I think will probably get suspended 2 games. It was a really dumb play(extremely out of character for him) and is impossible to defend. I'm glad Sexton wasn't hurt but that shouldn't reduce the consequences.
Here is the video if you haven't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgaxOAGcM6w
Posted Oct 18, 2010, 5:41 PM UTC
That seemed like quite a late hit and bordering on a blind-side hit. It's hard to say what the league will do about it.
it was definitely one of those lateral hits with the principle point of contact being the head so it should fall under the guidelines for the new head shot rules.
Update: Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan reportedly is facing a three-game suspension from the NHL for a hit on Ducks forward Dan Sexton during the third period Sunday night in Anaheim.
The Hockey News is reporting the suspension, and the NHL is expected to make an official statement regarding the decision later Monday.
Confirmed. 3 games.
Headshot, behind the play. NHL needs to rid themselves of these kinds of hits, they do nothing for the game but hurt itself.
Doan was on fire that game with a few controversial hits (ie the one on Fowler). I'd give him two games, just because that's what Colin has been giving everyone else lately.
The Fowler hit wasn't controversial as much as it was bad timing. Fowler lost his edge at a really bad time but I don't think realistically Doan could have done anything to avoid that.
an example needs to be set that the nhl will not tolerate any headshots, whether intentional or not. it's just a shame that it's doan.
It wasn't even interference. According to the NHL official rule on interference (as it would apply in this situation) states:
Possession of the Puck: The last player to touch the puck, other than the goalkeeper, shall be considered the player in possession. The player deemed in possession of the puck may be checked legally, provided the check is rendered immediately following his loss of possession.
Selanne hadn't received the pass yet and was not in possession of the puck. Therefore, Sexton was technically still in possession.
Also, though it was a weird angle, if you watch how Sexton fell it looks as if the majority of contact was made just In from his left shoulder in the high chest.
It was a nice hit, maybe next time Sexton will keep his head up.
edit: Damn those capital letters!
Did you watch the video? The shoulder comes right into his fucking jaw. Lateral hits to the head are the exact hit the NHL sent out videos this off season so players knew exactly what not to do
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I probably watched it at least 15 times before I even made that statement. After watching the video another few times, I am sticking by what I said.
You can't say exactly where Doan made contact watching that video. As Sexton is being hit, he is hitting himself in the face with his stick and right hand. Also, the way he spins while he is falling suggests most of the contact was on his left shoulder.
That's just my opinion.
No suspension; the hockey world needs to relax a bit. At most that's an interference penalty.
It doesn't look like Doan had any intent to injure. But since the head's the principle point of contact and it was a blindside hit, I'm happy the NHL did something under Rule 48.
It was exact hit the NHL banned this offseason
I'm sticking by my guns that these hits should be legal. Part of what makes hockey so entertaining for me is the element of danger; specifically, that in order to succeed you need to be aware of your surroundings. If we keep catering to soccer moms, we're going to kill the sport. This is a downwards slope that started with the instigator penalty and doesn't look to be slowing down.
At first glance, yeah - I'd say interference. The puck wasn't there.
The problem is Sexton is knees bent looking forward and Doan steers right into him.
Was he head-hunting? No.
Did he need to? Probably not, given his height.
But given the wording of the new rules, if we go by the book then he has to get punished.
Well, yeah, if we go by the book. But the book sucks.
I dunno I definitely prefer the new era of skilled play then dead puck trap era hockey. You can't allow the head hits from behind or the side when the game is played at today's speed
Spot on kmad, the instigator rule is directly related to the increase in cheap shots/dirty hits/"agitator" players. I've ranted about it before here, so I'll just say this. Let the players police the game again, take the handcuffs off the enforcers.
But more to the point for this case, legal hit in my opinion too.