The Hits That Hurt

Here's why I don't like the Mike Komisarek hit.

Mark Olver never, ever was in possession of the puck. (Note: Many have commented this morning that Olver touched the puck. He may have. But he never possessed it in any meaningful way. Try reading first, people, then comment) Period. It was near him. It went past him. It was either a bad pass he couldn't corral or a good one he flubbed.

But there's no chance he was ever in actual possession making a stick-handling motion of any kind. Olver no more had the puck than Komisarek did.

If you don't have the puck, how can you possibly be fair game for a thundering hit like that Komisarek laid on him Thursday night in Denver?

We could go on. The hit looked a bit late, and it certainly originated as from the blind side, although at the moment of impact Komisarek's shoulder was making contact with the chest/neck/head area of Olver's body.

But no penalty. And, of course, when Avs forward Cameron Gaunce tracked down Komisarek looking for the predictable retaliation fight, no instigator.

See, this is why when the NHL does it's two-day public relations thing down in Boca Raton, and then goes all draconian (and rightfully so) on Matt Cooke, it's still hard to take it's contention that the plan is to crack down on head shots and try to eliminate concussions very seriously.

Komisarek's hit was a hockey play, at least, and there will be those that will argue, as always, that Olver's head should have been up and looking for an opposing player (wasn't his main job to receive a pass from a teammate?) and that having the puck in the general vicinity constitutes possessions.

And you know what? in a traditional sense, they're right. That's how it's been called for a long, long time.

But if you can't get that hit out of the game, if a player doesn't have to be in actual possession of the puck before getting laid out at centre ice, then the NHL and hockey in general has no chance whatsoever of improving its dismal and deteriorating record on head shots and concussions.

 

 

 

Comments

[Dan]

I don't recall seeing Crosby with the puck either when he got hit into the boards by Hedman. Where was the outrage then? Number 1 player gets knocked senseless and no call or punishment after. You are like a rubber ball.....clean hit here, bad hit there....

[Jehosephat]

Wrong. While the result of the hit is regrettable, the puck was on Olver's stick (in mid-air) less than a second before Komisarek hit him. What is Komisarek supposed to do? Wait until Olver skates past him with the puck? It's the same with the hit on Lupul later in the game, a fair hit. Komisarek's was a hit to the leading part of Olver's body which was his head. If the NHL wants to reduce injuries, this hit isn't the problem. The equipment is, and so is the stupid reaction by Gaunce to fight someone for a legal hit. The concussion he likely got fighting Komisarek is unnecessary.

[Kevin C]

Only damien cox can do a negative spin on something positive about the leafs. If he has nothing to complain about then he has nothing to write about.

[Gunner]

Although I respect Damien's thoughts, here's why I disagree with some of his analysis of this hit and why I think removing these type of hits is not going to make a huge imact in reducing concussions in hockey.

First, there been lots of chatter in the hockey world lately on concussions in womans hockey. Since there's no body contact in woman's hockey, how it is possible that woman get concussions?? We'll obvisouly there are other ways hockey palyers can recieve blows to the head, but this goes against the notion that removing 'blind' side hits or 'devastating-type' hits is going to go a long way in reducing the number of concussions.

Secondly, what is a 'blind' side hit really? Well, the reality is that a 'blind' side hit occurs because the person being hit is 'blind' to the fact that someone is going to hit them. In other words, they do not have their head up and are at least equally at fault for result, if such is an injury. Everyone who plays hockey (and their dog) knows that keeping your head up is a golden rule if one is to play contact hockey (players learn it when they are 12-13 years old!).

The reality is concussions will always occur in this game - period. Perhaps there are ways to reduce the number, but in the end players have to gauge the risk of a sport that has numerous dangers. Funny that we don't hestitate to jump in a car each day and drive to work (and think about the number of people being killed by collisions daily), but everyone is so worked up about concussions in hockey. Risk people, its all about accepting or not accpeting risk! We do it everyday.

