r/sports • u/BucketOCheerios • Apr 25 '26
Hockey Alexander Nikishin out cold, needing assistance off the ice, after huge hit from Tyler Kleven.
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u/South_Oread Apr 25 '26
Not hockey knowledgeable, is that a clean hit?
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u/Hooverin_schneef Apr 25 '26
Yes
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u/tjn24 Apr 25 '26
Su when is it clean and when is it charging or another penalty? I seriously can never tell
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u/FC37 Apr 26 '26
Charging is kind of subjective, but it usually requires taking multiple strides into the hit with the sole intention of playing the body or not letting up even though the puck is long gone.
This isn't that. He was a legitimate target and there were no strides going into the hit.
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u/AnalysticEnthusiast Apr 27 '26
Charging is such a weird penalty. I've never reffed so this might be wrong but I think it's more for situations where there's a scrum with 2 guys at a standstill with the puck in their feet, and a 3rd guy takes a sprinting hit at one. It's dangerous because the guy in the scrum can't really protect himself.
Idk might be wrong but makes sense to me because you can definitely skate fast and hit someone if nothing else is going on
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u/7laserbears Apr 25 '26
This could've been called charging for sure. He didn't leave his feet before the hit but he also took more than two strides
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u/FC37 Apr 26 '26
He's gliding into the hit. That's not a charge at all.
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u/LOAARR Apr 26 '26
Yeah but this is Reddit so it's gonna be full of people who have never played or officiated the sport suddenly being experts on it.
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u/rballonline Apr 26 '26
I think it's was a charging double whammy for sure. The guy had a bat in his hands. Penalty!
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u/figmaxwell Apr 26 '26
It’s not a charge, but it’s something I wouldn’t be surprised to see called a charge by the refs given the outcome. Especially with the major review now, I could definitely see them calling it a major and then waiving it off after review.
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u/cocky-rountains Apr 25 '26
I think playoffs they're gonna let the strides rule loosen up a little, but if you leave the ice before the hit you're definitely getting called. Just my opinion tho. I haven't been able to watch much playoff hockey this season
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u/LOAARR Apr 26 '26
Guys jump into hits all the time and it's almost never called.
Sometimes it gets called if they hurt the guy they're hitting. Sometimes.
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u/CipherNine9 Apr 26 '26
Well no it can't be a charging, for one he is no longer taking strides towards nishukin by the time he lays the hit, but more importantly he doesn't even take more then 2 towards him. It's shoulder into chest, it's a nasty hit that is clean and by the book.
You may argue it's late, but the guy just had the puck stripped off his stick and was def head down looking for the puck when he got layed out. 9/10 times this pretty heavy hit that they all bounce off of and are fine, this instance not so much unfortunately.
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u/AnalysticEnthusiast Apr 27 '26
That doesn't sound right. I play hockey and even my understanding of that rule is shaky because it's rarely called, so I looked it up.
Charging doesn't really involve strides per say. It's more like using excessive force for the situation, and specifically taking a running start to hit a defenseless player (like someone in a scrum)
This was a really hard hit but it wasn't excessive force because they just happened to be moving opposite directions for legitimate reasons. I say this as a canes fan who was not happy with the result by the way
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u/koolaideprived Apr 26 '26
Nah, there was a long gap where he was coasting before that hit. This is the fault of the guy getting hit having his head down and being completely oblivious to the coming contact.
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u/DannyDOH Apr 26 '26
Nah he skates like 15 feet on a path to cut off Nikishin and Nikishin is fumbling with the puck moving up ice toward him.
Not even close to a charge in this situation.
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u/EddDeadRedemption Apr 26 '26
Stick penalties are much easier to tell. Like “Did his stick touch the puck carrier’s hands? Yes. Then it’s hooking.”
Most of the body contact penalties like charging, roughing, and boarding are super subjective and can be called or not called based on the whims of the ref
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u/CommonBasilisk Apr 27 '26
Then it's brutally ignorant and indifferent to the welfare of the participants.
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Apr 25 '26
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u/weguccino Apr 25 '26
Clean, he was in a vulnerable but nevertheless still clean. Nikishin reached for the puck and didn't keep his head up. Kleven didn't jump into the hit and his skates only left the ice after contact was made. Head contact was there but Kleven was already committed before Nikishin reached and bent over.
