[Suspension] Keith Aulie - 2 games

[Eisen]

Nobody does it better.



Head down, suicide pass, tall checker, Matt Stajan.

Weak suspension. Elliotte and Panger said it shouldn't be a suspension, Flames fans coming to the Oiler board stating it shouldn't be a suspension. This league man.

That must be the only time soft-as-butter Gilbert knocked someone out.

 

[McPuritania]

That must be the only time soft-as-butter Gilbert knocked someone out.

Besides the ladies with his flowing locks you mean?

 

[The Nuge]

Oh for sure. I mean players are totally going to jump all over getting their heads just hammered, possibly impacting their post playing lives to get someone suspended and get a 5 minute powerplay.

These hits used to be celebrated and then we learned more about the brain.

Really? Because Stajan seems to think it's a great idea. If Stajan got hurt on this play, it's 100% his fault. It's not like he's a foot from the boards with his back turned. He's skating straight up the middle of the ice with his head down. What do you expect Aulie to do? Not hit him, and let Stajan go in untouched? Stajan is 100% open to being hit, and Aulie delivered a great hit. If Stajan can't figure out how to play the game without skating around head first, maybe he should find a new profession. The only thing more ridiculous than the suspension are the people supporting it

 

[Anglesmith]

Really? Because Stajan seems to think it's a great idea. If Stajan got hurt on this play, it's 100% his fault. It's not like he's a foot from the boards with his back turned. He's skating straight up the middle of the ice with his head down. What do you expect Aulie to do? Not hit him, and let Stajan go in untouched? Stajan is 100% open to being hit, and Aulie delivered a great hit. If Stajan can't figure out how to play the game without skating around head first, maybe he should find a new profession. The only thing more ridiculous than the suspension are the people supporting it

This is a slight exaggeration. Stajan wasn't skating up the centre of the ice with his head down. He was skating up the centre of the ice, and a pass was delivered toward his skates, causing him to look down to try to locate and corral it.

 

[smackdaddy]

This is a slight exaggeration. Stajan wasn't skating up the centre of the ice with his head down. He was skating up the centre of the ice, and a pass was delivered toward his skates, causing him to look down to try to locate and corral it.

I fail to see a difference

 

[Anglesmith]

I fail to see a difference

I'm not sure I can help with that.

 

[North]

Good grief, I was almost certain no suspension would happen. Even the Sportsnet panel seemed to think 5 and a game was enough.

Quintal has no clue what he is doing.

 

[Mr Positive]

Aulie went out of his way to lower his check. What is he supposed to do there? Let Stajan blow by him? Stajan did an awesome job of making himself impossible to be hit anywhere but the head. Even then, Aulie hit him in the chest as well to reduce the whiplash effect, and that would have been a concussion.

If Aulie were a dirty player Stajan would be on the IR now and for a long time.

 

[theranfordflop]

So Jannik Hansen was just fined $5,000 for a blindside check to the head on Tommy Wingels. Clear blindside hit, extended his arm to lunge at Wingels, flinging his body out towards him.

No suspension.

That's just not right. Oilers need to appeal.

 

[nik-]

Really? Because Stajan seems to think it's a great idea. If Stajan got hurt on this play, it's 100% his fault. It's not like he's a foot from the boards with his back turned. He's skating straight up the middle of the ice with his head down. What do you expect Aulie to do? Not hit him, and let Stajan go in untouched? Stajan is 100% open to being hit, and Aulie delivered a great hit. If Stajan can't figure out how to play the game without skating around head first, maybe he should find a new profession. The only thing more ridiculous than the suspension are the people supporting it

Victim blaming is pretty common here I know, but it's pretty easy. Don't hit other players in the head. Should Stajan skate with his head down? Obviously not, but regardless of how you feel about it, the NHL has clearly stated the onus is on the hitter. So ... it's not 100% Stajan's fault, sorry.

If it was an Oilers player that got hit in this manner, you'd be fine with the suspension. Right now you'll say you wouldn't because it's easy for you to say that, but you would.

 

[RipsADrive]

If the NHL keeps suspending plays like this I'm thinking the rhinoceros style zone entry will become more popular.

Get some speed, stick your head out, and no one is allowed to touch you.

 

[Lunatik]

With Stajan hunched over like that I'm not sure what Aulie is supposed to do to avoid the head, short of not throwing a body check at all.

I'm not saying I agree with how the rules have changed over the past few years, but looking at the rules how they are written now it is clearly an illegal hit. In this situation the NHL wants no hit at all is my guess, I personally an not upset by the hit as I grew up admiring big open ice hits. But all I am saying it the letter of the rule dictates that this is illegal and suspendable.

 

[Snakepit]

I don't like the victim blaming, yeah Stajan was in brutal positioning for the hit and the hit was certainly very early. But a 2 game suspension for interference is an absolute joke.

