The hockey world is abuzz after Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj delivered a bone-jarring hit to Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle during a preseason game. The hit, which left Stutzle with a cut on his nose and forced him to leave the game, has ignited a fierce debate among fans and pundits alike. While Xhekaj was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety opted not to issue any further discipline.
A Bang-Bang Play or a Premeditated Act?
The incident occurred in the second period when Stutzle was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Xhekaj stepped up and delivered a thunderous check that sent Stutzle sprawling to the ice. While the principal point of contact appeared to be Stutzle’s chest, the force of the hit and the fact that Stutzle’s head snapped back raised concerns about its legality.
Some argue that Xhekaj’s hit was a clean, hard hockey play, albeit one with unfortunate consequences. They point to the fact that Stutzle was in a vulnerable position and that Xhekaj’s primary contact was with his chest, not his head.
Others, however, believe that the hit was dirty and deserving of a suspension. They argue that Xhekaj targeted Stutzle’s head and that the force of the hit was excessive. Some have even suggested that the hit was motivated by a desire for revenge after Senators forward Ridly Greig injured Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher in a previous preseason game.
NHL Fans Weigh In
The Xhekaj hit has become a hot topic on social media, with fans expressing a wide range of opinions. Some have defended Xhekaj, arguing that he was simply playing the game hard and that Stutzle needs to be more aware of his surroundings. Others have condemned the hit, calling it reckless and dangerous.
“I love Arber and the Canadiens, but that was a garbage hit and deserves discipline,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Of course not, he went through the chest, not a head shot,” another fan countered. “Stutzle is just great at putting on a show.”
My Take
As someone who has been around the game of hockey my entire life, I can’t help but feel that Xhekaj’s hit crossed the line. While I don’t believe that he intentionally set out to injure Stutzle, I do think that he was reckless and that the hit was avoidable. In today’s NHL, where player safety is paramount, I believe that a suspension would have been warranted.
The NHL’s Decision
Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to suspend Xhekaj rested with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. After reviewing the play, they determined that no further discipline was necessary. This decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the league for its consistency and others criticizing it for being too lenient.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is clear: Xhekaj’s hit on Stutzle has once again brought the issue of player safety to the forefront. As the NHL season gets underway, it will be interesting to see how the league handles similar incidents in the future.
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the blindsided late hit directly to the jaw that Greig threw on Dach in the first was a worse hit, similar style, and set the tone – for some reason that hit got reduced to 2 minutes even though head was the first point of contact, yet Xhekaj’s 5 stands when he hits the guys stick? It’s a complete joke… the haters will always put blinders on to hate on the Sheriff – the replays were clear and obvious for both hits.
Xhekaj doesn’t make any head contact… he should of got 2 minutes and Brady should of got his 2, 5, and 10 for instigating a fight in retaliation as is the norm…. officiating is already a huge problem again.