Jake McCabe's Controversial Hit Could Draw NHL Attention
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe may give the NHL Player Safety Department something to think about after his incident with Buffalo's Alex Tuch.
With the team needing to have a statement game against the Buffalo Sabres on the heels of a back-to-back and trying to get back into the win column after a miserable stretch.
Although they fell behind 1-0, they were able to bring it back thanks to Nick Robertson's first of the season. But it was Jake McCabe who drew the most attention after he was a one man wrecking crew.
First he levelled Bowen Byram with an elevated shoulder shot and then got himself involved in a fracas with Alex Tuch.
But it's the hit that is drawing the more ire, and it may be something McCabe has to answer for from the Player Safety Department, though that wasn't the only issue with the play.
Alex Tuch Given Instigator For Being Punched In The Face
Tuch was given an instigator penalty, which is a bit odd considering that he barely had a chance to put up his dukes before McCabe dropped him and Buffalo was incensed.
The current instigator rule states that an infraction is called if the offending player initiates the fight, however even if McCabe was given a little shove in response to his hit on Byram, that technically counts even if the instigator is defenseless:
An instigator of an altercation shall be a player who by his actions or demeanor demonstrates any/some of the following criteria:
Distance traveled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.
Distance traveled; gloves off first; first punch thrown; menacing attitude or posture; verbal instigation or threats; conduct in retaliation to a prior game (or season) incident; obvious retribution for a previous incident in the game or season.
By the rulebook, Tuch could qualify under either verbal instigation, or the obvious retribution, which is the retaliation for Byram.
The league could take a look at modifying the rules slightly, where after a fight, the referees can take a look on video and determine who was indeed the instigator. Coaches can challenge the decision like a goal, and if they lose, they lost their timeout.
But if they win, they get their instigator removed, and an immediate two-minute man advantage for unsportsmanlike conduct. There, you punish the team as a whole, in addition to the five-minute major, and reward the team who got suckered.
Is it a perfect solution? No, but McCabe and Tuch's interactions may lead the NHL to take a look at going back to the drawing board.
TRENDING NOW
