Tom Wilson will be meeting with NHL Dept of Player Safety

[Por_sha911]

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2021/03/05/tom-wilson-delivers-latest-controversial-hit-bruins-carlo-wont-return-to-game/

It was a cheap shot when Ovi nailed Ritchie in the groin Wed night. It was a bigger insult that Ovi only got a $5000 fine (chump change for him).

Wilson won't be getting off lightly.

[maxnine11]

Ovi only got a $5000 fine

$5,000 is the maximum player fine allowed by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement

[Cdnone1]

I hate to see that. There should be no place in hockey for that and the league needs to start making some statements

[beatnavy]

We'll see what they say. Wilson didn't leave his feet, but I agree he came in high, and that they should have called a penalty. Carlo apparently went to the hospital last night

He's actually become a very skilled player, and the Caps need him on the ice, not in the penalty box or in suspension.

[1990C4S]

Didn't take any extra strides, coasted in, didn't leave his feet. Don't expect ten games for that hit.

[Seahawk]

I don't know much about hockey since I never played it growing up in California in the 60's.

I do like watching the highlights on SC.

I watched the hit in question this morning on SC and, to my uneducated eye, it did not appear egregious. The game is played at amazing speed and I have, again with not a lot in insight, seen hits that to me were much worse and not penalized.

Carry on

[Eric 951]

good--wilson is a goon--albeit talented, but a goon nonetheless

[billybek]

Wilson had ample time to align the hit shoulder to shoulder. He didn't.
I would expect 10 games.
If he is a repeat offender maybe a few more.

[1990C4S]

Ten games is for first point of contact being the head. In this case it wasn't. What Wilson failed to do was turn his body to prevent the head contact.



Note the change in Carlo's head position between these two pics...

[flatbutt]

I've run the video several times and it looks the contact to Carlos head was with Wilsons hand while it was pressed up against his shoulder. So yeah it was definitely a high hit with an obviously high stick. Wilson should have at least kept the stick hand down going into the corner making the hit wit his should or chest. Targeting might be tough to claim even though Carlo was vulnerable. Plus it can be said that Carlo made himself vulnerable by lowering his head.

Ultimately I think Wilson is guilty of a high hit that landed on the head causing injury but I don't think targeting is likely given the speed of the incident. But what do I know? I'm a goalie I got hit all the time.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

The hit merits a fine &/or some games. The Broon player was vulnerable (some would say by his own actions) & Wilson
could have easily let up, make the hit effective & still be legal. Although a talented player, his reputation coupled
with the fact the hit certainly appears to be predatory will probably factor in when it comes to appropriate disciplinary action.

Ovi, on the other hand, had a serious 'brain fade'

Cheers
JB

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by maxnine11

$5,000 is the maximum player fine allowed by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement

Right. He should have been suspended.

[Por_sha911]

If a player's head is changing position due to the hockey action they are making then the hitter has to adapt for that. Wilson traveled a long way to hit Carlo. He had plenty of time to change the angle and height of the hit. It is targeting. The hit was up high. Wilson has a major history of hits to the head resulting in many games suspended. The last one was 20 games reduced to 14 games. He is a repeat offender (4 times suspended) so it will be hard for him to say it wasn't intended.

[beatnavy]

The meeting with player safety is not for a hit to the head. It is for boarding. Boarding is not illegal unless the hit was from behind. According to Frank Seravalli if Wilson is suspended it will be the first time in the NHL that someone received that punishment for a hit that technically wasn't illegal.

I get that Tom Wilson is very polarizing - opponent of the Caps, especially the Pens, can't stand him. And most Caps fans love him. I like his "heavy" play, but I don't want suspensions, drama, or most of all, other players actually hurt.

I hope Carlo is back on the ice soon.

The Ovi "incident" was with Frederic, and it was building during the whole game. Frederic finally got under his skin, and Ovi (over)reacted.

[Por_sha911]

Hitting a player in the nutz is a little more than "over-reacting" but All Stars get a pass (see Cindy Crosby)
Wilson has a long repeat offender history. Lets see what player safety says.

[billybek]

7 games.

[1990C4S]

There is a lot I disagree with here:

https://www.nhl.com/video/wilson-suspended-seven-games/t-277440360/c-7728095

Number one would be a revised interpretation of the boarding rule that is substantially different from the way the rule has been applied for at least fifty years.

It is unfortunate the NHL rules committee is unable to make the same effort the NFL does in this area.

[beatnavy]

I would agree. Here is the operative part of DoPS' explanation (emphasis added):

With the puck bouncing in Carlo’s skates as he tries to locate it, Wilson approaches from outside his field of vision and delivers a high hard hit that makes direct contact with Carlo’s head driving it violently into the glass and causing injury. This is boarding.

The boarding rule states: “A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously.”

On this play, the combination of Carlo’s battle with Vrana, his head being low as he looks for the puck, and Wilson’s angle of approach combine to leave Carlo in a position where he is defenseless. Through no fault of his own, he’s unable to brace for contact, anticipate the hit, or protect himself in any way from Wilson who is approaching from outside his field of vision.

It is important to note that we agree with the Capitals argument that at this point in the play, Wilson could deliver a hit on Carlo that does not result in supplemental discipline. We acknowledge their assertion that it is common for NHL players to legally deliver hits on unsuspecting or vulnerable opponents. While there are aspects of this hit that may skirt the line between suspendable and not-suspendable, it is the totality of the circumstances that cause this play to merit supplemental discipline.

What separates this hit from others is the direct and significant contact to a defenseless player’s face and head causing a violent impact with the glass. This is a player with a substantial disciplinary record taking advantage of an opponent in a defenseless position and doing so with significant force.

On the one hand I'm okay with the ruling if it helps make the game safer, and maybe also keeps Wilson on the ice more in the future so he can actually play. On the other hand we live in an era where perception trumps process and precedent (in this case, many years of precedent). Like any public-facing organization or political body facing potential controversy there is now a strong tendency to at least give the appearance of taking action....or risk outrage. On that principle, it's maybe slightly annoying.

Again, I wish it hadn't happened. I like watching physical hockey, but I don't like to see anyone hurt. Glad Carlo checked out of hospital and hope he's okay soon.

[flatbutt]

Considering as they say "the totality" of the event I think the punishment fits the crime.
I wonder if the fact that Carlo was not seriously injured mitigated the punishment?

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Considering as they say "the totality" of the event I think the punishment fits the crime.
I wonder if the fact that Carlo was not seriously injured mitigated the punishment?

If Carlo was not hurt there would be no suspension, there wasn't even a penalty called.

This is entirely Wilson's fault: a small change in his angle would have avoided the head, or he could have let up. But that's not how he plays.

I can support a suspension, but seven games in a 56 game season feels excessive to me.