Hjalmarsson Cheap Shot on Jason Pominville

[Guest ChicagoMan]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

[kook_10 1,705]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

There you go Mr. Olczyk. From the side you say? Where was the puck then?

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

They'll let it go because they feel bad that the Banner Raising featured a core of about 10 players from last year's team :rotflmao:

[cjm502 165]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

Unbiased, yes. This is why he got 5 and a game after the hit. The officials thought it was dirty.

[Guest Heaten]

Unbiased, yes. This is why he got 5 and a game after the hit. The officials thought it was dirty.

Lol. I was just going to say the same thing. He thinks the hit was not "dirty" and says "the unbias refs know the truth" yet Hjmarissson(sp?) was ejected from the game by those unbiased Refs. I'm trying to wrap my head around this ****** bags' logic, and getting dizzy trying.

Hawks have been hitting players without the puck and behind the plays... they just did the same thing against the Wings Saturday night. Bunch of cowards! They resort to cheap shots and interference because they don't have the talent or depth to keep them in the game. They had to take out a Buffalo player just so they could have a chance to win.

I hope they get targets on their back by every NHL player in the league from here on out.

Edited October 12, 2010 by Heaten

[Sprsquirt7 45]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

Total F'ing Bull s*** that he put himself in that position. Pominville didn't change his angle or position at all on the play. If he spun his back towards him as he came in thats one thing. He looked over his shoulder and stayed in the exact same position. Hjalmerson's shoulder completely covers one number, its from the back, slight to the right side of his back. It is a dirty hit. Wont be a huge suspension but still likely to be one. I am not going to pretend like this is the dirtiest hit ever because I think Hjalmerson was just trying to make an aggressive pinch, but come the f*** on with blaming the victim in this s***. If you are the attacking player it is your responsibility to NOT hit someone from behind. This was a dangerous hit because of the angle. Take off the homer goggles and realize your team can make a dirty play as well... the two against use were ignored, not a bad ratio only getting caught 1/3 of the time.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

You would be screaming bloody murder if Toews, Kane, or another one of the precious CORE was hit the exact same way and taken off on a stretcher.

[McAwesome 754]

I don't think there was any intent to injure, but that hit is illegal no mater how you look at it, they could have called boarding, charging, hitting from behind, you name it, and they would have been justified. Definitely worthy of 5 and a game, maybe a 1 or 2 game suspension as well. You can't blame Pominville for that,he looked over his shoulder and may had even braced himself for a hit from the side, but as a player you have the expectation that you will take hits, but that those hits will be delivered legally (from the front or the side) and react accordingly.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Hope Jason is ok, I'm sick and tired of players getting injured because of idiotic plays like this. Bettman needs to start cracking down and be consistent before more stars get injured.

You do know Bettman doesn't hand out the punishments, right?

[pockets 9]

how anyone can say thats Pomm's fault is an idiot he didn't turn his back at Hammer in anyway, he saw him coming, and stayed. I bet Chicago Man cried for Kronners head after his hit on Havlat. Ppl like Chicago Man and Eddie O should just go jump off a bridge, the world could use less ignoramuses.

[Tommy_Like_Wingy 25]

Any word on how Pominville is doing now? I heard they didn't take him to the hospital.

[Octopus's Garden 147]

LOL "CHEAP SHOT" Okay!!! The hit was dangerous, but was from the side and Pominville saw it coming and put himself in that position. Was not one of those plays where you say that's dirty! But what should I expect on a wings board.

Stop being bitter about being the hawks rival and take a look at the hit in slow motion...take a look at Pominville and what he does. Thank God NHL officials will look at this unbiased.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Copying my post from HFboards:

What I see:

1. Boarding call is the strongest one and more or less irrefutable. I'd say he fairly violently follows through with slamming Pominville into the boards.

2. No charging. Except for the launch into the hit (which wasn't any more than 1 push of the legs), Hjarlmarsson was gliding up to the point of contact.

