John Scott

[spoilers]

It's misleading because it looks like he elbowed him, but that was after initial contact. He hit him with his area above the elbow, below the shoulder.

Again, not defending this dirtbag though

Agreed, that snapshot makes it look even worse that the reality of it. Its a bad enough hit as it is, no need to make it appear even more awful.

[Username]

Pretty clearly an elbow to the head.

[newfcollins]

I agree with Big Ev on this. It was a split-second late, and Scott is so big, any type of hit is going to look like it was to the head. But I wouldn't come close to comparing it to the Lapierre hit on Boyle. That hit was from behind into the boards. This is an open ice hit on a guy who just got rid of the puck.

I've been hearing about the hit all morning, but just saw the video. I was expecting way worse then this.

I think part of the problem is that it was Scott on Eriksson. If it was Iginla on Mike Weber, we wouldn't be calling for a major suspension.

[Big Ev]

Pretty clearly elbow to the head.

I'm seeing pretty clearly that it's his upper arm.

[Mr. Guru]

Looks like elbow to chin in an uppercut motion. Which is even worse.

[Big Ev]

The numbers are above his elbow, and the numbers hit below his head.

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

Really this hit doesn't seem all that bad to me. He hits him with his bicep, the elbow comes up on the follow through. It was a bad hit and he should be suspended, but when you're 6'8" and everyone else in the league comes up to your shoulder this is gonna happen sometimes.

Bad hit, but I've seen a hell of a lot worse.

[VintageVibe]

It seems like I am on the minority side of this argument as well.

When I played I can tell you that I definitely played with more confidence and had more room out on the ice when coach put the big guy on my wing to protect me and my other winger.

Hell, I just asked one of them to play on our beer league team this year after learning that the goons we use to play against back in the day entered a team in our league. I can tell you that in the first game, two weeks ago today, my buddy went after both guys that targeted my wrist with slashes on our first shift. He took two of them to the penalty box - and shouted "Are you OK Benny?" from the penalty box door. That is what I love about that kind of role on a team. They bring a sense of responsibility and caring over the rest of the squad. They didn't bother me after that - he kept them busy and in check the rest of the game.

Just beer league but I think it's a perfect example of how the code works.

[Mr. Guru]

VV, I agree but some people will never get it.

[robmyatt]

The whole "arm vs bicep vs shoulder" argument is moot. It doesn't matter WHAT body part he hit him with. It could be his ass for all I care.

The fact is, he targeted the head (chin is part of the head) of a player in a "blindsided" fashion. Even if it was by accident, he should receive a ton of games.

Intent is impossible measure or prove. An errant stick on a high sticking infraction that draws blood is 4 minutes whether it was an intentional slash to the face or someone lifted my stick and it caught a passerby in the chin.

They expect players to be in control of thier sticks at all time, so they should expect players to be careful and in control of their biceps, forearms, shoulders, elbows at all times.

[robmyatt]

It seems like I am on the minority side of this argument as well.

When I played I can tell you that I definitely played with more confidence and had more room out on the ice when coach put the big guy on my wing to protect me and my other winger.

Hell, I just asked one of them to play on our beer league team this year after learning that the goons we use to play against back in the day entered a team in our league. I can tell you that in the first game, two weeks ago today, my buddy went after both guys that targeted my wrist with slashes on our first shift. He took two of them to the penalty box - and shouted "Are you OK Benny?" from the penalty box door. That is what I love about that kind of role on a team. They bring a sense of responsibility and caring over the rest of the squad. They didn't bother me after that - he kept them busy and in check the rest of the game.

Just beer league but I think it's a perfect example of how the code works.

Well the bruins have a shit ton of "fighters/tough guys/role players/goons" who can "protect" Erkisson. Worked well last night .......

[Big Ev]

Well the bruins have a shit ton of "fighters/tough guys/role players/goons" who can "protect" Erkisson. Worked well last night .......

You are never going to protect players from getting hit in the head. You will get hit in the head, it's a contact sport. They will never be able to remove it.

[doulos]

Bruins are the poster child for big gritty team, and meanwhile we watch Eriksson, Horton, Savard reap the benefits of it (by being destroyed).

[smack]

Bruins are the poster child for big gritty team, and meanwhile we watch Eriksson, Horton, Savard reap the benefits of it (by being destroyed).

You forgot Bergeron.

Funny enough, the Red Wings don't have any of these goons (I don't count Tootoo) and yet I don't remember Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom getting cheap shotted. But my memory isn't what it used to be.

[Big Ev]

You forgot Bergeron.

Funny enough, the Red Wings don't have any of these goons (I don't count Tootoo) and yet I don't remember Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom getting cheap shotted. But my memory isn't what it used to be.

The Red Wings are just the model franchise, so nobody touches their players. They are the envy of the National Hockey League.