The NHL has apparently decided to take a stand against hits to the head by handing down fines to two different players during last week’s contests. Both players were fined without suspension.
Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno was fined for his Thursday night hit on Carolina’s Patrick Dwyer, and Buffalo Sabre Patrick Kaleta has also been fined for an attempted headbutt on New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac on Wednesday night.
Dwyer was not injured on the play, and no penalty was called. The hit itself was on the blind side, and it was delivered high. Foligno received the maximum fine by the NHL’s principal disciplinarian Colin Campbell at a $2,500 penalty.
"While there was no injury as a result of the hit, it is clear that Foligno delivered a shoulder check from the blind side that made primary contact with Dwyer's head," Campbell said in a release. "It is also clear that Foligno was delivering the hit in an attempt to get the puck."
Foligno defended his actions, stating that the hit was completely unintentional and he was purely trying to play the puck.
"I knew that it was kind of a vulnerable spot for him, and all I wanted to do was play the puck," said Foligno. "I remember keeping my arm by my side and trying to poke the puck and he was coming up the ice too, so he was going to run into me. My intent was never to hit him in the head, and it's unfortunate that it went that route."
Teammate Jason Spezza was right there to defend Foligno as a player, while the Senators’ head coach admitted it was a close call, but firmly believes Foligno’s intentions were good.
"If you know Nicky, he's not a dirty player. I don't think he was head-hunting there," said Spezza. "I think it may even have caught his shoulder first. But obviously when stuff like that happens, there is a lot of talk about it. It's going to be analyzed and over-analyzed."
"I watched Nicky's eyes, and he's not looking at the guy's head; he's looking at the puck," said head coach Cory Clouston. "His body position was more protecting the puck. If you know how Nicky plays, and we all do, that's a typical move for Nicky - he uses his body to protect the puck very well. To me, that's all he was doing. He didn't drill right through the guy, he didn't throw the elbow up."
While the trio remain adamant that the fine was uncalled for, the hit has drawn many criticisms around the NHL. Head coach Paul Maurice and assistant coach Ron Francis of the Carolina Hurricanes believe quite the opposite.
"They felt that the hit was shoulder to shoulder," Maurice said after the game. "Unless Patty's [Dwyer] head is growing out of his armpit, I'm not sure how that is possible. The referees just missed it."
The final judgment was a fine, but TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger thought that Foligno's hit could have been merited a suspension.
"There's no question it was blindside and it fits the criteria of lateral play as well," said Dreger
TSN Analysts Craig MacTavish and Michael Peca went further with the debate.
"I think it's just cut and dry. It's blindside and it's to the head," said MacTavish. "If you have to ask the question whether it was dirty or whether it wasn't dirty, you know the answer."
"Dwyer got up and played the game, but I still think you have to set the precedent that the hit was dirty and you still have to suspend him." Michael Peca added.
Foligno is fully aware, as all players are, that the NHL is keeping a watchful eye on hits to the head after rule restructuring on the off-season. Concussions have becomes the singular biggest problem in the league as many devastating concussions over last year’s season have trickled into this year. Around 14 players have been dealt a concussion in just over a weeks’ worth of play, which is a terrible stat for the leaguer and its’ players.
"I thought I just did what I was supposed to do, I mean I just went for the puck more or less," said Foligno. "They say I made contact with his head, I don't really think that. But that's the part of the game they are trying to crack down on, and I understand they're going to make an example of it."
Buffalo Sabre Patrick Kaleta was also dealt a fine by the NHL after he and Devils’ forwad Travis Zajac came together along the boards. Kaleta obviously attempted a (failed) headbutt to the Devils’ player, which the NHL rightfully does not want in the game just after he got busted for boarding defenseman Mark Fraser.
In retaliation, Zajac promptly knocked Kaleta on his back end, resulting in a two minute roughing minor penalty to Zajac.
Patrick Kaleta is one of the cheapest players in the NHL, and I’m glad to see the NHL reacting to some of his antics.
While fines are all well and good, the real statement is in the suspension, and until the NHL gets on top of that, the problems will continue to exist.
- Kendall Grubbs
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