[jp]

your wrong again Damien the culprit was the teamate who gave him the suicide pass. Then blame oliver for not paying attention to the opposition players in he vicinty. center ice! head down! puck passed to him! he was their for the taking and he knew it. Why the fight I do see how the Av's must let Komi know he can't keep up the hard play with-out it coming back around to him

[Justin]

Your reasoning makes no sense. How is Komisarek supposed to predict whether or not it is going to be a "bad pass" or if Olver was going to "flub" it? Is he supposed to let Olver gain control and skate past him?

He didn't target Olver's head. He didn't hit him from behind. It was just a hard and clean hit.

[Matt K]

Olver touched the puck so the hit was fair game. blindside??? are you kidding? how straight on does a hit have to be before it's not blindside? by your definition, two guys would have to stupidly collide by skating straight into each other. given that you said "wasn't his main job to receive a pass from a teammate" you're basically getting at the idea that all players have a right to a certain degree of safety, but i think they have that. hockey isn't going to change because there's nothing wrong with it. players who throw dirty hits that contradict the rules will continue to get suspended, ie: cooke. helmets may improve if the guy who was on fan590 yesterday afternoon gets his airbag idea through. but that's all that needs to change; hockey's fine despite the media's prerogative to instill in fans' heads that it's a barbarian sport. you guys are unbelievable, but maybe your boss wants you to push the headshot propaganda cause it keeps people reading your blog. as you said, it's always been called this way...how did you ever become a fan in the first place?

[Ken Calway]

My views on hockey violence are usually contradictory to Mr. Cox's, but I usually respect his opinion. In this article though, Mr. Cox has chosen to sit on a his soap-box and make an unrealistic argument. His motives are unknown. Here are the facts: 1) Olver attempted to receive an pass; 2) His stick knocked the puck out of the air and onto the ice in front of him; 3) Komisarek bodychecked Olver less than one second later; 4) the check was from directly in front of Olver; 5) Komisarek did not jump, elbow or illegally contact Olver in any way.

Conclusion: there are abolutely no grounds to conclude that this was a bad hit. More to the point, if Komisarek allowed each opposing forward who received a pass, at full speed, to go around him, he would no longer be in the NHL. He's already attempted that style of "ole" defence and it hasn't been pretty. He just made his best play of the season and Mr. Cox has chosen to "Spin" it. Notice that there is no comment about a similar hit to Joffrey Lupul later in the game? Hmmm...

[RowerGuy]

Not a Leaf fan, so hopefully my comments will be seen as neutral. Damian, you're right about Olver not touching the puck. However, it's not Komisarek's fault the pass wasn't a good one. He's trying to time his hit and knew the puck was on its way to Olver. If you go frame by frame on the video, look how bent Olver's knees are. Komisarek neither left his feet, nor had his elbow high....in fact the elbow appears almost TUCKED. There was no attempt to target the head, and there was no vicious intent other than to make a hit which is, last I checked, part of the game. There should be no suspension from this. What DID offend me was Joe Bowen during the replay, saying the hit was shoulder on chest. It clearly wasn't, which gave the impression of a Leaf employee telling us to see something that wasn't there!

[Krakondack]

I've never seen it put that way - kind of like the NFL - where you can't touch the guy until he has the ball.

[Nick]

Actually Damien, you should review the replay again - especially the one linked by Kevin McGran, from nhl.com. The puck clearly hits Olver's stick and falls to the ice past him to his left, it's perfectly plausible to believe that without the hit from Komisarek, he would have had possession and control of the puck.

[Steve]

I disagree with you Damien on the fact that Olver never touched the puck. Take a look at the video again, Olver cleary knocks the puck out of the air and if Komisarek wasn't there to lay the smack down, he would have skated onto the puck as he had knocked it only a few feet infront of him.