 

[Lunatik]

I don't like the victim blaming, yeah Stajan was in brutal positioning for the hit and the hit was certainly very early. But a 2 game suspension for interference is an absolute joke.

That's more a discussion about the way the rules are now than this particular hit. No one should be surprised that a hit to the head resulted in a suspension by now. Based on how the rules are written this is an illegal hit and is suspendable.

But I agree, I also do not like the extreme these new headshot rules have gone to. But you might as well get used to it, because it's only a matter of time before they ban all contact to the head.

 

[Snakepit]

That's more a discussion about the way the rules are now than this particular hit. No one should be surprised that a hit to the head resulted in a suspension by now. Based on how the rules are written this is an illegal hit and is suspendable.

But I agree, I also do not like the extreme these new headshot rules have gone to. But you might as well get used to it, because it's only a matter of time before they ban all contact to the head.

I don't agree with the bolded, if they want something like this to be against the rules, then these sentences need to be taken out of the rulebook

"whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered"

Looking at it, how would the head contact be avoidable unless he doesn't hit him at all? And to the people saying well then don't hit him at all.... it's hockey, take a blind open ice suicide pass like that, you're going to get wrecked.

This suspension tells me any contact to the head is no longer okay. Fine. Then say so. Occasionally over enforcing it and ignoring it other times is bush league. Asking for consistency in the DoPS is a dream, we all know that, but the way that this somehow got 2 games is still a joke. It's a borderline,late hit at worst.

 

[disrespectful]

Good, clean hit. Shouldn't have been a penalty. Ridicolous suspesion.

Stajan's known for skating head first into opponents' shoulders. DPOS should suspend him for his own safety.

 

[Lunatik]

I don't agree with the bolded, if they want something like this to be against the rules, then these sentences need to be taken out of the rulebook



Looking at it, how would the head contact be avoidable unless he doesn't hit him at all? And to the people saying well then don't hit him at all.... it's hockey, take a blind open ice suicide pass like that, you're going to get wrecked.

This suspension tells me any contact to the head is no longer okay. Fine. Then say so. Occasionally over enforcing it and ignoring it other times is bush league. Asking for consistency in the DoPS is a dream, we all know that, but the way that this somehow got 2 games is still a joke. It's a borderline,late hit at worst.

Read your own quote, can be considered, not will be considered. The wording makes any hit where the initial point of contact is the head suspendable.

I am however shocked this got 2 games because there was no injury and I do not recall Aulie being a repeat offender, but I may have missed something in the past.

 

[Rysto]

If the NHL keeps suspending plays like this I'm thinking the rhinoceros style zone entry will become more popular.

Get some speed, stick your head out, and no one is allowed to touch you.

Yep. There's pretty much no downside. And don't try to talk to me about head injuries as the downside. Top athletes will destroy themselves with performance enhancing drugs if they think that can get away with it.

 

[Calgarybrutalist]

I cant believe this got a suspension. About a month ago Ovechkin took a run at Glencross and popped him right in the head. Nothing. I don't understand the rules.

 

[SaintMorose]

5+Game should have been enough here, honestly thought it could have even just been 2mins.
Aulie really didn't do much to punish on the hit stayed tucked in no arm or elbow no steps or jump, penalty was deserved as he got the head first, but after that I don't see why the league is going after this over other hits this season.

 

[Anglesmith]

Looking at it, how would the head contact be avoidable unless he doesn't hit him at all?

Hit the front shoulder instead of avoiding it and going for the head. That was dictated by the angle he took initially.

 

[The Nuge]

Victim blaming is pretty common here I know, but it's pretty easy. Don't hit other players in the head. Should Stajan skate with his head down? Obviously not, but regardless of how you feel about it, the NHL has clearly stated the onus is on the hitter. So ... it's not 100% Stajan's fault, sorry.

If it was an Oilers player that got hit in this manner, you'd be fine with the suspension. Right now you'll say you wouldn't because it's easy for you to say that, but you would.

Victim blaming? it was Stajan's fault plain and simple. That's not victim blaming, it's just the truth. And I'll ask again, what do you expect Aulie to do there? Because he did everything in his power to deliver a legal check. I wouldn't be happy an Oiler got obliterated skating with his head down, but why would I want someone suspended for a clean hit? Most of the Flames fanbase agrees as well. It's clear you don't know the rules set out by the DoPS. Look at their twitter account even

 

[Anglesmith]

Victim blaming? it was Stajan's fault plain and simple. That's not victim blaming, it's just the truth. And I'll ask again, what do you expect Aulie to do there? Because he did everything in his power to deliver a legal check.

Except for targeting his front shoulder instead of avoiding it.

 

[The Nuge]

Except for targeting his front shoulder instead of avoiding it.

ok. Clearly you've never played hockey

 

[CraigsList]

I don't think Aulie should have been suspended for that. Suicide pass that Stajan had no chance for. Aulie should have just received a penalty for interference/charging, that's it. I think the NHL took this one a little too harsh.