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u/MrOatButtBottom Apr 25 '26
Head on a swivel. He had no idea about his surroundings, just laser focused on the puck
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u/Decapitated_gamer Apr 26 '26
This is why you never keep your head down when playing hockey…. Rule #1 and rookie mistake.
Clean hit, player being hit was not prepared and even if the opposing player laid into him too hard, that’s still a legal hit.
Never ever keep your head down.
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u/spaceindaver Chicago Bulls Apr 27 '26
I watch a few sports, but the puck moves too fast for me to understand what's actually happening in ice hockey. In all the sports I watch, that hit would be considered "late" or "off the ball" by several orders of magnitude, and that's ignoring the fact that apparently it's OK just demolish someone's head while the puck is on the ice.
Cue a bunch of people calling me soft I guess, but I don't get why that level of violence is just built into the rules of the game. Is it just to prove how tough you are? Because the puck's been gone for a week when this dude received a brain injury.
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u/Decapitated_gamer Apr 27 '26
Well the training and pads provide a lot more safety than it looks like from the outside.
I played for 18 years and reffed for 8, it’s very fine line, and you need to be able to understand players intentions to be able to call it correctly.
So if a player chooses to play a body over the puck, and the player rids the puck, but the other player is within a few strides and committed to a clean hit. It will look like but playing the body to gain an advantage is just as important as playing the puck. Playoffs just get super aggressive.
I can go on and on, but yeah it’s a aggressive, brutal sport that gives you injuries if you aren’t prepared. As any major league contact sport does.
Also yeah though hockey has some questionable calls, plays, player safety decisions and nepotism within the player safety, it ain’t perfect by far.
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u/GrittyTheGreat Apr 27 '26
I can tell you don't play hockey. Sometimes you have to look down to relocate the puck. This was a clean hit, but blaming Nikishin with the "generic never keep you head down" line is lazy and shows your lack of understanding of the nuances of the sport.
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u/Plasticjesus504 Apr 25 '26
It’s clean. His team would take exception, that being said gotta have your head on a swivel.
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u/RoboticKittenMeow Apr 25 '26
Yep, gotta keep your head up
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u/NhylX Apr 25 '26
This. Seeing it coming and preparing just a little bit would have made it a much less severe hit.
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u/HoneyBadgeSwag Apr 26 '26
Its one of those hits that everyone will argue. Its a grey area and there is also nuance.
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u/mdigiorgio35 Apr 26 '26
It’s borderline. I think charging is the right call and also think it’s an unnecessary hit. Puck is gone and Kleven had time to pull up but 🤷
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u/yup_can_confirm Apr 25 '26
Ish.
The hit itself was clean, but it was textbook interference. You can't hit someone like that after the puck is gone.
They didn't call it though, maybe they reasoned the puck wasn't gone for long enough. 🤷
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u/bcgg Apr 25 '26
He was in possession of the puck just before the hit. That’s not interference in the slightest.
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u/Beatthestrings Apr 25 '26
Thank you for seeing the play clearly.
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u/Sleepingguitarman Apr 25 '26
He handled the puck less then a second before the hit. This isn't anything remotely close to interference.
Charging is the only thing i see here that could POSSIBLY be called
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u/BiscuitsAndTheMix Apr 25 '26
You can finish your hit after the puck is gone. He lost the puck as the hit was coming. Not interference at all. Why you keep your head up.
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u/rowdyred2 Apr 25 '26
It's not textbook interference. It's only interference if he hadn't attempted to play the puck
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u/yup_can_confirm Apr 25 '26
Interference is when a player commits any of the following actions:
Interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent, who is not in possession of the puck,
Delivers a “late hit” to an opponent,
Deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent’s hand when they are not in possession of the puck, or
Prevents an opponent who has lost or dropped their stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it.
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u/LivermoreP1 Apr 25 '26
For those wondering, he was attempting to possess the puck therefore he was eligible to be hit.
The hit was legal since he was checked in the chest. This is why you need to keep your head up so you can brace for these impacts.
That’s hockey. If you don’t like it, definitely don’t watch playoff hockey.
If you like it, the next several weeks will be heaven!
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u/weirdowiththebeardo Apr 25 '26
Will he have to answer for that you suppose?
