Despres hit on Smid

[The Macho King]

I don't disagree. Smid put himself in a bad position (crouching) and then made it even worse (stopped and turned into it). Despres made a questionable read on the play (misjudged Smid's location) and a bad hit which he then tried to make better.

Smid's to blame for his position. However, I think that Despres had time to recognize that Smid put himself in trouble and that Despres should be able to make a safer play. I'd rather see that as a fan of the game. I also think that Despres left his feet before contact and that Despres would still have left his feet before contact even if Smid wasn't crouching. I want both players to make smarter and safer decisions.

How fast do you expect human beings to react? From the goal line to the boards where the hit happened takes less than a second. That's not a lot of time.

 

[Dylonus]

I don't disagree. Smid put himself in a bad position (crouching) and then made it even worse (stopped and turned into it). Despres made a questionable read on the play (misjudged Smid's location) and a bad hit which he then tried to make better.

Smid's to blame for his position. However, I think that Despres had time to recognize that Smid put himself in trouble and that Despres should be able to make a safer play. I'd rather see that as a fan of the game. I also think that Despres left his feet before contact and that Despres would still have left his feet before contact even if Smid wasn't crouching. I want both players to make smarter and safer decisions.

It appears he tried. By the time he realized Smid tried to bail; it was too late for Despres.

My guess is Despres tried to avoid Smid and made it worse by leaping.

 

[DearDiary]

How fast do you expect human beings to react? From the goal line to the boards where the hit happened takes less than a second. That's not a lot of time.

This is something 90% of the posters on this site don't understand. They look at slow motion video's and gifs at 5 different angles for 10 minutes yet can't comprehend why a referee has trouble making correct calls on full speed plays at one angle which could have been blocked off. I don't get how anyone could make an opinion about a hit, expecially intent, without viewing only full speed replays.

 

[Smokey McCanucks]

Nothing Despres can do about it at that point, he has it lined up but Smid tried to bail out at the last minute and ended up getting the worst of it.

 

[The Examiner]

Absolutely ridiculous. I'm so tired of players being too scared to take a hit and then bailing at the last second, causing the hit to look dirtier than it should have been. Smid saw Despres coming and was too scared to take the hit. End of.

You kids out there should learn from this. Do not let up if some one is about to hit you. Take the hit and you won't be vulnerable. This is 100% on Smid. Toughen up Smid or retire.

 

[Penguinator]

Després jumped WHILE he was hitting, because he was put in a bad position, Smid was in a bad position to start with...

 

[KCC]

You hear about it all the time. A player took the hit to make a play. And this is exactly what happened. The problem with the hit was it was a headshot. Intentional or not, Smid being lower or not. His head was hit and that's all the NHL cares about.

 

[Goodlad]

Watching this gif, Despres's arm clearly hits Smid's chest first. Despres leaves his feet during contact, and he lands his skate on the boards to stop the follow through so he doesn't continue to steamroll through Smid.

https://twitter.com/McEicheldotCom/status/543583219170287617

I have zero problems with this hit. In fact, I applaud Despres's situational awareness to stop his own momentum like this.

I honestly don't know how you can watch that clip and think the chest is the primary point of contact.

 

[Goodlad]

After reading through the thread completely there seem to be quite a few sub-plots going on here.
Pittsburgh fans seem to think that Flames' fans are trying to start "yet another Pitts is the dirtiest team in the league" thread. Believe me, we don't see enough of you to consider this any kind of trend. This is an isolated event as far as we're concerned.

Then there is the "this league is getting so soft, old time hockey blah, blah, blah" debate. Fine, old time hockey that hit would have been fine, but Bollig would have fed Despres his teeth for it without an instigator rule.

Finally there's the "is this actually worth a suspension" debate. My honest opinion as a Flames' fan is Smid did put himself in a vulnerable position, but Despres had opportunity to let up, and primary contact was to the head. I think the hit looks a lot worse than Despres intended because of where Smid was when he hit him. That being said, the way the league is calling things right now I would be very surprised if Simon didn't sit for a couple of games.

