Gryba suspended 2 games for check on Eller

[Anynym]

During last night's NHL Playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens, Diaz (MTL) gave a center-ice pass to Eller who was immediately checked by Gryba, with the unfortunate result that Eller was knocked to the ice, landing on his face and sustaining a concussion and some lost teeth.

Analysts, including Kerry Fraser working for TSN, looked at zoomed-in replays and saw all the elements of a clean hit - hip extended off the center line of the body, elbow down, skates on the ice, check delivered to a player with the puck.

I agree that it's a clean hit and should not have been given a penalty - let alone a five and a game at the time, and now extended to a two-game suspension by Shanahan from the NHL.

What do others see?

 

[dj1470]

Clean but vicious hit.
No suspension warranted. If true, this is ridiculous.

No word on whether Raphael Diaz should be punched in the face for giving a teammate a hospital pass like that?

And Brandon Prust was all class today, “I don’t care what that bug-eyed, fat walrus has to say,” Prust said of Ottawa coach Paul MacLean.

 

[Petzel]

He was suspended.

 

[maurice93]

Paul McLean deserves all the comments directed his way. He was a disrespectful douche bag last night. I certainly hope no players disrespect themselves by shaking his hand at the end of the series.

As for Gryba he did not deserve a penalty or suspension.

 

[K Douglas]

Paul McLean deserves all the comments directed his way. He was a disrespectful douche bag last night. I certainly hope no players disrespect themselves by shaking his hand at the end of the series.

As for Gryba he did not deserve a penalty or suspension.

I disagree maurice, I don't see how he was disrespectful. He was sticking up for his player. The suspension is bullshit, Shanahan should be ashamed.

 

[maurice93]

I disagree maurice, I don't see how he was disrespectful. He was sticking up for his player. The suspension is bullshit, Shanahan should be ashamed.

Problem is that he did not do that. McLean spent the entire time bashing and blaming diaz and Eller. Couldn't even be bothered to care for eller. Thought he was being super tough cool guy by pretending not to remember eller's name.

If he had merely said Gryba made a clear open ice hit off a bad pass it would have been perfectly fine

I agree on your take of the suspension. The tape was a 60 second spin job

 

[Insidious Von]

Shany blew it.

Gryba didn't charge nor get his elbow up, Eller injured himself when his face hit the ice. Diaz is the goat in this, he left his team mate dangling like a piece of chicken going into the deep fryer.

That's hockey.

 

[GlavaMan]

Might as well rename the NHL the NCL (No Contact League)

And yes, it appears it is worse to make a clean hit (two games) than it is to lay a vicious elbow. (one game)

Shanahan's explanation was weak. The NHL network broke down the play & said Gryba did everything right and did not make head contact first.

If this had been Eller hitting Gryba with the same result, there would be no suspension.

 

[dj1470]

Hard to really believe Michel Thierrien during the press conference. He talked and whined more about Paul MacLean then he did about Eller's injury or the suspension. In fact, he somewhat ducked questions about the suspension. I think people who know hockey think this suspension is wrong. Until hockey is non-contact then hits like Gryba's are 100% legal. Too suspend him just muddied the waters - Shanahan's explanation was laughable. Also interesting to learn that Rob Blake had a large part in determining the suspension? Blake made his living for 15 years in the NHL making hits like Gryba's on a frequent basis.

 

[Insidious Von]

If this is the way hockey is going to be micromanaged then it should be called the National Creampuff League.

 

[Rockslinger]

I have mixe feelings about this incident. Are you allowed to kill a guy if it is a "clean hit"? I remember the late Jack Tatum said that he actually tried to hurt guys on every play and he almost killed (instead of just miamed) Darryl Stingley.

 

[dj1470]

I have mixe feelings about this incident. Are you allowed to kill a guy if it is a "clean hit"? I remember the late Jack Tatum said that he actually tried to hurt guys on every play and he almost killed (instead of just miamed) Darryl Stingley.

In a word? YES! They've all signed the waiver and know what they are getting into being grown men and all.

Jack Tatum? Now that's football and a little different. You hit someone on every play in football with unmitigated violence whereas in hockey you may hit or get hit 8-10 times a game and hits like Gryba's are very rare. Plus Tatum was an animal and perfect for football. I'm sure Dick Butkus and Ray Lewis would say the same thing.

 

[maurice93]

I have mixe feelings about this incident. Are you allowed to kill a guy if it is a "clean hit"? I remember the late Jack Tatum said that he actually tried to hurt guys on every play and he almost killed (instead of just miamed) Darryl Stingley.

They could redefine the current rules (significantly) to make what Gryba did illegal.

But under the current rules, and how the rules have been interpreted its clearly not a suspension. Evidence was how Shanahan really had to spin in his ruling.

 

[Rockslinger]

They could redefine the current rules (significantly) to make what Gryba did illegal.

I think football is the leader in making rules to protect its players. Don Cherry said that Shanahan had no choice but to suspend Gryba. (I guess it's sort of like a motorist mowing down a pedestrian crossing on a red light.)