3. Inteference is a touch tricky, because Pominville was the recipient of the pass and looked to gain control of it. He never did because of the hit + Hjarlmarsson's stick, but hits timed thusly are usually allowed. However, because of the amount of time Hjarlmarsson had him lined up and because Hjarlmarsson effectively took him out of the play before Pominville ever received the puck, I'm inclined to call this one interference as well (though I think, due to the closeness of the call, it won't have too large an effect on the ruling).

4. Hit from behind is also tricky, as Hjarlmarsson does adjust his glide path and there are multiple points of contact. Ultimately, I'm inclined to call this a hit from behind, though more out of carelessness than intent. The majority of Hjarlmarsson's is certainly from a rearward angle, and I don't think anyone can disagree with that. He does adjust before the hit, throwing from the side. However, he does so poorly. While his hips contact with Pominville's hips from mostly the side (slightly from behind, I'd say Hjarlmarsson's left hip contacts in majority with the side of Pominville's right buttcheek rather than his hip), due to the angle of Pominville's body (Which was unchanged and visible throughout the entire course of the glide and hit) and the approach of Hjarlmarsson's body (upper body thrust out at an angle), the point of contact of the upper body (and the place that receives most of the force of the impact due to the way Hjalmarsson launches the hit) is the right portion of Pominville's back and his right shoulder blade. Due to the angle of Hjarlmarsson's hips and his approach, the hips were the weakest point of impact, and because most of the force went into the shoulder to back/shoulder blade contact, I'm forced to call this one a hit from behind. I don't believe that was the intent, however. Sloppy execution is the key here.

Just to throw in with my analysis on the from behind portion of the hip, I give you crappy MS paint images to go with it:

Hjarlmarsson approaches Pominville. Note that at this point Hjalmarsson is clearly behind and to the right of Pominville. However, note that Pominville's body is angled slightly towards the boards as he prepares to receive the pass. His left shoulder is thrust outwards, thus, given Hjarlmarsson's angle of approach, pointing his upper body almost directly away from Hjarlmarsson. Hjarlmarsson's upper body is leaning away from Pominville as he winds up the hit, and if he continues on his present path, he ends up in front of the slowly gliding Pominville with little or no contact.

Pominville is in roughly the same position, gliding backwards. Hjarlmarsson, due to the angle of his glide, is almost directly beside Pominville. However, his body is still angled towards Pominville's back as Pominville's back is likewise still angled towards the boards slightly as he's set to receive the pass. More importantly, though, Hjarlmarsson has launched the hit. Even though his lower body is still in roughly the same position and moving the same direction, which would put him in front of Pominville (and due to the path of travel his legs actually do end up in front of Pominville's), his upper body is now launched in sidewards direction, still slightly behind Pominville with Pominville's back facing Hjarlmarsson's shoulder. Ultimately, though Hjarlmarsson is roughly beside Pominville, the approach from behind and the positioning of his upper body results in him contacting Pominville in the right rear side ranging from roughly from the side of his right buttock to the middle of his upper back. The weakest point of contact is at the sidewards portion, where hip contacts hip, as Hjarlmarsson's hips are moving mostly past Pominville's, while the strongest portion of the hit is centered on Pominville's right shoulder blade and right middle back. Due to the direction of Hjalmarsson's force and the mechanics of Pominville's human body, this causes Pominville's upper body to twist to the left, further absorbing the majority of Hjarlmarsson's thrown hit in the back and sending his head forcefully into the boards. The momentum of Hjalmarsson's lower body ultimately carries him past Pominville as the arrow indicates.

Ultimately, I think boarding and hit from behind are the strongest calls here, with boarding being the worst of it. I don't think Hjarlmarsson displayed any malice nor intent to hit Pominville in the back. However, it was poorly executed, careless, and reckless, with his opponent unaware of his approach and in a vulnerable position. Ultimately, the league is trying to cut down on careless hits and incidents that result in head injury, and because of that, I see a suspension ranging from 2-4 games, with 2-3 (due to the accidental, though careless nature of the hit) being more appropriate. 1 would be a touch light due to multiple arguable 'wrongs' in this hit (possible inteference, likely hit from behind, almost certain boarding), but wouldn't be outside of NHL precedent.

