The past few days have seen an unusually large number of dangerous hits and injuries in NHL games. In at least two cases, there could be suspensions handed down soon.
The violence was a leading topic on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast Monday morning.
“I think, what I can say the league perspective is going to be, is ‘We have to rein this in,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the podcast.
If you missed any of the incidents over the past few days, here is a summary of them and where things stand in each case.
Friday: Oilers vs. Wild
Early in the third period of Friday’s 4-3 win by the Oilers, Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin went to retrieve a puck behind his team’s goal. As he arrived at the puck, Brodin was hit hard into the boards by Edmonton’s Evander Kane.
Brodin was slow to get up from the hit and did not return to the game. The Wild announced on Saturday that Brodin is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Kane was not given a penalty for the hit and did not receive any supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. However, according to Mike Russo of The Athletic, Kane and Oilers GM Ken Holland did have a meeting with George Parros of the DoPS and a warning was placed on Kane’s record.
“I don’t think I drilled him in the numbers, I think I kind of hit him on the side,” Kane said Saturday. “I don’t know how other people, or other players, play the game. I know if that’s me going back, I’m going to be a little more aware and brace myself. At the same time, it’s unfortunate he got hurt. That’s definitely not the intent.”
Saturday: Canadiens vs. Sabres
Mid-way through the second period of Saturday’s game between the Sabres and Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada, newly-acquired Buffalo forward Eric Robinson hit Montreal defenceman Justin Barron as he was playing the puck near the boards.
The hit sparked a scrum involving everyone on the ice. Barron was slow to get up but he was able to skate off the ice under his own power and later returned to the game. He was also healthy enough to play in Sunday’s game against the Predators.
Robinson was given a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for the hit. No suspension is expected.
After the game, Sabres captain Kyle Okposo said he was upset with the inconsistency of the penalty calls in the league and specifically cited Kane’s hit on Brodin in his argument.
“I don’t understand how Evander Kane gets nothing last night and then there’s a five-minute penalty (on Robinson),” Okposo, a 17-year veteran, said. “It doesn’t make any sense. It’s the exact same play, there’s an injury on the play. I understand that (the official) has to call it. That’s fine, that’s not on him, I just don’t like the consistency factor.”
Saturday: Red Wings vs. Senators
In the first period of Saturday’s 5-1 Senators win over the Red Wings, Detroit captain Dylan Larkin appeared to be knocked unconscious after a collision in front of the Ottawa net. Larkin was hit by two Senators forwards — Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly — and lay completely still on the ice as trainers tended to him.
A stretcher was wheeled out onto the ice but Larkin eventually was able to get to his feet and make his way off the ice with assistance. He did not return to the game and on Monday the Red Wings placed him on injured reserve and announced he would miss at least one week.
In the immediate aftermath of the collision, Larkin’s teammate David Perron — in an apparent attempt to get revenge for the injury to his captain — delivered a cross-check to the head of Senators defenceman Artum Zub, who had nothing to do with the incident.
Perron was given a five-minute major match penalty and a game misconduct for the hit. He has since been offered an in-person hearing by the DoPS, which allows for a suspension greater than five games under the collective bargaining agreement. Perron declined the invitation to travel to New York and will have his hearing over Zoom on Monday.
On the ice, Joseph was initially called for a five-minute major penalty but, after a review, the officials gave both Joseph and Kelly two minutes for roughing.
Speaking on Monday, Joseph said he reached out to Larkin after the incident.
“It happened so fast,” Joseph said. “I didn’t know what happened at the time, I was just trying to box out… Obviously I think it was an unfortunate situation.”
Sunday: Jets vs. Ducks
Winnipeg Jets leading goal scorer Kyle Connor suffered an injury in Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks after a knee-on-knee collision with Ryan Strome.
The play occurred in the first minute of the second period as Connor moved to the centre of the offensive zone and fired a backhand on net. Immediately after the collision, Mark Scheifele grabbed Strome and the two fought. Strome was also given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct.
Connor needed to be helped off the ice and he did not return to the game.
“It’s knee on knee. (Strome) sticks his knee out there and hopefully that’s suspendable,” Jets head coach Rick Bowness said. “Knee on knee, there is no other way to look at that. The referees made the correct call: five-minute major, a game misconduct and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Monday on The Jeff Marek Show that Strome will not have a hearing for the hit.
Sunday: Blue Jackets vs. Panthers
Erik Gudbranson of the Blue Jackets has a hearing with the NHL after his role in a penalty-filled game against the Panthers.
The incident was first sparked early in the third period when Gudbranson was hit hard into the boards by Nick Cousins while he was retrieving a puck behind his own net. Gudbranson appeared to be injured on the play but he eventually got up to his feet and started punching Cousins, which led to him getting a two-minute minor for roughing.
Cousins was initially called for a five-minute major for boarding but the penalty was reduced to a two-minute minor for roughing after a review.
Later in the period, Gudbranson grabbed Cousins and slammed him hard to the ice. Gudbranson then started punching Cousins, who was lying on the ice trying to protect himself.
Gudbranson was given an instigator penalty on the play, which includes a two-minute minor, plus five minutes for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct. The NHL said it will have a hearing with Gudbranson on Monday for a violation of Rule 46.2 — Aggressor. According to the NHL Rule Book, “A player must be deemed the aggressor when he has clearly won the fight but he continues throwing and landing punches in a further attempt to inflict punishment and/or injury on his opponent who is no longer in a position to defend himself.”