Nash to Likely Hear from League After High Hit (Update: No He Won't)
Update, 2:13 p.m.:
According to Larry Brooks at the New York Post, it doesn't appear that Rick Nash will have a hearing or receive any discipline for hit on Kopecky.
...as a Rangers fan, I'm pumped to hear this news, but as someone who'd like to see head shots out of the game, I couldn't be more disappointed.
Original Post:
With the Rangers struggling to find any offense lately, the last thing they need is to be without Rick Nash for a couple of games, but that is very likely to happen after his flying elbow to the back of the head of Tomas Kopecky last night...
...because Nash has no prior history and there was no injury, I doubt it'll be longer than a game, but I can't see how he's not suspended as he obviously left his feet to elbow Kopecky in the head. Not really sure what Nash was thinking there. Dangerous play for sure.
...while I'm only expecting one game, we all know how Shanahan screws the Rangers on suspensions, so I'm kind of worried.
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I dont really think it was malicious tho. he also went up to make sure he was ok and apologize for the hit. To me it almost looked like he was expecting a big body hit and then he leaned down to takt that shot nash was left suspended in the air and just came down hard. Idk hard to tell it was so fast
It's clear that the league isn't as serious about dangerous high hits as many of us have expected them to be by now. Non-hockey arguments have distracted league officials long enough. Of course I'm a Ranger fan and I'd hate to see Nash suspended at all, but it isn't just this incident I'm referring to. There are too many to count. That hit could have and should have been AT LEAST a 5 minute major. Is it going to take an NHLPA member ending up in a wheelchair before the NHL shows some consistency in stopping these kinds of hits? Would that even be enough?
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I'm surprised there wasn't at least a hearing. For a league that's really trying to "protect its players" there certainly isn't much consistency; conistency brings legitimacy, and people wonder why we think the Departmet of Player Safety doesn't have any. I only thought there wold be a fine, so I guess I can't say I'm THAT surprised. But still, another fail by the NHL and its Department of Player Safety.
I didn't think it was much either besides an uncalled elbowing penalty and a show of frustration but given the crackdown on head shots I thought he'd get 2 - glad to be wrong
Wow, I love Nash too, but that's ridiculous, what are they thinking, they call themselves the department of player safety. Man, I don't get it. I thought immediately that was a 2 game ban, and only because he has no history and showed immediate remorse. I guess the DOPS saw something different than we did.
It really seemed like Kopecky ducked while Nash was trying to body check him. When he ducked Nash's elbow hit his head.
@Dminches Really? And I hear that if you put you tooth under your pillow a Fairy will come and replace it with money, that's comical whats next He threw his head into Nash's elbow.
@nick__i @DminchesNick we can agree to disagree, That's what makes us the Greatest Country in the World. It was as much an attempt for Nash to get out of the was as it was for Kaleta's nudge to the back of Richards, If your going to be consistent you have to apply the rules to every player or the league's credibility suffers.
@Dminches "It really seems like Kopecky ducked", I'm sorry i didn't think you were serious? That's even funnier.
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Not sure you can actually qualify what Nash did as a hit. It looked more like the Macho Man coming with a flying cross body block, and missing!
BTW, nobody on the Panthers went after Nash, so I guess they didn't think it was bad either.
@gravey94 What a Joke, Were is Torts calling for this as one of the Most Disgusting Hits he's ever seen, Oh that only applies to other teams, What a Hypocrite. Nash deserves at the least 2 games he clearly left his feet and lead with his elbow to deliver a kill shot to the back of Kopecky's head in an attempt to separate it from his body. I guess that he needed to throw his gloves into the air and wail on the ice like a girl in an attempt to get the referees to issue a Major penalty, Oh wait that was Richards and the fact that he wasn't injured should not deter the league from taking action against Nash, Its only buy the grace of God that he didn't go forehead first into the ice and bust his scull open. But as usual the league will pander to the Big Market team and look the other way, I just hope that when someone lights up Nash that the same rules apply, and Tortorella puts his bottle back into his yap and isn't crying on the bench. Don't worry there only 18 more games remaining in the Rangers season and in Tortorellas career behind the Bench in the Big Apple. I cant wait to see Lind Ruff behind the bench next year.
@moebag @gravey94 At the very least he should have been assessed a Charging penalty for leaving his feet, he clearly went head hunting and its unfortunate the league chooses not to suspend goes against the line "We want to Protect the Players", And "eliminate head contact from the game". Ruff would be a great fit.
