chippy like say, Avery...but from my perspective I'd say he should get one game just for the fact that he could have let up a little considering where they were on the ice, the fact that it most likely ended another guy's career...and the reason I say this is maybe these guys will think about missing a game the next time they hammer someone. I agree, if it had happened anywhere else along the boards it would have been a non-issue but the placement was just dumb on his part for even trying to check him there.
Like I said, I don't know crap all about hockey or the rules or the regular penalties or anything...but it just seems like there are more and more guys getting hurt/concussed etc from guys just outright creaming them for no reason other than to make the hit.

[Muley69]

Re: The Chara hit

Players are bigger, stronger, faster.

Equipment is akin to body armor

Rink size stays the same.




You have all the elements for a recipe for disaster. And it's only going to get worse and worse.

[pizmo]

Re: The Chara hit

Not going to watch the video so I have no opinion. BUT the whole topic of concussions and lack of respect for other players has to be addressed in a forceful manner with significant punishment. Air Canada is threatening to withdraw it's support for the league if something isn't done fast...

Personally I don't think Chara is a thug type player but..........

[Hugoagogo]

Re: The Chara hit

Players are bigger, stronger, faster.

Equipment is akin to body armor

Rink size stays the same.

You have all the elements for a recipe for disaster. And it's only going to get worse and worse.

I tend to agree - everything has changed, but the NHL & the PA are slow to react. They say they want to protect the players, but they seem to do nothing to rectify the problem. Kind of like government - "let's do a study on that, and we'll get back to you". I think the time has come to "seriously" address the issues instead of Bettman just having his BS state of the game pressers. I love sport, and there is risk that goes with it, but lately I'm just not enjoying watching the NHL...

[acura]

Re: The Chara hit

This is a really tough call.............apparently these two players have a past altercation.
Chara has been in the league 13 years and has no reputation in this regard.
But i do question the timeleness of the hit and the location of the hit.
Max was hit when he didn't have the puck and was close to the plexiglass partitian...........I think Chara could have eased up.
My big beef is that there is such a lack of class and respect from a lot of players today.......they have become arrogant millionaires.
Chara doesn't fall into that category.
The cheap shot artists sicken me to no end.........I am not a prude and like a good clean hard hitting game, I even enjoya good clean scrap between willing
and equal combatants............just get rib of the crap.
Still on the fence............................................. ....

[eskfan152]

Re: The Chara hit

I put my vote in for a suspension. I agree that this is definitely not Charas mantra, but fact of the matter is, is that it was a dangerous play and a suspension would hopefully cause players to maybe think about what their doing, although I do understand that at that speed it can be hard to prevent.

[budha]

Re: The Chara hit

I have watched the play again (and again and again and again) and I still do not think that there was any intent at all. Chara was actually looking down ice towards the puck when the player hit the partition. It was a penalty, and because a player was injured a major was required. Anything more then that I think is wrong. If Chara had any sort of history of dirty play it would be different, but he does not. It was the type of play that happens all the time it just happened in the exact wrong spot on the ice.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: The Chara hit

He clearly intended to ram him into that turnbuckle. He should be suspended for a long, long time. The NHL is a joke league. And Bettman's childish response to Air Canada seals the deal.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: The Chara hit

Players are bigger, stronger, faster.

Equipment is akin to body armor

Rink size stays the same.




You have all the elements for a recipe for disaster. And it's only going to get worse and worse.

Yup, and it's made exponentially worse that the players are aware their equipment is that good... no fear of getting hurt to keep them honest anymore.

[MoneyGuy]

Re: The Chara hit

It's impossible to know if there was intent, so the government trying to step in is stupid. I'd have given him a couple of games. If a player is responsible for his stick going awry, so should it not be the same in this case. Chara got his hand up on the guy and pushed him as part of the check. If they're responsible for their stick, they should be responsible for shoving a guy, even if there was no intent to take him into that part of the boards.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: The Chara hit

Judging from his body language, it sure looked like Chara knew what he was doing. No following up on the check, no reaction to seeing the guy flattened and fall back like that... he knew the partition was going to finish that check for him. If he didn't mean to do it I doubt he would have just continued on as if nothing happened. Dirty pool for sure, but not exactly unheard of either.

[pizmo]

Re: The Chara hit

He clearly intended to ram him into that turnbuckle. He should be suspended for a long, long time. The NHL is a joke league. And Bettman's childish response to Air Canada seals the deal.

Ya, we don't care we'll fly WestJet. How lame can you get.......oh, wait........

[Party Time]

Re: The Chara hit

Watching it in slow motion is brutal. But watching it in regular speed I find it hard to believe Chara was able to decide in that short of a time frame that he was going to push him into the turnbuckle. He was just trying to check MP into the boards and win the battle for the puck. Slow motion replays make this seem a lot more malicious than it was.

[PDO]

Re: The Chara hit

Watching it in slow motion is brutal. But watching it in regular speed I find it hard to believe Chara was able to decide in that short of a time frame that he was going to push him into the turnbuckle. He was just trying to check MP into the boards and win the battle for the puck. Slow motion replays make this seem a lot more malicious than it was.

Everything looks dirty in slow motion.

I'd have given him a game or two because of the severity of it, but it was a hockey play... it was a rub out.

Montreal is also one of the only arena's that has a turnbuckle there.

Interestingly, Molson is getting his panties in a bunch about player safety but has sure been unwilling to do anything about the glass in his arena...