
The NHL regular season hasn't even commenced yet and we are already forced to re-open the debate on heads shots, thanks to Steve Downie's devastating hit on Dean McAmmond.
Anyone who regularly follows this space knows where I stand on it. The NHL, it says here, is not doing nearly enough to discourage hits to the head, but in the broad context of that debate, I'll put the soap box away (for now anyway) and instead focus strictly on this particular hit.
First thing, I was in the building at ScotiaBank Place so my take on it is clearly influenced by seeing the hit live and not being able to see as many angles of the replays as I normally would. Whether that makes me more qualified or less qualified, I don't know.
All I know is that people will debate the issues they usually debate on these types of hits.
Downie's feet went up in the air, but he didn't really jump up before he contacted McAmmond. I certainly didn't see any elbow. I guess you could make a case for charging (hard to tell from the replay I saw), and it was a little late.
I really don't know how the NHL can solve the head shot problem. If you make an automatic penalty for contact with another player's head, can't everyone just skate around with their head down and be un-touchable?
Headhunting, 5mins, #67
penalty for shooting the puck at the goalies head.
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