[billybek]

Where do you draw the line on hitting?
Face it, Havlat took his eye off the defender that he knew was there. If you look at the replays you can see him look up ice at the defender who has a history of lowering the boom on unsuspecting players and not all of those have been clean hits. Then puck focus takes over and he takes his eye off the defender. Had Havlat been more aware he wouldn't have been unconscious on the ice.
There have been deliberate attempts to put guys out with hits away from the puck and with elbows up. Justice in these instances should be quick and harsh.
I don't like seeing guys get hurt, but I don't want to see the game neutered either.
The way the game is called now takes the responsibility out of the player's hands to deal with their own to police the game and the behavior of players. In the old days a guy trying to put others out of the game wouldn't be around long before becoming a victim himself. I am not saying that the old way is the way to go either. The game is always in transition with rule changes that make things better and worse. Whatta ya do??