3:52 PM: Forsberg has been suspended for three games, the Department of Player Safety announced (video link). He will be eligible to return on Saturday, February 10th.
8:36 AM: The Department of Player Safety announced today that Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg will have a hearing today for his hit on New York Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey during the Predators’ Saturday’s 5-2 win.
The incident happened during the second period of the game in which Forsberg skated backwards behind the net and collided with Vesey, leaving the second-year forward a bloody mess. Video link here.
There was no penalty called on the hit during the game. The highly debated hit brings many questions as it looks like Forsberg leaves his feet to make the hit and his elbow connects with Vesey’s face, suggesting it was malicious in nature.
Forsberg should be punished as should Emelin for his hit on Staal. Emelin left his feet and Staal did not return to the game.
On the Forsberg hit, not only did he leave his feet but once Vesey returned to the game he was pulled off by the leagues concussion specialist.
Forsberg barely leaves his feet on the play and you could argue him leaving his feet was to brace himself a little. Their is obvious intent as he never makes a play for the puck, but its not a dirty hit either, and Forsberg’s eyes never really leave Vesey. If Forsberg skated forward normally, there would be more justification for a suspension. But because Forsberg turns around, the hit isn’t as malicious as it could’ve been (injury to Vesey aside). One game suspension tops, any more is a punishment for injuring Vesey moreso than for a bad/dirty hit.
Didn’t think forsberg was that type of player
Doesn’t seem like that bad of a hit to me, maybe bad enough for a fine, and I’m a Red Wings fan.
The hit itself isn’t bad, its just about everything else that caused Forsberg to get a suspension. Vesey getting hurt didn’t help Forsberg’s case, but there was clear intent to hit Vesey (outside of the allowable “legal” time frame for interference) and Forsberg never made a play on the puck. He leaves his feet a little and definitely is aiming with his shoulder/elbow as opposed to his hip/back. If Forsberg never switches to a back skate, the hit is probably more forceful but he could at least make the argument that he was going for the puck and it was an accidental collision. Because he turns around after the puck was already dumped up the boards and is looking for/at Vesey the entire time, its obvious Forsberg never had an intention of making a play on the puck. Three games seems like a bit much (and I’m saying this as a Rangers fan), but if you’re judging completely off Forsberg’s intent on the play, its clear that Forsberg’s intent was never to play the puck.
Forsberg doesn’t leave his feet when delivering the hit. His momentum lifts him as the hit is delivered. Forsberg has no history & Vesey had his head down. It is a one-game suspension, not a three-game. I’ve seen far worse hits this season that didn’t draw suspensions. Dustin Brown’s on Justin Schultz’ comes to mind as one (and I hate the Penguins). Gudas’ WWE move the other night is another. NHL Player Safety has no consistency at all with their suspensions.
Preach