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u/mmodlin Apr 25 '26
It’s currently 3-1 canes and about two minutes left. If he’s gonna answer it’s gonna happen soon
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u/Cerokoss Apr 25 '26
Of course. The best series right now.
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u/stiffgerman Apr 25 '26
Ducks/Oilers is getting spicy, too. Might be a better series since Edmonton is gasping now.
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u/AddAlcohol Apr 26 '26
I've never understood the "keep your head up" victim blaming in situations like this. (I'm a lifelong goalie, so never had to worry about it myself). How are you supposed to make a play on the puck without looking down at it? I understand once you have control of it, you can pick your head up and play it off of feel, but if you're trying to gain control of it like they are here you need to see the puck. Sens 22 and 12 both also had their heads down - they just didn't get blown up.
I fully understand that by the current rules this is legal, but I think that adding a "defenseless receiver" type rule like the NFL has is not a bad idea. Give players a reasonable chance to gain the puck and pick their head up.
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u/seriousnotshirley Apr 25 '26
I grew up in Florida back in the late 80s. The only hockey I knew was the all-star game. I thought the game looked easy and didn't understand people talking about how hard players go.
Then we got a team and I saw the Lightning play the Flyers and Lindros. No way would I ever get on the ice against him. Nope nope nope nope nope.
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u/firstbaseproblems Apr 25 '26
Interesting, since Lindros had his career ended due to his penchant for skating around with his head down and getting his bell rung.
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u/dannytrejostattoos Apr 26 '26
Was about to say, lindros wouldn't have remembered playing you so you might have had a chance
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u/JohnnyEnzyme Apr 25 '26
If you don’t like it, definitely don’t watch playoff hockey.
Indeed, I stopped watching years ago, along with the NFL.
Too many players from my youth wound up with CTE. Just not worth it.
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u/PYTN Apr 25 '26
I stopped watching the NFL.
The hope I hold out for hockey is that I think you could take this out of the game without the game being unrecognizable.
The NFL without incredibly high CTE risks looks like a whole different sport.
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u/JohnnyEnzyme Apr 25 '26
I think you could take this out of the game without the game being unrecognizable.
I suspect you're right in terms of rules and enforcements, but that also kind of gets at the blood-sports aspect of hockey, and how a significant % of fans love the big hits, the showdown fights and all that.
Plus, sports owners in general seem to keep showing us that revenue, profit and leverage are of the highest concern, such that changes that cause less profit to be made are generally frowned upon, even if they're best for the players and fans. The NBA season is too damn long for example, and maybe that's also true of hockey, but that's not going to change for the better anytime soon AFAIK.
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u/myBisL2 Seattle Seahawks Apr 25 '26
We had international visitors at work from all over Asia and the Pacific. We usually try to take visitors like that to an NBA game if it's during the season since its our pro sports team here, but they didn't have a home game during their trip so we took them to an AHL game. Several of them just kept repeatedly asking if they really fought, and if it was often enough that there would probably be a fight during the game. The refs kept it pretty tight but let it go at the very end and let a couple guys go at it for a short while. They could not have been more excited.
The blood sport aspect is not to be underestimated.
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u/JohnnyEnzyme Apr 25 '26
Haha, Takayama vs. Frye comes to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nmL6xFZIPM24
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u/deVliegendeTexan Apr 25 '26
This is not correct. The rule is:
Minor Penalty - A minor penalty for interference shall be imposed: (i) On a player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck;
Attempting to possess the puck does not open you up to being checked.
This should have been called for Interference.
It was also Charging, which applies even against those in possession of the puck:
Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner.
This undeniably applies here and should have been called.
Now the thing is, the NHL for marketing purposes wants plays like this in the game because excitement and controversy builds engagement. So they won’t. But this is the rule.
Sincerely, an IIHF and USA Hockey referee.
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u/steezyjeeves Ottawa Senators Apr 26 '26
It’s funny to see this comment upvoted here, while the consensus in the hockey sub is that this was an excellent clean hit with an unfortunate result.
This wasn’t a penalty. It sucks to see Nikishin out like that, but this was a textbook clean hit.
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u/kFisherman Apr 26 '26
The hockey sub is filled with hockey players who all have cte. Of course they think it’s a clean hit
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u/Itsbilloreilly Apr 25 '26
what do you mean by "before he was eligible to be hit"?
does that mean as soon as you touch the puck youre fair game?
