NHL Department of Player Safety Issues Surprise Statement in Response to Recent Suspension Doubts
Moments ago, the NHL Department of Player Safety took surprising action to actually explain their recent controversial decisions on a number of hits to the head.
Player Safety took a close look at three recent hits to offer clear explanations of the rules to fans.
The three examples included the hits against Canucks forward Brock Boeser, Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse, and Leafs forward Matthew Knies.
Tanner Jeannot and Ryan Reaves were suspended for their hits against Boeser and Nurse respectively, but Zach Whitecloud wasn't suspended for his hit on Matthew Knies, which caused significant controversy among Leafs fans.
Player Safety explained that the two suspend-able hits satisfy the two conditions of Rule 48, the NHL's guidelines on illegal checks to the head.
RULE 48
A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
- NHL Department of Player Safety
A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
- NHL Department of Player Safety
Player Safety then explained the exact definitions of the «main point of contact» and what constitutes «avoidable» contact.
On main point of contact, Player Safety stressed that the main point of contact isn't what area of the player takes the first impact - it's the area of a player that absorbed the majority of the force of contact.
With both the hits on Boeser and Nurse, the opposing player drove the contact into the head as the area that absorbed the main part of the contact. With the Matthew Knies hit, Whitecloud kept his arm tucked and made contact with Knies' chest - even though his head made first contact.
For avoidable head contact, Player Safety defined the violations as players making poorly timed hits, or poorly angled hits.
Specifically with the hit on Darnell Nurse, the Oilers defender was in a vulnerable position coming around the net, and Reaves' angle of contact was to purposefully pick the head of Nurse.
Both [Reaves and Jeannot] cut along the front of their opponent's core, rather than hitting directly through their opponent's shoulders or chest, which causes the contact to be directly and forcefully with their opponent's head.
- NHL Player Safety
- NHL Player Safety
However, Player Safety did make the exception that some head contact is unavoidable if a player makes sudden movements immediately before contact.
Reaves did end up receiving a five game suspension for his predatory hit on Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse.
Overall, it's fantastic to hear Player Safety actually step up for once and take a proactive approach to explaining their decisions to the public. Hopefully, this is the beginning for a new trend of transparency and communication in the NHL.
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