Jacob Trouba's Controversial Elbow to the Head of Justin Barron Sparks Suspension Debate

As part of the NHL's 'Frozen Frenzy', all 32 teams were scheduled to play tonight with many heated battles set for Tuesday night. One of those matchups was an Eastern Conference matchup between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens, pitting the powerhouse Rangers against the youthful Canadiens lineup.

With New York leading the game handily, defenseman Jacob Trouba decided that wasn't enough as he levelled Montreal defenseman Justin Barron with a very questionable hit adding some injury to the insult:

It's a nasty display of hockey from Trouba, as he clearly lowered his shoulder to take aim at Barron's head and follow through with almost an uppercut-like shoulder check. Barron immediately slumped and if you notice in the clip above, his head smashes against the ice after he falls. Luckily Trouba didn't land on Barron's head or it could have been even worse. Trouba is known for being a headhunter of sorts, having a history of lowering his shoulder and dishing out some less than ethical bodychecks:

It begs the question of whether or not Trouba should be suspended. While he didn't leave his feet, he still purposefully lowered his shoulder in anticipation of a gruesome hit. The way that Barron fell and the viciousness of the hit needs to be reviewed by the NHL and some punishment needs to be dished out; there's a history here and there's no reason for Trouba to get away with potentially injuring someone long-term with no repercussions. NHL Director of Player Safety George Parros will have some thinking to do regarding how he will handle this situation.

It's terrible news for Montreal if Barron is out long-term, as Montreal was depending on him to be a crucial part of a young defensive corps that's trying to still find its footing somewhat in the NHL. No word yet on the extent of if Barron is injured, or how bad, but either way it's not a good look for Trouba and the Rangers.

We will update you on the condition of Justin Barron as we learn more information regarding the situation.