Zack Kassian kicks Erik Cernak with his skate blade (Mod warning in OP)

[Czechboy]

I'm a lifelong Oiler's fan. I took a lot of shit on hfboards when I pointed out what an awful signing it was 10 games ago. I can't recall being excited about suspension news for one of my Oiler's in my life. I predicted 5 but I'm thinking more now.

 

[Il Stugotz]

The hearing will take place this afternoon. Kassian waived the in-person rights so he'll just call in from wherever the Oilers keep him caged up.

 

[IBleedOil247]

As an Oiler Fan, this is unacceptable. Kassian will get 8-10 Game for this. Really stupid for him to do this, I am sure he regrets it but this simply cant happen, especially with the injuries we have right now. This will hurt the team

 

[Beville]

I just can’t fathom what excuse(s) could be used in an attempt to justify this...

mind boggling at the minimum

 

[TooManyHumans]

"Your honor - I didn't stab him! I was pushing him with my knife!"

I must have missed where Cernak was stabbed. You'd think all the blood would stand out on the white ice. Regardless, what Kassian did was reckless and dangerous. It just wasn't on the level of the stomp. It was hardly a vicious "kick." As I said, it still deserves supplemental discipline. It just wasn't a vicious play like some are making it out to be. I was actually watching the game when it happened as the other game I was watching was in intermission and the announcers didn't even seem to really mention it when it happened live.

 

[The Macho King]

So we'll get an answer sooner than later.

 

[Sugi21]

View attachment 320611

I mean Kassian never did this and Happy didn’t get suspended. 0 games but he has to toughen up in the off season.

I beg to differ... Kassian accomplishment that feat no more than an hour ago!

 

[member 145483]

This shouldn't be a suspension, it should be a ban.

Not his first offense....by a long shot.

Not an action the NHL should be letting 'slide' in any way, shape, or form. The last thing that is needed is players thinking that this is acceptable at all. Anything short of a full ban tells them it is "okay" under the correct circumstances.

 

[Porkleaker]

$5000 fine and 1/2 a game suspension

 

[HighLifeMan]

Boy.. does this guy have a screw loose or what. You can't just go around attempting to injure players everytime you feel you have been wronged. He clearly has an inability to keep his cool, and this is his second blatant attempt to hurt somebody in the past month and a half.

12 games is my number. He clearly doesn't care, and needs some help with his anger issues.

 

[Neil Racki]

But Kassian didn't kick him in an exposed area.
He would have had to kick him really hard to cut through the jersey and padding.

It doesn't justify what Kassian did as it was utterly moronic and deserves a lengthy suspension but people are overstating the danger it presented to Cernak.

"Danger presented" should be based on the reasonable foreseeable harm that may be caused by the action, not the actual harm. A person could shot a gun and miss someones head by 3 inches, certainly we would all agree that is a serious matter deserving a serious penalty ... even though there was zero physical harm.

If I walk through an airport with a dead rattle snake, my duty of care to others is less than if I walk through an airport with a live snake. Why? Because the reasonable foreseeable harm of a live rattle snake is much greater.

Just because he kicked him in the protected padded chest area and no actual harm occurred ... obviously it doesnt 100% excuse the act, but does it mitigate it? I dont know.

 

[Neil Racki]

Seems like Cernak was very aware that Kassian had just kicked him square in the chest, and did react, with words.
I know Oiler fans deem it necessary for everyone Kassian loses his marbles on, to fight him, because "ThE CoDe", but why would Cernak, in his right mind, start a fight with a guy that just did one of the most dangerous things a Hockey player can ever do?

The "code" in this situation is that Cernak, if he wants to, can challenge Kassian. If Cernak, the "victim", doesnt want to, he doesnt have to. (im not sure if im reading your post right, if not apologies)

 

[perronist]

Imo, Cernak should fight Kassian next game and answer the bell for being there when Kassian was playing hard and the right way

 

[Patmac40]

I must have missed where Cernak was stabbed. You'd think all the blood would stand out on the white ice. Regardless, what Kassian did was reckless and dangerous. It just wasn't on the level of the stomp. It was hardly a vicious "kick." As I said, it still deserves supplemental discipline. It just wasn't a vicious play like some are making it out to be. I was actually watching the game when it happened as the other game I was watching was in intermission and the announcers didn't even seem to really mention it when it happened live.

