Malone Suspension Imminent?

A hit like that, don't even try to excuse it

 by John Fontana on Oct 2, 2011 10:47 AM PDT in Lightning Team News 

I'm not so sure. On this subject I will respectfully disagree with my gracious host and most of the hockey world. 

One Man's opinion.....

Malone's head shot?

I've watched this video at least two dozen times and while I think there could be a suspension, I'm not convinced there should be. Here’s what I see. 

In Shanahan's video explanations, he references rule 48.1 which states:

  “A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head, where the head is targeted and is the principal point of contact, is not permitted.”

 It’s my opinion that the head was not targeted. I feel even stronger that the head was not the principal point of contact. I think it’s clear the shoulder was the principal point of contact.In game time speed this hit looks ugly. It looks like most everybody thinks it is. A clear head shot. However watch the overhead view starting at about 40 seconds. Watch it a few times. It’s hard to determine contact with the head at all.

 Starting the video at 52 seconds shows another angle. While it looks ugly as well, I don’t know how one concludes contact with the head. Look closely at Malone’s elbow. It’s held tightly against his body. Had it been up, one could positively say the head was targeted.

 The view at 1:07 is the best view. Malone has his elbow tucked tight against his body. The principal point of contact is Malone’s hip against Campoli’s upper arm and shoulder. This view also shows Malone’s right arm just above the elbow, coincidently making contact with Campoli’s head. Major contact from Malone’s hip to upper arm and shoulder. Minor contact with Malone’s upper arm to Campoli’s head.

 Please watch the 1:07 view again. Watch it several times. Contact to the head is secondary and, in my opinion, minor.

 If you have watched Brendan Shanahan’s video explanations of why players were suspended you will see he refers to several factors. First of all – Rule 48.1 as stated earlier.

“A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head, where the head is targeted and is the principal point of contact, is not permitted.”

 Watching the video I think it's clear the head was not targeted. If Ryan Malone had targeted Chris Campoli’s head, his elbow would have been up. I think the view at 1:07 of the video clearly shows the principal point of contact was Malones hip and Campoli’s shoulder and upper arm.

 Another item Shanahan has mentioned in several of his video’s

 “There should be full body contact, not just the head.”

Watch the video at 1:07. I thinks it's clear. 

Shanahan has also mentioned  that when looking at a hit, it will be determined if the hit was intentional or reckless. Here’s where I think Ryan Malone might have a problem. Was the hit intentional? Of course it was. It’s a hockey game not a tennis match. Was contact to the head intentional? Hardly.

 Reckless?       Compared to what?  If Ryan Malone gets suspended the hit will be called reckless simply because I can’t see it called anything else. I'm not even convinced it was reckless. 

I have great respect for Brendan Shanahan. Very recently I commented on Shanahan under the topic 

Question of the Week: Brendan Shanahan and the Suspension Videos

I stated "Shanahan is providing a certain clarity that didn’t exist in previous years. The fact he’s making these videos public speaks volumes for his courage and commitment to fair and just punishment. It also takes a large pair to open yourself up to potentially intense scrutiny. I find it very refreshing!"

In Ryan Malone's case,  I'm sure he will make a fair decision. I just hope he looks closely at this one,