@moebag @gravey94 I'll give you charging, or elbowing Moe - 2 minute penalty. careless and reckless play. Yes. the league should have at least had a hearing and at minimum a fine. Though I'm thrilled to not lose Nashty it sends the wrong message. But intent to injure? No. Not the replay I'm watching but an elbow to the back of the head is not acceptable. We want our players to be safe.
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@AnnoyingJoe @gravey94 @moebag I hate when that happens - and the shit backs up into your brain (just a joke)
@moebag @gravey94 I can understand your frustration Moe but the hit to me did not look nearly as dramatic as you make it appear. It was frustration and a bit careless on nashty's part IMHO and he did leave his feet but all your assessments here appear unfounded to me - oh I stand corrected - I do agree with your final sentance
@gravey94 I noticed that too and was surprised by it. It's rare you see a hit like that (agree, that "hit" could be used loosely) and then the guy who threw it standing with the other team to see if the guy hit was okay. Maybe that played a part as well.
I'm shocked he doesn't have a hearing but I guess it makes sense...he's a Ranger and Rangers fans actually think he should so of course he doesn't lol
@TheNYRBlog he didn't hit his head...not directly...initial point of contact was between his shoulder blades.
@Rangerfan41 Left his feet and hit him high. We'd be screaming for a suspension if it happened to a Rangers player.
@TheNYRBlog was on the ice until contact was made.I wouldn't be I am objective.Was a clean hit according to rules as they stand.
I really did not think that hit warrants a suspension, it appeared to be questionable and born out of frustration but it did not look malicious, intent to injure etc. and I don't think he was aiming for the head but it was a hit from behind and appeared on camera to be head hunting and my guess is he'll be suspended 2 games - 2 games I probably won't watch, but we'll see what Shany's thinking is on this. No penalty, no injury. We may luck out
Good news is Kopecky wasn't injured, and scored the empty net goal. Might only be a game or 2 for Nash.
Nash remembered the big hit JT miller took in the slot against the Devils in the 3rd, and asked himself why is Kopescky open in the slot, so he tried to lay a big body check which turned out badly
He showed his disgust and frustration with lack of scoring from the rest of the team. It was like he was just like F it if they dont care i dont either..ill take a 2day vacay now shannadick..
@TheNYRBlog bottom line Nash frustrated they have no scoring from Richards Boyle down the line ,no prepared to play every shot nobody ever
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First time I saw this I though wow, that's a definite suspension. But the more I watched it and thought about it I'm not so sure its as bad as it looks. Obviously I'm biased here but hear me out. Was Nash frustrated? Probably. I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but a few minutes prior to this play Nash found himself being groped by a few Panthers in front of the net, second time in a few minutes it happened to him. So I can understand his frustration in wanting to lay a hit.
But unfortunately for Nash it was a terrible effort at a hit. It looked to me like he wanted to surprise Kopecky to a hit in the chest but didn't realize Kopecky was going to shoot and lower his head. I actually see Nash leaving his feet as a sub par effort to get out of the way while incidentally hitting Kopecky in the head.
I'm not defending what Nash did here because he should know that this is a reckless and dangerous hit, but I just don't think the intent to target the head was there. I'd be surprised if he got more than a game. I actually think he'll just be fined. There have been many more egregious hits that have warranted less than 2 game suspensions.
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@nick__i Sorry, but I have to disagree, if you look at it again, Kopecky didn't lower his head - if anything, he was straightening up after the shot...as for Nash leaving his feet to avoid contact, go to the 42 second mark in the video and watch again. He turns toward Kopecky and drives through him, and Kopecky's chest was never in play - maybe a hit from the side, but by the time Nash hit him, he got him in the back. Just a bad play, I think Nash knows he screwed up and will take his lumps. i don't think there is any way he gets off with a fine - if Kopecky was hurt worse and had left the game and not returned, I think he'd be looking at 3-5 games, but with no past history, I think 2 is a fair number. Could be a blessing in disguise if the rest of the team steps up, but we've been saying that all season.
@nick__i I see exactly what you do. Originally I couldn't figure out what he was doing but more I watched it, the more it looks like he may have just been getting out of his way. That wasn't a leap with the thought "I'm going to hit you in the head". That was a leap that said "oh crap, this is going to go bad if I don't get out of the way". That said, since we're that confused on it, I wouldn't be surprised with whatever he got...and unless they gave him something ridiculous like 10 games, I couldn't argue against it either.