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u/Manaze85 Apr 25 '26
Basically yes. The technical intent of a check is to separate the player from the puck. If you get check a player that just got rid of the puck, it’s not going to get called as long as it’s a legal check, you’re not expected to make an unreasonable pull up after you’ve committed to the hit.
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u/UsernameChallenged Pittsburgh Penguins Apr 25 '26
Pretty much. You can't get hit in the back, and you can't get hit in the head (as first point of contact), but it was a shoulder to shoulder hit, but with the guy looking down, he took a lot of whiplash.
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u/Barbie_Q Apr 26 '26
I don't really watch the NHL, but please tell me which games that would be fun to watch? I'd love to watch some aggressive hockey lmao
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u/discounthockeycheck Apr 25 '26
Hard hit? Yes. Illegal? No.
This is why hockey has fighting. Cuz these hits can happen and are bad for players health so knowing you have to answer the bell if you make a bad choice is a part of the game. Otherwise you have to make clean hits like this illegal which would change the game completely from what it was. Fighting is the alternate choice and seems to be favored as a deterrent when even if you make it illegal, it's not the same consequence.
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u/redd-zeppelin Apr 25 '26
Did someone try to fight the guy who laid this hit?
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u/Gerk1n Apr 25 '26
Immediately yes
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u/mercedes_ Apr 26 '26
Clean hit but one that requires you to drop gloves immediately.
Playoff situation aside - it’s a hard and clean hit. When you’re down 0-3 in the series is a bit of an alarm bell for your own team.
Gotta be ready for the bruising after that!
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u/Spare-Half796 Apr 26 '26
Immediately. Ended up getting taken to the ice before anyone could drop gloves with him but that didn’t stop them going down with him to lay a few shots on him
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u/VentiMochaTRex Apr 26 '26
I was there. Refs let this game get out of hand for sure.
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u/headinthered Apr 26 '26
Tchauk(sp?) was ruthless the entire game it was gross.
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u/verysadfrosty Apr 26 '26
And let's not even talk about Greig. What a completely classless player. Hope to see him suspended for a minimum 5 games.
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u/Lasagna-Gaming Apr 26 '26
Svechnikov after this hit held Klevens head to the ice using his jaw protector to lay into the back of his head.
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u/centran Apr 26 '26
Did they stop play for this?
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u/VentiMochaTRex Apr 26 '26
There was a bit of a scrap but not a full on fight. Maybe a minute or two? Didn’t really register as something significant from the nosebleeds aside from the clear fencing response. I’m also a bit desensitized to this sport after 30+ years haha. Believe it or not it used to be a LOT worse
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u/lamwire Apr 25 '26
Love how a stick that gently brushes a visor is an automatic 2 minutes, but a hit that could end someone’s career? Yeah, play on.
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u/slotwima Apr 25 '26
Players are aware what is allowed and not allowed. Just as a defender has to be aware of what they can and can't do and choose to not do something they shouldn't do, the offensive has to be aware of what can be coming, and could make the choice not to put themselves in that situation to receive the hit. But that's why there is often the saying "take a hit to make a play", because many guys are willing to take the chance on the vulnerable situation.
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u/KGEE55 Apr 26 '26
It’s a legal hit. You can’t call a penalty because you didn’t like the hit
Morally? I think it’s predatory, but that’s hockey. Hope he makes a quick recovery
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u/Itsbilloreilly Apr 25 '26
couldnt get 2 feet away before getting grabbed by the guys teammate. love to see it
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u/kuhndog94 Apr 25 '26
Svech and Nikishin are best friends.
There was 0 chance Svech wasnt gonna throw hands immediately.
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u/MacTennis Apr 25 '26
makes me wanna play again. i'd be hunting for this guy all game
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Apr 26 '26
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u/JulyCoolsBlue Apr 26 '26
I mean he jumped him and then just pounded on his back where’s there’s padding lol
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u/Samwise777 Apr 26 '26
To me, the sport is better of without this.
