Suspension looming for Kadri's 2 Headshots

[hf101]

Kadri was assessed a minor penalty for goalie interference in the first period after he ran Backstrom, causing him to leave the game.  The video shows how Kadri followed through with his right arm as he cuts through the crease and knocks Backstrom over.  Backstrom tried to stay in the game but left and didn't return.  Tootoo received a 2 game suspension for a similar hit on Miller.

 

http://youtu.be/brPKApOQMg4

 

 

In the third period, Kadri was ejected after he was assessed a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head of center Mikael Granlund.

 

http://youtu.be/O9i2PH6Y8Xg

 

I'll assume Kadri will be receiving a call from Shanahan and both offences should be taken into consideration. 

 

Milbury criticized the Wild for not taking matters into their own hands.

 

“We talk about fighting and it’s role. This is when somebody has to take care of Nazem Kadri,” Milbury said during a second-intermission segment for the NHL on NBCSN.

“You can’t do it tonight but sooner or later down the line, you find a way or maybe you find a way to go after their better players and make some big contact or a fight because it does have some value in terms of policing the game.”

 

 

In response to Milbury's comments Yeo had this to say:

 

“Do we match up against that team’s toughness? No, we don’t,” said Wild head coach Mike Yeo, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

 

“If we want to start trading off, we go after Kadri, next thing you know, what are they going to go after? They’re going to go after our guys too and again we don’t match up in that toughness department against them.

 

“Now we do have a team that cares about each other very much, and we stick up for each other, trust me.”

 

 

The Wild went on to tie the game and win in a shootout.

[flyercanuck]

I was surprised nobody went after him after he tried to take Backstroms head off. You just don't let that happen, especially to your goalie. Brutal elbow, then lands on him. Then goes head hunting again? It's his first offence I think, but he should get 5...they gave Downie 20 for his first.

[fan4ever]

_{I think both infractions need to be taken into consideration when applying the games.  This guy needs to sit for a LONG time.}

 

_{Yeo has it right.  He knows his team isn't the toughest and of course, when does it end.  The best revenge is winning the game!!!!}

[EDI-Flyer]

I was surprised nobody went after him after he tried to take Backstroms head off. You just don't let that happen, especially to your goalie. Brutal elbow, then lands on him.

 

100% agree with this. Win, lose, or draw make him understand that he to answer for hits like this. 

 

Even deliver a solid elbow to his head when he's not expecting it, make him pay the price even if it costs you. I do appreciate that this is not the 70's but what do you think Dave Schultz would have done in a situation like this? He would have destroyed the guy, and I guarantee you he would learn the lesson. Just ask Dale Rolfe.

[pilldoc]

@hf101

 

I voted for more than 5 games.  I look at each offense separately. The 1st head shot to Backstrom alone is probably worth at least 4-5 games. My reasoning is as follows:

1.) Kadri did not try to avoid Bakstrom

2.) There were no other players in the crease, so Kadri can't claim he was pushed into Backstrom

3.) Backstrom left the game and did not return.

4.) IMO it looked like a deliberate hit.

 

The 2nd headshot is just as dangerous.  IMO it appears he was targeting the head.  At least Granlund had his head up and it looks like he saw Kadri coming.  It does not appear that he left his feet.  I re-watched the video replay several times and IMo it does not appear to be a deliberate launching into the player.  He did have his elbow up.  I say for this hit alone he would get 2-3 games.  My reasoning:

1.) It appears that Kadri did not leave his feet or purposely launch into Granlund

2.) Granlund saw Kadri coming and could brace himself a bit better.

3.) It appears that Granlund was uninjured.

4.) Kadri did have his elbow up.

5.) Kadri received a match penalty

 

I'm not sure if Kadri has a history of suspension and I don't know if he is "a dirty player with a history". I simply do not follow the Leafs.

 

I don't think the suspensions (if any that are coming) should be served concurrently.  They are two separate acts each which should have there own penalty.  Therefore the suspensions (if they are coming) should be served consecutively:  1st hit (4-5 games) + 2nd hit (2-3 games) = 6-8 games total for the suspension.

 

If I was Shanny, I would therefore give Kadri 6-8 games based on the reasons I listed above.

Edited November 14, 2013 by pilldoc

[mojo1917]

I did not see either commentary on the hits but do think Kadri will see more than 5 games based upon two hits that targeted the head.

[Commander Clueless]

Two suspension worthy offenses from Kadri in one game. Great idea Naz! I guess he figured that since the Leafs' two other centers were sitting he might as well too.

 

Leafs #1 center is now Jay McClement (JVR doesn't count, he's a winger in disguise).

Edited November 14, 2013 by Commander Clueless

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Not sure how many games Kadri should get...I really don't know his history in regards to cheap play, however, he definitely deserves some games taken away...particularly when he had two major infractions in the same game.

 

As for Mike Milbury, I generally DO NOT agree with that blowhard, but he was right about one thing: Minnesota needed to take some matters into their own hands.

Not saying the Wild should have turned the game into something like a Pittsburgh-Philadelphia penalty fiasco from the playoffs a couple seasons ago, but they definitely should have answered immediately after the Backstrom hit.

