GoodRefs

#Kadri (cross)checks all the boxes: Retaliatory☑️High☑️Not a hockey play☑️With clean record would only receive between a fine (see Ritchie) and 2 games (see Kharia). As a chronic repeat offender, anything possible including "remainder of round" which Shanahan gave Torres in 2013.

Anticipating 1-game. Comparable to Killorn suspension in 2020 playoffs: nhl.com/video/killorn-suspen… While the officials concluded #Makar hit was a minor penalty, @NHLPlayerSafety can justify elevating to suspension due to injury suffered by @jaredmccann19

If Article 18.15(a) Salary Forfeiture applies to the 1-game carried over to next season, Mark #Scheifele stands to lose roughly $36,000 in salary for being suspended for the @NHLJets regular season opener. #HabsVSJets

...Given high speed @markscheifele55 was travelling at on backcheck effort to break up ENG, plausible that he could not reasonably have avoided contact. However, intention to make defensive play undermined by stick being off ice prior to/as #Evans scoring. @NHLJets @FriedgeHNIC

Key issue is whether #Scheifele made reasonable effort to avoid hit. Per Eakin (2016, 4-games charging),"rather than [effort to] lean, jump around or otherwise avoid or minimize the force of the hit, [he] loads up, braces for contact and delivers an intentional & forceful hit"...

For a player with a clean record, a check to the head like this is a routine 1-playoff game suspension; 2-games if regular season. The length of this latest #Kadri suspension will be a useful benchmark in future for offenders with a "substantial disciplinary record". @Avalanche

In 2018, Khaira, also had clean record prior to cross-checking opponent's face at end of rough shift; was suspended 2-games. With just two left for @NYRangers, NHL seems to have sparred ending season for #Buchnevich because of the events earlier in week. nhl.com/video/khaira-suspend…

The "totality of actions" by #TomWilson was low-end suspendable (aggressing/punching unsuspecting). Yet, @NHLPlayerSafety likely sought to avoid cheapening notion of markedly more games (i.e. x2, x3) for chronic repeat offenders. A day will come when he is suspended for 41-games.

Expect a 2-game suspension for @Canucks Alexander #Edler. Will be hard for @NHLPlayerSafety to ignore the similarities of a 2018 kneeing by Giordano on Koivu (who sat out Wild's next 4-games injured). nhl.com/video/giordano-suspe…

The "totality of the circumstances" approach has been used in the past by @NHLPlayerSafety. See Tkachuk 1-game for unsportsmanlike conduct in 2017-2018.

While Armia's concussion is bad optics, consider this 2020 suspended hit: While Lauzon does "graze upper chest SIMULTANEOUSLY with head contact, brunt of force is delivered directly to head." Myers hit to chest more than graze & not simultaneous with head? nhl.com/video/lauzon-suspend…

Despite @Akillorn19 being summoned before @NHLPlayerSafety, there is justification for no suspension. Compare to Kucherov's 1-game for boarding in 2019 playoffs where "most importantly" the NHL viewed hit as "message sending" late in the game. nhl.com/video/kucherov-suspe…

Fair to suspend Reaves for only 1, particularly given Motte returned. Recent illegal head checks in #NHL Playoffs: Caggiula (CHI) 2020 1-Game Thornton (SJS) 2019 1-Game Wilson (WSH) 2018 3-Games *Repeat Offender & Injury* Hartman (NSH) 2018 1-Game Doughty (LAK) 2018 1-Game

Reilly Smith initiated check just prior to puck leaving Pettersson's stick. Accordingly, this was not a "late hit" that should be subject to supp discipline. #VANvsVGK Compare with this 2-game suspension from 2018: nhl.com/video/cogliano-suspe…

Evander Kane already carried a repeat offender status heading into the 2019-2020 season. Since September: -Suspended 3-games for abuse of officials -Fined $5000 following elbowing major & game misconduct -Current NHL leader in PIM -Preseason NHL leader in PIM

Seasons ago, Darnell Nurse was suspended 3-games for several punches to unwilling combatant (i.e. Rule 46.2 Aggressor) causing injury. Anticipating same for #Oilers teammate #Kassian. While his prior history may be aggravating factor, should be offset by fact #Tkachuk uninjured.

In 2016, there was a similar elbowing incident following a drop pass. Like #Cernak, the offender (Komarov) had a clean record and caused an injury on the play. He got 3-games: nhl.com/video/leo-komarov-su…

Minor Hockey Associations put “STOP” patches on the back of jerseys because of plays like this. @NHLPlayerSafety properly recognizes that “it is delivered at an extremely dangerous distance from the boards...” #Kerfoot

This was a dangerous check from behind. Consider this precedent supporting a 1-game suspension for #Kerfoot: nhl.com/video/c-43608203

Two seasons ago, a comparable double cross-check landed #Landeskog a 4-game suspension. Like #Bortuzzo, he had prior related history. However, Bortuzzo caused an (expected) long term injury to Arvidsson. On that basis, #NHL could have justified 5+ here. nhl.com/video/c-55038903