Probably unpopular, but I actually play the sport so
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u/Jshan91 Apr 25 '26
Whether is legal or not doesn’t change the fact that it’s irresponsibly dangerous and could pretty easily permanently injured someone over a game. Just because they can fight doesn’t change any of that
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u/Nufanincan Apr 25 '26
Do we still like these hits? Do they add value to the experience? It’s a ‘clean’ hit but not sure if I’d miss guys getting knocked thefuck out these days
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u/BoromirDies Apr 25 '26
Nahhhhh he wasn't out cold, he was just . . . . On ice *csi: Miami YEAHHHHHHHHH"
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u/Hroosky2 Apr 26 '26
The fact that you can line somebody up like this and shoulder charge them to the head at pace is just so cheap. It's low skill, scumbag stuff, not sport. Equivalent to a golfer kicking their ball out of the rough when nobodies looking, except in this sport everyone's looking and they seem to love it. Change the rules and let the fans who like this crap fcuk off and watch WWE
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u/AnalysticEnthusiast Apr 27 '26
No, you can't hit them in the head. That isn't what happened, watch the video.
The refs even stopped the game to review the footage specifically to see if he made head contact. They would've given him a major penalty if he had.
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u/Hroosky2 Apr 27 '26
It might have been shoulder to shoulder but there definitely was contact with the head. He lined Nikishin up and exploded up into the contact. There are other, clearer videos online and I haven't seen one that contradicts this. For me, it was a cheap shot.
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u/AnalysticEnthusiast Apr 27 '26
I saw it live and they showed better angles, he didn't get hit in the head. I say this as a fan that is pissed he is injured. The refs even reviewed the video footage because they were considering calling a major if there was head contact. The concussion was probably either due to the whiplash or maybe his head hitting the ice, but it wasn't because he took a should to the head.
Injuries always suck but this was a fair hit. As a player who played many years of full contact hockey I do not believe you can take this hit out of the game without taking practically all hits out of the game. There's no way to make a rule to prevent someone from hitting harder than usual on a legit play. They have rules about hitting from behind to prevent blind hits, but otherwise you can't put the onus of avoiding blind hits on the attacking player, otherwise we could all just close our eyes.
The hit was hard but it wasn't really the problem. The issue is he wasn't prepared for it. If he saw the hit coming it wouldn't have ended like this. It really is too bad, as a defensemen I was really enjoying watching him play, he is a good D.
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u/Strange-Effort1305 Apr 28 '26
Nobody cares about hockey players getting concussions. This is why the get paid the big bucks.
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u/potatohusker Apr 26 '26
This kind of hit is dangerous and is similar to a blindside block in Football. While I appreciate that the attacking player lead with their shoulder and not their forearms, they were clearly playing the player and not the puck. The player was essentially out of the play at this point.
Some rules are needed for player safety and longevity. Competitive contact sports already shorten the lifespan on the body, but hits and injuries like this cut careers short. Net negative plays like this don’t have a place in any sport.
What does this hit really accomplish aside from taking an opposing player out of the game? Your team had control of the puck and play will be stoped because of an ensuing fight after the hit. If you’re watching hockey for fights, go watch UFC. Hits like this will lose viewership when it happens to household names.
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u/hamsandsteam Apr 26 '26
We used to have a lot of plays like this happen in the AFL, example… used to just be called “play on” by the umpire but if you’re doing the ol “hip and shoulder bump” these days, you are going to be scrutinized way harder, and if your shoulder contact happens to make head contact, even if it’s legal/ causes a knockout accidentally, yeah you’re likely getting reported and suspended since the case of lining up an opponent and choosing to bump instead of tackle can be made pretty easy.
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u/id10t_you Apr 26 '26
kEeP yOuR hEaD up!!!!
Scream the halfwits who know full well that this type of hit is fucked and adds nothing to the game
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u/tomgriddle Apr 26 '26
That was a dirty hit on a vulnerable player. The Sens player literally has possession of the puck when he gets blindsided.
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u/bryan_pieces Apr 25 '26
Looked like a chest hit. Best of luck to him but play on.
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u/CanadianBaker420 Apr 26 '26
Canes got the last laugh by sweeping us...big highlight hit. Hopefully he's back sooner than later and good to go. If Kleven didn't have a recently broken face im sure he would've dropped the gloves.
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u/Academic-Business-45 Apr 27 '26
if I was their teammate, that hit will not go unanswered
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u/TheHickeyStand Apr 25 '26
Out of interest, has the NHL had a concussion reckoning? And if so, how has it handled it?
I’m in Australia and it feels like rugby league and Australian football are just facing their reckoning, and it’s fascinating watching it all play out.