Richard zednik

[Guest starvenger]

Did you see that?  I'm not sure how hard Kyle McLaren elbowed him, but considering how hard elbow pads are nowadays, it wouldn't take much to KO someone.  And if the elbow didn't do it, the ice definitely did.  

 

What do you think McLaren's gonna get for that?

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

McLaren will probably get a pretty long suspension because of the fact that Zednik got hurt, but I have a few problems with this:

 

1. It wasn't an elbow, it was a stiff arm, and Zednik just happened to hit the elbow (the center).

 

2. Here's the big one. His arm was below his shoulder line. McLaren is a lot bigger than Zednik. Were the hit thrown on a guy like Lindros or Chara, it would be a regular stiff-arm to the chest and nothing more. But in this case Zednik is cutting low and gets hit in the face by a guy bigger than he is. Suppose that McLaren wasn't out of position and hit him head on with a body check. Then it's likely he hits Zednik square in the face with his shoulder (ala Kasparitis on Lindros a few years ago), and it's a perfectly clean hit that could do just as much damage. I think it's a shame that the NHL is going to start punishing guys because they throw relatively clean hits on players that are a lot smaller than they are and those guys get injured.

[Guest treble charged]

McLaren will probably get a pretty long suspension because of the fact that Zednik got hurt, but I have a few problems with this:

 

1. It wasn't an elbow, it was a stiff arm, and Zednik just happened to hit the elbow (the center).

 

2. Here's the big one. His arm was below his shoulder line. McLaren is a lot bigger than Zednik. Were the hit thrown on a guy like Lindros or Chara, it would be a regular stiff-arm to the chest and nothing more. But in this case Zednik is cutting low and gets hit in the face by a guy bigger than he is. Suppose that McLaren wasn't out of position and hit him head on with a body check. Then it's likely he hits Zednik square in the face with his shoulder (ala Kasparitis on Lindros a few years ago), and it's a perfectly clean hit that could do just as much damage. I think it's a shame that the NHL is going to start punishing guys because they throw relatively clean hits on players that are a lot smaller than they are and those guys get injured.

Well, that theory makes little sense, as he shouldn't go around stiff arming guys smaller than him in the face.  As for it being a relatively clean hit, I really have to disagree with you there.  Anything less than 5 games for that is a slap on the wrist, as it is up there with Domi's elbow from last year, IMO.

[Guest Phr33k]

Relatively clean? He could've taken Zednik's head clear off! At least the rest of the playoffs, PLUS 15 games at the start of the next season. At the VERY least. Watch out, Samsonov, Thornton, Murray, Dafoe... the Habs will be out for blood on Saturday, and they WILL take out a top-notch Bruin. And they have Kyle McLaren to thank for it.

[Guest Brush with Greatness]

McLaren was looking to drill Zednik and he didn't care whether or not he took a penalty at that point in the game.  Maybe he did not want to make the hit as dirty as it was but either way he was going headhunting.

 

Any headshot in hockey should be a penalty.  Now there is a difference between a guy skating into your shoulder, but a lot of hits, including all of Scott Stevens, involved the elbow snapping after contact is made with the shoulder.

 

It was definitely one of the dirtiest hits I've seen where the player getting hit has the puck.  Not as bad as Domi-Niedermayer or Hunter-Turgeon where they drilled guys nowhere near the play but a very dirty hit regardless.

 

My prediction is 5 games.  If it was regular season, it would probably be twice that but playoffs games are more important.  Seems like a nice trade-off considering Zedniks absence could cost the Habs the series.

[Guest gthureson]

He will get five games.

 

He was headhunting, which the league wants to crack down on.  However, he are the differences between Domi and McLaren.

 

Zednik had the puck.   Niedermeyer did not.   Zednik was the play, Niedermeyer was so far away from the play that they had it wasn't even caught by refs immediately.

 

Habs fans want McLaren out of the league.  Thats fine, they are Hab fans, I expect it.   And while it was a viscious straight arm, I don't know if it was technically even illegal.   He didn't hit him with the elbow.  He didn't leave his feet.   He didn't take more than three strdes.   Yes, it was intent to injure, which is an automatic match, which is five games.

 

If the Habs want to up the ante in the next game and go after people, they will lose that battle.  They are much smaller, and I can guarantee you that the refs will keeping a lid on things early.   Guys will get tossed if they start headhunting.   And after Odjick and Quintal, who do the Habs have that can lay a pounding on people?  Souray is a bit big, but he uses his stick alot.   Thats asking to get kicked out and suspended.

 

If Montreal wants to play a highly physical game, the Bruins can beat them at it.

[Guest Kingpk]

McLaren will probably sit out the last 2 or 3 games of this series (depends on if there is a game 7), and probably the first one or two games of their next series, if they advance.

 

McLaren's hit was actually kinda clean, like gutherson said, I think he just panicked when Zednik made a move towards the goal and threw his arm out.

 

I'd hate to be a ref for game 5, I'll tell you that right now.