Wisniewski suspended 8 games for hit on Seabrook

Alfie11 · 03-18-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

The NHL is suspending Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski eight games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, according to a league source.

Wisniewski, his agent, the Ducks, the NHL and the players union all took part in a conference call Thursday.

The hit knocked Seabrook out of Wednesday's game. Wisniewski, a defenseman and former Blackhawk, received a charging penalty for the hit in the second period.

It's the second time in as many contests that a Blackhawks defenseman has been knocked out of a game by an illegal hit.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is serving a two-game suspension for a hit on Brian Campbell that fractured his clavicle and a rib. Campbell is expected to miss seven to eight weeks.

"You hit a guy without the puck, you could kill a guy," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said of Wisniewski hit on Seabrook. "It's the most dangerous hit in the history of the game, all right.

" ... He tried to hurt him," Quenneville added. "If that's not intent, that's as bad a hit as you could ever have in the game."

After the game, Wisniewski anticipated the hit would be reviewed by the league.

"It probably will get looked at, but the result wasn't because of a shot to the head," he said. "I'm 5-foot-11 and he's 6-3. What happened was that my face hit his face. The visor came down and cut up my nose. I was shocked when I saw the result of it on the replay.

"I didn't do anything wrong," Wisniewski added. "The result of what happened isn't good, but there wasn't anything wrong that I did."

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5005504
Discuss!

Alfie11 · 03-18-2010, 04:53 PM

YouTube- James Wisniewski Boarding Hit on Brent Seabrook - March 17th 2010 (HD)

Here's the hit. As you can see: headshot, elbow, interference..

Jasmine · 03-18-2010, 05:05 PM

Sad part is...Seabrook should have been called for the hit on Perry..

Matt the Aussie · 03-18-2010, 05:14 PM

You also missed charging, I think that was the original call on the ice too.

Sickening. 8 games is about what I would have called too (but I expected the NHL to be more lenient).

On a side note, where was the boarding call on Seabrook for the first hit (0:07 of the video)? Had that been called, you probably wouldn't have had that hit at all.

Heater151515 · 03-18-2010, 05:14 PM

At least Seabrooks numbers werent showing when he got hit. If 8 games is to enforce these checks fine, but at least give Seabrook one on his check, and especially Ovechkins. I knew star players get it easy

Jasmine · 03-18-2010, 05:15 PM

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Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

On a side note, where was the boarding call on Seabrook for the first hit (0:07 of the video)? Had that been called, you probably wouldn't have had that hit at all.

My thoughts exactly!

InsaneSkippy · 03-18-2010, 07:39 PM

Exactly, had the refs actually DONE THEIR JOBS, Wisniewski wouldn't have even had the chance to make that hit. Granted, Wisniewski laid out a VERY dirty hit, the whole situation could have been avoided had the refs just done their jobs correctly.

Droc · 03-18-2010, 10:23 PM

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Originally Posted by InsaneSkippy

Exactly, had the refs actually DONE THEIR JOBS, Wisniewski wouldn't have even had the chance to make that hit. Granted, Wisniewski laid out a VERY dirty hit, the whole situation could have been avoided had the refs just done their jobs correctly.

The cherry of this giant crap cake is that the suspension came after the game with the whole situation under review and Seabrook should have been suspended too.
They tried to make a point by suspending Wisniewski but they shoot themselves in the foot by not suspending Seabrook for the same thing.

JoshLind · 03-19-2010, 02:48 AM

I'll tell you one thing - with the information we have, it's impossible to determine that Seabrook was going for Perry's head; it's a quick play and it seems like Seabrook lines up a clean hit and Perry goes off balance awkwardly before the hit, which Seabrook can't really help.

I'll tell you another thing - there's absolutely no doubt that Wisniewski was going after Seabrook with an intention that was indifferent of the game - more specifically, to hurt him.

Call me crazy, but to me, that makes all the difference when assessing disciplinary action.

Matt the Aussie · 03-19-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshLind

I'll tell you one thing - with the information we have, it's impossible to determine that Seabrook was going for Perry's head; it's a quick play and it seems like Seabrook lines up a clean hit and Perry goes off balance awkwardly before the hit, which Seabrook can't really help.

I'll tell you another thing - there's absolutely no doubt that Wisniewski was going after Seabrook with an intention that was indifferent of the game - more specifically, to hurt him.

Call me crazy, but to me, that makes all the difference when assessing disciplinary action.

I personally don't think Seabrook's hit is a suspension. It certainly doesn't look intentional. But it IS a boarding call, and it wasn't pulled up at that point which allows Wisniewski to do what he did in retaliation.