Maybe if they do, the Granlund hit doesn't happen.

 

As for Minnesota's toughness, they are plenty tough. Just because they don't go around trying to play the 'goon game' like Toronto and some other teams try to play, does NOT mean they aren't tough.

There is different kinds of toughness...from dropping the gloves (the most obvious), to good tight checking (maybe putting a little "extra" on body checks in corners or in front of nets), to simple facewashes and behind-the-ref crosschecks and head slapping (yes, illegal and cheap, but it happens more often than people think).

 

For sure, Minnesota's main focus should have been on winning the game, but as was mentioned, you CAN'T let teams go around hitting your goalie like Kadri did, nor can you let them run around beating on your young stars like Granlund.

 

Clayton Stoner did some particularly hard checking on players and Kyle Brodziak did as well...particularly after the Granlund hit.

Mikko Koivu did some pushing, shoving and snarling as well...he even went after Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf at one point.

Kudos to those guys.

 

As for Yeo's commentary, I know he probably was trying to say the right things, but I have to wonder if in the back of their minds, his players were wondering who exactly he was trying to convince that the team isn't 'as tough as Toronto'.

Yeo's name came up several times as the blame for much of Minnesota's lackadaisical play the past couple seasons, so he best be careful he doesn't try to be so PC with the media that he loses his own players' respect!

 

A team like Toronto with guys like Kadri, Phaneuf, Orr, Fraser, and Franson, just to name a few, ARE indeed  tough team...but Minnesota does have players that can match them...and do it within the confines of the game..and even go a little outside the lines if need be: Konopka, Prosser, Scandella, Niederreiter, along with the aforementioned Stoner, Brodziak, and Koivu.

 

Some of those guys may not be 'classic' goons, but plenty tough they are. Frankly, I'd be a little offended by Coach Yeo's comments if I were a player in the Minnesota locker room.

 

Sorry, got off thread topic a bit.

Kadri, I am thinking, should get at least 5 games minimum. 

Again, two major infractions in the same game, one of which took the goalie Backstrom right out of the game.

If the NHL wants to be taken seriously as a league in regards to its player safety and intolerance for caveman play, then they will do something about this, pronto.

Edited November 14, 2013 by TropicalFruitGirl26

[flyercanuck]

@TropicalFruitGirl26

 

The Wild don't need a team of goons to go after Kadri...they just needed one guy to do it. I'd be disappointed if I'm their goalie.

[hf101]

Kadri got 3 games as Shanny agreed with the majority of us.    However, the hit to Granlund which got him the Misconduct wasn't mentioned.   What is also interesting to note is Tootoo received two games for his hit on Miller having a previous history, where as Kadri didn't.

 

Also Interesting though that vote for favor with comments by Milbury or Yeo is dead even.

 

Here is Shanny's video.  

 

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=484481

 

Also Interesting is the vote for agreeing with comments by Milbury or Yeo is dead even.

[Chicago Hawkie]

I think Kadri could've gotten a few more games suspension if we combine the goalie hit and the hit that gave him the match penalty.

 

I tended to agree more with Yeo's comments, but Milbury has a good point, too.

 

That match penalty hit reminded me a bit of the Raffi Torres hit on Marian Hossa, in that it was very borderline (It was questioned whether Torres left his feet during the hit), which earned Torres (1) a suspension and (2) a throwdown with Jamal Mayers last season.

 

P.S.: I don't think the Hawks re-signed Mayers ... I wish we would have.

 

Wow ... two nasty hits by one player in the same game ... I have to say that I have not seen that before.

Edited November 15, 2013 by Chicago Hawkie

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

P.S.: I don't think the Hawks re-signed Mayers ... I wish we would have.

 

They did not.  Mayers is still considered a free agent.  He's a commentator on the NHL Tonight show.

 

 

Wow ... two nasty hits by one player in the same game ... I have to say that I have not seen that before.

 

How about two infractions on one shift?  See James Neal vs the Flyers on April 15, 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4IEPmoh0ZQ

[yave1964]

I was thinking five games from what I saw but wow the leafs just lost another one with bolland and Bozak already out. dumb move by Kadri. most of these suspensions are just a goon or a 4th liner this was terrible decision making by Kadri.

[flyerrod]

I think he got off light. especially with the stupid grin and laughing as he was being escorted off the ice. He showed no respect for the Wild or the game of Hockey itself. Players like that are the reason the instigator needs to go by the wayside.....

[Chicago Hawkie]

"I think he got off light. especially with the stupid grin and laughing as he was being escorted off the ice. He showed no respect for the Wild or the game of Hockey itself. Players like that are the reason the instigator needs to go by the wayside....."

 

I agree.  Can you imagine what would happen if it was the 1970s or 1980s and he did something like that then?  I only watched Kadri play in one game vs. the Hawks a couple of weeks ago (and he scored vs. the Hawks in that game ) and he appeared respectable in that game, but a player cannot be judged by one game ...

 

His behavior as he was being excorted off the ice ... is just asking for trouble.