MacArthur receives 2-game suspension for Abdelkader hit

[Guest Heaten]

onasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel

According to @TSNBobMcKenzie MacArthur receives two-game suspension for Abdelkader hit. http://twitter.com/#!/jonastsn1050

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

I think it's appropriate amount of games. Abby really sold it too.

[esteef 2,679]

So 2 pre-season games or the rest of pre-season plus 2 games or...?

esteef

[Konnan511 1,736]

So 2 pre-season games or the rest of pre-season plus 2 games or...?

esteef

They have one preseason game left, so maybe it's just one regular season game?

[Dimaline312000 51]

Good call by Shanny, If the NHL is going to start cracking down on this kind of thing than they need to crack down on all of it and early just like they've been doing to send a message to the players that this type of thing isn't gonna fly anymore. I'm glad to see Shanny and the NHL doing this and I think it's an appropriate amount of games and yes I do agree Abs sold it a little bit but it ALL has to be cracked down on if you going to do it.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I know it's been asked a few times, but does there seem like an extraordinary amount of head hits this pre-season than any other time? I feel like there have been more head hits this pre-season than all of last season.

Edited October 1, 2011 by Konnan511

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

I know it's been asked a few times, but does there seem like an extraordinary amount of head hits this pre-season than any other time? I feel like there have been more head hits this pre-season than all of last season.

I just think there is so much attention being put onto it now that it appears as if there are more.

I doubt players came into the preseason, knowing they were looking more closely at headshots, and thought it would be a good idea to aim for people's heads.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Two regular season games says the TSN.ca article.

[VM1138 1,921]

I know it's been asked a few times, but does there seem like an extraordinary amount of head hits this pre-season than any other time? I feel like there have been more head hits this pre-season than all of last season.

More attention, and the newfound consistency is resulting in way more being called and suspended. As strange as it is to have so many suspensions already, even effecting the Wings, I love it. It really looks like Shanny is going to deliver on consistent, sensible punishments.

[sleepwalker 512]

I know it's been asked a few times, but does there seem like an extraordinary amount of head hits this pre-season than any other time? I feel like there have been more head hits this pre-season than all of last season.

I'll echo what others have said in that I don't think there are really any more than usual. Shanny is the new sheriff in town this year and he is cracking down HARD on head hits, which is giving the appearance that there are a ton more this year than usual, because they've usually gone unpunished (for the most part) up until now.

[RedBengals 27]

I just don't think the hit was worth a suspension at all... I feel like Shanahan is being overzealous.

[Guest Heaten]

I just don't think the hit was worth a suspension at all... I feel like Shanahan is being overzealous.

I don't feel Brendan Smith's hit deserved a suspension, but I am happy Shanahan is staying consistent. Consistency is all you can hope for.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

I don't feel Brendan Smith's hit deserved a suspension, but I am happy Shanahan is staying consistent. Consistency is all you can hope for.

Agree. I don't agree with all/many of the suspensions, but Shanahan has been consistent.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I just don't think the hit was worth a suspension at all... I feel like Shanahan is being overzealous.

I think he suspended him because he could have avoided the contact but chose not to.

[RedBengals 27]

I think he suspended him because he could have avoided the contact but chose not to.

Maybe we'll get a Shanny video explaining it. I just think it's a bit too nitpicky. I understand the rule, but some head contacts are gonna happen. We can't suspend every player to get a head contact penalty. I'd have liked to see him not get a suspension just to show Shanny understands not all hits are suspension worthy.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I think he suspended him because he could have avoided the contact but chose not to.

I think he suspended him because MacArthur went for the head and not the body or puck. You can't do that in the new NHL. Plus it was at the very end of the game when nothing positive for either team could have happened in that final two seconds.

Maybe we'll get a Shanny video explaining it. I just think it's a bit too nitpicky. I understand the rule, but some head contacts are gonna happen. We can't suspend every player to get a head contact penalty. I'd have liked to see him not get a suspension just to show Shanny understands not all hits are suspension worthy.

Smith's headshot was unintentional. MacArthur's headshot was intentional. You NEED to get rid of the intentional headshots. How can you not see why he was suspended?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

So apparently when you're wearing a Red Wings sweater, you have no responsibility for keeping your head up. But if you're in an opposing team's sweater, it's just unfortunate contact and you should have your head up? Abby's head was much lower than Ben Smiths was, he turned with his back to MacArthur and skated for the puck, putting himself in that low of a position. Then on top of it, he dove.

