CANADIENS COACH MARTY ST.LOUIS AND OTHER MONTREAL PLAYERS ACCUSED JACOB TROUBA OF ‘CHIN-HUNTING’ WITH HIS HIT ON THE HABS’ JUSTIN BARRON. WAS IT A DIRTY PLAY AND SHOULD TROUBA HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED?
The Maven must point out that the NHL has been doing more intensive scrutiny of hits such as Trouba on Barron. There were four officials on the ice as well as the observers in the league’s war room.
No penalty was called on the play, nor was any disciplinary action as a result of the collision. My conclusion is that it was a harsh but clean hit and that’s that. Not that I’m surprised by the Marty St.Louis complaint. That’s virtually automatic when a coach sees his player get whacked like that.
This much is certain; since the hits-to-the-head issue has become front and center in the past few years, the NHL has responded with intense scrutiny with its on-ice personnel as well as its corps of off-ice viewers.
The bottom line remains as follows: physicality is part of hockey’s lure. It was when Gordie Howe played and it remains so now, but with more restrictions than ever. Trouba has been penalized before because he plays an offensively aggressive game and shows no intentions of changing.
End of incident; end of story; and thanks for the question!
