there's a lot going on here. We also have to accept that there will always be more than one perspective. For me, it starts with the fact that karlsson was hacked like a piñata moments before a goal was scored. Missed call. Karlsson and the rest of the team are upset and start the play angry. Before the hit, ruhwedel is high sticked. Missed call. With the hit itself, ryan didn't charge and he didn't launch, he just never slowed down. Ruhwedel puts himself in a vulnerable position by reaching for the loose puck, lowering his head level. Ryan fully intended to hit ruhwedel. No doubt. There's also nothing wrong with fully intending to hit someone and hit them hard so i don't think it's fair that people are getting upset about the fact that ryan didn't let up. He doesn't have to and most players will make that hit. The head is the principle point of contact. No doubt. The elbow makes contact with the head. No doubt. But the fact that ruhwedel puts himself in a bad spot places the onus on him. It's the same reasoning and explanation used when a player is boarded from behind because they turned their body at the last second. Players are told first and foremost to defend themselves. If a player gets hurt by putting themselves in a vulnerable position, the player making the hit shouldn't and won't be punished.
There are definitely some hits that are premeditated and others are unfortunate events. This is an unfortunate event and and even worse outcome because ruhwedel was concussed. But i highly doubt ryan was sitting on the bench thinking "i'm going to hit that guy to get this crowd going!"
like i said, there is always more than one perspective and this is just what i saw and think from that play.
