NHL Player Safety Urged to Review Evan Rodrigues' Dangerous Hit to John Tavares' Head
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NHL's Player Safety Department should probably take a look at Evan Rodrigues' hit on John Tavares as it looked to be yet another headshot from the Panthers.
The Maple Leafs and Panthers clashed in Game 3 with Toronto looking to secure another 3-0 series lead, and while it didn't turn out the way they wanted, they cam still salvage a game in Florida and walk away with a 3-1 lead.
However it was more of the same from a Panthers squad who will seemingly stop at nothing to repeat.
Besides trying to take out Joseph Woll, and being a general nuisance all night, the Panthers squeaked by the Leafs after some pucks bounced their way, backed by the Brad Marchand OT winner; who was also a big pain for Toronto as per usual.
NHL Needs To Review Evan Rodrigues Hit On John Tavares
But it was one particular hit that targeted John Tavares that should warrant at least a look from the NHL's Player Safety Department.
It looks like Florida's Evan Rodrigues ended up laying in a high hit to Tavares that also shows he may have left his feet in order to do so.
Another angle clearly shows that the Panthers forward left his feet in order to deliver the hit; a big no-no in the modern game.
The NHL rules regarding leaving the feet for a charge is as follows:
A minor or major penalty shall be imposed on a player
who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner.
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner.
A «charge» may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal
frame or in open ice.
who skates, jumps into or charges an opponent in any manner.
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner.
A «charge» may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal
frame or in open ice.
There is also a rule regarding illegal hits to the head that could also contitute a look from the league:
A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent's body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward.
(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.
(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.
In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponent's body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward.
(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable.
(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way that significantly contributed to the head contact.
It seems that Rodrigues' hit on Tavares fulfills both the charging condition (leaving his feet) and targeting the head (changing body position).
While it's not likely the NHL is going to do anything about it, they should at least make sure to do their best to protect their players; something they haven't done a good job of this series thus far.
Thankfully Tavares wasn't hurt, and though he's been a focus of attacks since the playoffs began, he's managed to make it through alright.
But there may come a time when that doesn't happen, and the NHL is going to need to answer for it, or face yet another wave of backlash from frustrated and fed up fans.
| POLL | ||
MAI 10 | 757 ANSWERS NHL Player Safety Urged to Review Evan Rodrigues' Dangerous Hit to John Tavares' Head Do you think Evan Rodrigues needs to be punished for hitting John Tavares up high? | ||
| Yes | 706 | 93.3 % |
| No | 51 | 6.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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