You make mention of having to stick handle the puck to get hit? Since when is that part of the equation as to whether you are fair game to get hit? So if I receive a pass at the offensive blue line from my defenseman and tip it into the zone, I'm not allowed to get hit? I call bull on the point you are trying to make there.

Now, was it from the blindside? When a player is looking behind him to receive a pass but his momentum is forward, I don't see how that can be called a blindside hit- the player should know better to keep his head up. Was it a headshot? Komisarek kept his elbow tucked and tried to deliver it directly to the chest. Unfortunately, Olver is smaller and was in a low skating stance. I think this is where the NHL has a tough time instituting a headshot penalty. I personally think there should be one, but as the rules are called today it was clean.

Just so it doesn't seem like I'm ragging on you entirely here are the two problems I find in the NHL today that if changed, would reduce injuries because of hits like this:

#1. Start teaching our players (all the way down to a young age) to stop exploding up when they make a hit. In the old days, a hit was delivered with the shoulder dropped right to the chest. Nowadays, hits start low and explode up- right towards the head area. I think the second we institute a rule against head checks, everyone will be told to stop exploding up when making contact- so maybe that is the only way to actually get hits to the head out of the game if we can't teach the safe way to make a clean check.

#2. Reduce the "armour" built into shoulder and elbow pads. The hard plastics used make players feel invincible and when those portions of equipment make contact instead of soft padding, the results are always worse.

[Claude McDonald]

Damien, the comment here is how James Reimer is the sparkplug that the Leafs surely are gaining from . So much so that I am inclined to dub this fresh youg inspiring goalie the "Primer" -that brings out the best in the Leafs. Indeed Reimer the primer.One might also say that it is goaltending like that which seems so unconditional-no big bucks, no big spotlight but instead played for the pure love of the game. What a refreshing, selfless act for a professional Hockey player. Now if only that selflessness would truly rub off....

[Ken Carpenter]

Finally a voice of reason on this situation. It was not a "hockey play" for at least five reasons: A) No puck possession = interference. B) Distance traveled plus violence = charging; C) Blindside; D) Head contact; E) Rules allow for "checking," not "hitting." If this doesn't result in some kind of supplemental discipline, the NHL might as well fold up its operation. ... One of these days a "hockey play" is going to result in more than just a player crawling on his hands and knees looking for assistance. We're going to have another Darryl Stingley (1951-2007), who spent 29 years as a quadriplegic as a result of a "great hit" on a "good football play."

[myles]

The column that hurts (continually)

Here’s why I don’t like Damien Cox’s latest piece.

Damien Cox has never played the game at a high rate of speed. Period. He’s been near it but merely as an observer. Like the rest of us.

Because of this he incapable of understanding that 1/100 of a second is a very short amount of time to make a decision. So he scribbles pure speculation that he knows can sway public opinion. Maybe stir the pot a bit and buy him time until a real story is presented.

If you don’t understand the speed of the game then surely you can’t grasp that Olver very easily could have touched the puck for it did pass directly underneath him. What does that 1/100 sec decision making process tell Komisarek to do then?

We could go on. The fact that he writes things like “looked a bit late” and “originated as from the blind side” to add rage to those out there like himself who don’t get it. We also know that if he adds buzzwords like “head” and “neck” to the piece he makes the hit seem so much more than it really was. At the end of the day the optics through which he is viewing this and writing about it are way out of focus.

And to just to round this out let’s sprinkle in a dash of the instigator rule. It’s like a trademark.

See this is why the Toronto media is continually a let down. Maybe you’re all sick of a surly coach and grumpy GM who don’t kiss your blessed behinds. Maybe you realize that there is far better writing coming from the keyboards of bloggers and neophyte’s and you are scared for your future – and rightfully so, there are some great bloggers out there. But this continued onslaught of hyperbole and speculation is ridiculous. See Schenn. See Kadri. See every goalie playing here in the past 3 years. See visors. See fighters. See concussions. See. See. See.