[kook_10 1,705]

Copying my post from HF Boards:

Holy Warren Commission! In summary, was it a lone gunman?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Holy Warren Commission! In summary, was it a lone gunman?

^^^^

[akustyk 84]

no point for discussion to me. Pominville had no chance to see the guy coming and

was in vulnerable position. there's no discussion as to whether Hjalmarsson did this

on purpose. he did it.

and just to remind: league is supposed to be discouraging players from unnecessary

(and it was not like Hjalmarsson was finishing something) checks of vulnerable guys.

here we have a perfect example of guy knowingly targeting defenseless guy.

5 + game is perfectly just. whether this is subject to suspension... I don't recall

Hjalmarsson being repetitive offender so he gets the benefit of the doubt but if

he continues doing stuff like that, I'd rather see the NHL give him a game or two.

Edited October 12, 2010 by akustyk

[Nightfall 871]

Copying my post from HFboards:

I do have to agree with your assessment. I think the 5 and being thrown out of the game was the right call. I do also think that maybe a 1-5 game suspension, but thats all. I think that Colin Campbell has done an excellent job with making sure the punishment fits the crime. Lets see what his decision is today.

[titanium2 867]

If the Hawks fans are defending that, I never want to hear a word again about Kronner's hit on Havlat.

hmm...

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

no point for discussion to me. Pominville had no chance to see the guy coming and

was in vulnerable position. there's no discussion as to whether Hjalmarsson did this

on purpose. he did it.

and just to remind: league is supposed to be discouraging players from unnecessary

(and it was not like Hjalmarsson was finishing something) checks of vulnerable guys.

here we have a perfect example of guy knowingly targeting defenseless guy.

5 + game is perfectly just. whether this is subject to suspension... I don't recall

Hjalmarsson being repetitive offender so he gets the benefit of the doubt but if

he continues doing stuff like that, I'd rather see the NHL give him a game or two.

This.

Hjalmarsson may have thought Pominville would have the puck by then, but it was still a hit from behind and boarding. Terrible judgment by Hjalmarsson.

Definitely worthy of 5 and a game and if the league wants players to start using better judgment, worthy of a suspension too. These are the kinds of hits you can safely remove from the game without it ruining hitting over all.

This was not a split second move or decision in a fast paced game. He lined him up from behind.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

hmm...

It's because Kronner isn't part of the CORE!!!

[titanium2 867]

It's because Kronner isn't part of the CORE!!!

Yeah this won't get old for me for a while...

[Donaldjr2448 43]

Well, Since Hjalmarsson got a 5 and a game for the hit the NHL will automatically review it! So there may be a suspension anyway. However, I'm not sure the hit was intended to be dirty and they way Pominville hit the glass/boards is what made things much worse. I do think it should have been interference/boarding, but honestly nothing more than that! Its too bad Pominville got hurt on the play, but Hockey is a contact sport and that happens! I'm not saying that Hjalmarsson shouldn't have pulled up on the play a bit, but I do not think he meant to injure Pominville. Cheap Shot sure, Dirty Nah!

[Dave82RWS 41]

No hit from behind at all. Mostly from the side and some from the front as this pic shows. The puck in most of the replays is about a foot from JP's stick. The hit was timed pretty well IMO but not perfect. The reason he was taken off on a stretcher is because of his head smacking the glass. There was no elbow or any kind of cheapshot to the head.

Suspension? Shouldnt be, but since even other hits around the league in the past that have actually been clean or cleaner warrant a suspension, Im sure Hjalmarsson will get one. 1 game. Book it.

[Sprsquirt7 45]

No hit from behind at all. Mostly from the side and some from the front as this pic shows. The puck in most of the replays is about a foot from JP's stick. The hit was timed pretty well IMO but not perfect. The reason he was taken off on a stretcher is because of his head smacking the glass. There was no elbow or any kind of cheapshot to the head.

Suspension? Shouldnt be, but since even other hits around the league in the past that have actually been clean or cleaner warrant a suspension, Im sure Hjalmarsson will get one. 1 game. Book it.

If by front you mean back, sure.

[edicius 3,269]

Hjalmarsson's hearing with Colin Campbell is at 1pm ET today via conference call.