MacArthur could've brained Abby if he wanted to. Yes he contacted the head, but it looked to me like he let up. There wasn't even a penalty called on the play.

It should've been maybe been 2 for a late hit, then 2 on Abby for diving.

Edited October 1, 2011 by haroldsnepsts

[sleepwalker 512]

Yes he contacted the head, but it looked to me like he let up. There wasn't even a penalty called on the play.

I think there was. I think they called him for interference.

[Konnan511 1,736]

So apparently when you're wearing a Red Wings sweater, you have no responsibility for keeping your head up. But if you're in an opposing team's sweater, it's just unfortunate contact and you should have your head up? Abby's head was much lower than Ben Smiths was, he turned with his back to MacArthur and skated for the puck, putting himself in that low of a position. Then on top of it, he dove.

MacArthur could've brained Abby if he wanted to. Yes he contacted the head, but it looked to me like he let up. There wasn't even a penalty called on the play.

It should've been maybe been 2 for a late hit, then 2 on Abby for diving.

It doesn't matter if you are facing the boards and I still board you, I never had to board you in the first place. The fact I let up is irrelevant. He still intentionally hit Abby in the head. I'll say it again, he intentionally head shot Abby. Instead of letting up, how about he play the body or puck, not the head.

[PrairieDawg 52]

Wow, he barely grazed abby's head.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

It doesn't matter if you are facing the boards and I still board you, I never had to board you in the first place. The fact I let up is irrelevant. He still intentionally hit Abby in the head. I'll say it again, he intentionally head shot Abby. Instead of letting up, how about he play the body or puck, not the head.

The same could be said for Brendan on his hit. He threw a shoulder that only contacted the head.

And I can say 100 times that Brendan intended to hit Ben in the head. It doesn't make it true.

To be clear I don't think Brendan intended to hit Ben Smith's head. And with MacArthur if anything he showed a lot of intent of hitting Abby late, but I can't see much that shows he clearly intended to hit Abdelkader in the head. Like I said, he could've pulled a Matt Cooke on him. It looks like he let up. Abby had his back to the play and was turning up ice with his head low, which is when MacArthur hit him.

There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy regarding these hits, depending on what sweater the player is wearing.

I think there was. I think they called him for interference.

I didn't see any ref with his hand up for the hit. And in the box score they have Abby with two for cross checking and MacArthur with two for high sticking. That was the altercation after the play.

Edited October 1, 2011 by haroldsnepsts

[vladdy16 2,154]

I get that Shanny is setting the tone for a zero-tolerance policy, but I don't think a suspension was in order here. Abby acted like a used car salesman, he was trying so hard. I can discern no intent to target the head.

[Barrie 900]

I'm looking forward to watching this new brand of the NHL once these head shots and fighting is gone.

I get a lot of negative votes for being anti-fighting, but I don't mind. There's going to be more focus on skill, than the Canadian and Don Cherry style of being loud mouth goons and thugs. Hockey's going to get better than ever once the players figure out how to hit without giving someone a concussion. Teams will be forced to play Red Wings puck possession style hockey, instead of the Canadian style hockey where Getzlaf, Perry, Pronger, Thornton, Iginla, etc head hunt the skilled Europeans.

Edit: Keep up the great work Shanny!

Edited October 2, 2011 by Barrie

[Konnan511 1,736]

The same could be said for Brendan on his hit. He threw a shoulder that only contacted the head.

And I can say 100 times that Brendan intended to hit Ben in the head. It doesn't make it true.

To be clear I don't think Brendan intended to hit Ben Smith's head. And with MacArthur if anything he showed a lot of intent of hitting Abby late, but I can't see much that shows he clearly intended to hit Abdelkader in the head. Like I said, he could've pulled a Matt Cooke on him. It looks like he let up. Abby had his back to the play and was turning up ice with his head low, which is when MacArthur hit him.

There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy regarding these hits, depending on what sweater the player is wearing.

I didn't see any ref with his hand up for the hit. And in the box score they have Abby with two for cross checking and MacArthur with two for high sticking. That was the altercation after the play.

Read my statements from the Smith hit, there is no hypocrisy.

[wings1110 184]

thats silly, its hockey.