Komisarek’s hit was if anything interference. Shoulder to shoulder and perfectly dealt had Olver touched the puck. Bringing the rest of this nonsense into the ring is puffery at its finest. In the box – 2 min. End of discussion.

But at the end of the day though he gets his message out there and I guess that’s what matters most. No hitting. No fighting. Nothing over 30 mph. Let’s make the blades from dull plastic while we are at it. The sticks should be from old growth wood. And the boards? Make them from foam.

[Jay]

Bottom line: it was a beautiful open ice hit.

[CJK]

What about the defenceman that made the pass?? Talk about a suicide pass, it's the defenceman's job to realize that Olver was not the right outlet and that he would get rocked by Komisarek.

[Jon Yeh]

Damien, I think your point is that to truly crackdown on headshots the NHL has to get rid of hits like this one. Almost like a "fair catch" provision, where a person receiving a pass (i.e. in a vulnerable position) can not be hit while they are in the process of receiving the pass.
I just don't think I would want to watch hockey anymore if this rule was in place.

[Michael Andrews]

I am a leaf fan, and have to agree with Damien, However I would like to take it one step further, how about doing away all together with the open ice hit. Seems to me like players are getting injured regardless of whether its a clean hit or not. Unless the NHL does away with them all together there will always be the "gray area" and players will continue to get injured. Whether clean or not.

[Matt Taylor]

Damien I think you are by far in the minority here. If that was blindside, I must have some pretty amazing vision, because unlike that poor kid I certainly have the ability to see in front of me. Secondly, it bothers me that you make absolutely no mention of the hit on Lupul a couple minutes later, that was the excact. same. hit. I know you find it hard to ever be positive about the Leafs (see your Reimer article and your Re-build article), but this is a stretch even for you

[Mike]

I continually have to laugh at the idiots who continually blame the player who was hit for "having his head down". Presumably, then no player will ever look at the puck, their head always being up looking out for someone to hit him. Players will play by intuition then, or ESP. "Sorry I missed that easy tap in, coach. I had my head up".

I don't like the "finishing the check" argument either. It's just an excuse to hit a player after he has got rid of the puck and potentially in a vulnerable position.

[John]

This article is completely wrong. Just brutal. The puck hit Olver stick and Komisarek hit him just after the puck hit his stick. It was a well placed well timed hit. It's not Komisareks fault that Olver didnt have his head up. Learn something about hockey.

[Andrew]

I was about to come out with pitchfork in hand, but I guess I can't argue with that. He wasn't in possession of the puck. That being said, and as you noted, that hits been in the game for a long time, so I feel it's just a good hit.
Although, I remember a hit about 15 years ago when Dave Gagner was on the Leafs. He got destroyed on a suicide pass and he never had possession either. I recall being pretty angry about that.

[Ron]

Damien, I am a long time Leaf fan but you are right on this hit. The NHL has no intention of really addressing the head shot issue. They will continue to dance until someone gets killed then they will be dragged kicking and screaming into making some kind of rational decision on head shots. I think the last number I heard was between 75 and 80 concussions this year in the NHL. Does it make any sense they would allow this to continue? There should be no in between on this issue, you hit the players head you get nailed. If I hear one more time "it was a hockey play" I am going to puke!!

[Andrew]

This is about as poor an analysis of the play as possible. Slow it down and look at it...Olver touches that puck within a second of impact. What are you really trying to take out of the game? The defender has to wait to see if the guy with his head down through centre ice is capable of receiving the pass cleanly before making contact? Is his job not to make sure the opponent is unable to take the pass, or to dislodge the puck if the pass is received? If the pass is clean, Komisarek's timing is perfect. All he can do is anticipate a clean pass. And if Olver is looking down at the puck in his feet, that's not Komisarek's fault either. That's the only reason this hit was "blind". Contact was shoulder to high chest. He didn't leave his feet. It's not Komisarek's fault that he's 6 inches taller than Olver. If Olver is also 6'4", we're not even having this discussion.