He kicked a guy in the chest with a blade on his foot. If he hits and his foot slips up then he's in extremely dangerous territory. It's dangerous no matter the outcome.

 

[wretched34]

I must have missed where Cernak was stabbed. You'd think all the blood would stand out on the white ice. Regardless, what Kassian did was reckless and dangerous. It just wasn't on the level of the stomp. It was hardly a vicious "kick." As I said, it still deserves supplemental discipline. It just wasn't a vicious play like some are making it out to be. I was actually watching the game when it happened as the other game I was watching was in intermission and the announcers didn't even seem to really mention it when it happened live.

So, if you were given the choice:

A) put on a boot, made of hard plastic, and a shin pad, made of a hard plastic outer shell and dense foam inner, and let someone stomp on that area 1 time with a skate on
Or
B) put on a light foam chest protector, and have someone kick up at your chest and throat area with a skate on,

You'd choose B because it didn't look as "vicious"?

 

[JFHockey]

This is why the game need players like Tkachuk to police dangerous maniacs like Kassian.

 

[GoCaps2004]

this has got to be at least like, 10 games. incredibly dumb and dangerous

 

[Warden of the North]

Wait, theres people who dont think this should be a suspension?

 

[Emotive]

Not sure how any Oilers fan can defend this. Was a stupid thing to do and could have been dangerous, luckily it wasn’t, but that doesn’t make it any more ok. I love Kass, and what he has been able to accomplish with his personal life, as well as turn his career around here. But he really needs to eliminate this side of his game

 

[Rubi]

The "code" in this situation is that Cernak, if he wants to, can challenge Kassian. If Cernak, the "victim", doesnt want to, he doesnt have to. (im not sure if im reading your post right, if not apologies)

Does Cernak, when fighting Kassian, get to hide a knife up his sleeve and then surprise him by using it? Seems to me that the "code" should allow that in this circumstance. Fair is fair.

 

[Missing smitty]

So, if you were given the choice:

A) put on a boot, made of hard plastic, and a shin pad, made of a hard plastic outer shell and dense foam inner, and let someone stomp on that area 1 time with a skate on
Or
B) put on a light foam chest protector, and have someone kick up at your chest and throat area with a skate on,

You'd choose B because it didn't look as "vicious"?

You think hockey chest protectors are "light foam"? They're made of plastic and some have bloody kevlar in them. These guys aren't rocking the old Cooper pads.

This is the issue with this whole thread. You've got Calgary fans pretending they have some sort of leg to stand on when it comes to dirty plays and others claiming he tried to kill the guy.

He's getting a big suspension that he rightfully deserves, but just like anything in life, when you blow it out of proportion, your arguments get lost in hyperbole.

 

[Kranix]

The Code doesn't apply here because Cernak didn't turtle. He puffed out his chest like a man and took the skate blade kick from Kassian. Two guys playing hard.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Wait, theres people who dont think this should be a suspension?

Kassian himself sure seems to think it was nothing

“I was trying to get off and pull my leg off,” explained Kassian. “He was holding me and Archie down, I didn’t even know where the puck was, I was trying to pull my leg up and get up.”

Oilers burned by Kassian's kick, Draisaitl's mistake - Sportsnet.ca

 

[DFC]

Wait, theres people who dont think this should be a suspension?

I think they're pretty few and far between. This is about as close to consensus as HF gets.

Credit to Oiler fans for being objective in this one. I don't think I've seen a single Oiler fan defend it.

 

[Warden of the North]

Kassian himself sure seems to think it was nothing

“I was trying to get off and pull my leg off,” explained Kassian. “He was holding me and Archie down, I didn’t even know where the puck was, I was trying to pull my leg up and get up.”

Oilers burned by Kassian's kick, Draisaitl's mistake - Sportsnet.ca

No one has ever called him smart