#leafsforever #timetohunt #NHLPlayoffs Stolarz-Bennett 🧵 I can't help but think that had the referees called a penalty on this Bennett incident with Stolarz, there would not be as much outcry as there is for supplementary discipline.
Seeing Stolarz forced to leave the game in the manner that he did is tough to watch. These players all compete hard and willingly sacrifice their bodies for the benefit of the team. This an unfortunate injury that nobody wants to see happen.
A question for all to ponder. In lieu of the injury if Stolarz gets up and is fine does this incident rise to the level of supplementary discipline. Outside of why was there no penalty would this incident rise to the level of a punishable offence?
During my time with DoPS I cannot tell you how many times merely calling the infraction on the ice could have alleviated a lot of the anger with respect to a particular play. Not sure that would be the case with this one and with this particular team the Florida Panthers.
Some history with respect to goalies, the last disciplinary incident involving a goaltender in the playoffs that I could find goes way back to 2012 with Andrew Shaw receiving a 3 game suspension for his hit on Mike Smith in their playoff series.
Sam Bennett has a history of teetering on the edge and plays a tough hard nosed game. Which is why he is beloved by his teammates and wanted by other teams.
This particular play is very hard to judge with respect to discipline. This situation could set a new precedent with respect to goalie contact/interference. How many disciplinary decisions have involved a goaltender? THE ANSWER IS ONE IN RECENT HISTORY THAT I COULD FIND
If this particular incident creates a new standard as it relates to contact with the goaltender then be careful what you are asking for. This is a slippery slope much like the foot in the blue paint from years ago. How do you quantify how "hard" a goalie is contacted?
We have all seen goalies and players try to game the system with theatrics that are meant to draw penalties and the like. I am NOT saying that is the case here. With that in mind tho how would you create a standard that takes all that into account?
What metrics can DoPS adopt to create a new standard? No two situations are a like.
Was this a blatant elbow to the back of Anthony Stolarz head? YES
Should it have been a penalty? YES
Was Bennett trying to injure Stolarz who is a former teammate from just last year? I DON'T THINK SO
Was he trying to rattle Stolarz? ABSOLUTELY
Was Anthony Stolarz already susceptible from the previous blow he took to the head from a Sam Reinhart shot earlier in the 1st period? LOOKS TO BE THE CASE. Only he can answer that question.
How do you quantify the ferocity of this particular blow?
Did the incident from the 1st period make this blow to the head worse than it may have been?
Is there a quantifiable metric we can use to judge these incidents outside of the eye test or previous experience in judging these incidents?
These are all questions we cannot answer. With any rule there is always an equal and opposite reaction as we have seen in the past.
And yes checks notes ... I was suspended 8 times. Get over it. Enjoy the rest of your day.