Tough Call

Was the McDavid hit on Byron really a dirty elbow? And what do people mean when they talk about “playoff” hockey? Find out here!

Would a crackdown on dangerous incidents really change the fabric of the NHL game? And if so, is that a bad thing? Looking at NHL discipline practices and seeing if there might be a better path to consistency.

Brandon Tanev was ejected for his hit on Jarred Tinordi in a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins. What makes this hit stand out from the rest?

The Tom Wilson hit on Brandon Carlo. A look at that incident, explaining Wilson’s disciplinary history, and how I would get Wilson where he needs to be moving forward.

Why is crosschecking still prevalent in the NHL and why is it so accepted? What’s with all the slew-foots these days? The Wilson hit on Jankowski, goaltender interference, and incosistency.

Why do head shots continue to run rampant in the NHL? Because they only punish just enough to say they’re doing “something”. See why the Larsson suspension is a token gesture that won’t help the problem at hand.

Why do I think some checks are dirty and some that look awfully similar are clean? Also the importance of players accepting when they’ve been beaten.

Is the NHL right to focus on the entertainment more than the hockey when it comes to the safety of its most valuable assets: the players? Also the Dube hit on Kotkaniemi.

Why are NHL players forced to take matters into their own hands so often? What makes a hit legal? Who should have to be held accountable and what is “the Code”?

Tyler Myers received a match penalty for his hit to Joel Armia, but will the NHL’s Department of Player Safety suspend? Why they should and how blindside hits should be dealt with moving forward.