 

[Sarge58]

How is it interference when Smid touched the puck almost simultaneous with impact?

And Despres doesn't have to go for the puck - you're allowed to separate someone from the puck physically, and you're allowed to finish your checks. I don't know if Smid got hurt, but if he did, that's unfortunate. At the same time, he probably shouldn't be skating so low when going into a high traffic/high likelihood of getting hit area.

I didn't see him touch it so I'll look again if he did then just ignore my post.

 

[Pepper]

How about you Pens fans stop making excuses like "Smid turned just before contact" or "Smid put himself in bad position" etc.

Depres JUMPED. Both skates clearly off the ice prior to the contact or at the moment of impact. This is not a case of skates leaving the ice because of the angle and/or momentum, Depres launches himself upwards.

And yes, what is the questionable hit on Crosby? Serious question.

 

[Spinkis]

Clean hit imo.

 

[Lunatik]

I don't really have an issue with this hit. It's hard to tell if he leaves his feet before or after contact though, after contact isn't illegal. It's borderline at worst, so maybe a fine but no more.

Smid okay after the hit? Due to working midnights I was sleeping and have not yet watched the game.

 

[Sarge58]

How is it interference when Smid touched the puck almost simultaneous with impact?

And Despres doesn't have to go for the puck - you're allowed to separate someone from the puck physically, and you're allowed to finish your checks. I don't know if Smid got hurt, but if he did, that's unfortunate. At the same time, he probably shouldn't be skating so low when going into a high traffic/high likelihood of getting hit area.

I looked at another gif with a wider view and he did touch the puck. I actually wasn't questioning the hit itself, but from the op's gifs I didn't see the puck being touched.

 

[JVR]

I don't like the Pens. There should be no suspension.

 

[Opak]

Really mixed feeling on this one. Would not be surprised to see Despres get suspended due to the head contact.

 

[Arizonan God]

Ehh idk about this one. I wouldn't be mad if Despres got suspended or anything, I just think a hit to the head penalty would have suffice. Smid was awfully low.

 

[When is the Parade]

No foul there. Good hit. Smid just had his head at the wrong level.

 

[Lomez]

Hockey play....

 

[Jacob]

How about you Pens fans stop making excuses like "Smid turned just before contact" or "Smid put himself in bad position" etc.

Depres JUMPED. Both skates clearly off the ice prior to the contact or at the moment of impact. This is not a case of skates leaving the ice because of the angle and/or momentum, Depres launches himself upwards.

And yes, what is the questionable hit on Crosby? Serious question.

That's legal.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Looked like an illegal hit to me

 

[KapG]

Maybe players shouldn't skate around bent over with their ****ing heads down.

What is this timbits hockey?

 

[KapG]

Maybe just maybe he shouldn`t have jumped.

Happened after the initial contact.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This is exactly the kind of stupid, predatory hit that needs to come out of the game if we want these guys to have brain cells left after age 30.

Crouched over or not, Smid was in a position where he HAD to make a play on the puck. What else was he supposed to do? Just ignore the hockey game and look for someone to take a run at?

Despres, being as close to the puck as he was, is obligated to to recognize 2 things:

1) Anyone that close to the puck is expected to make some sort of play on it (including himself).

2) He is responsible for respecting the safety of anyone nearby who is also in a position where they have to make a play.

So what does he choose to do? Skate around with his stick pointing up in the air, alter his course to line up a guy who's making a legitimate play on the puck, and hit that guy right in the head.

I don't think "keep your head up" applies here whatsoever. Smid was in a hockey stance making a hockey play, naturally his head is going to be low. The decision to hit him for no good reason was on Despres, and therefore the consequences of that hit (intentional or not) are his responsibility as well.

 

[Pepper]

That's legal.

100% BS.

If both skates are off the ice at the moment of impact, it can't be because of momentum/angle. If skates come off the ice AFTER the impact, it's momentum.