Even with some spectacular games and finishes last night, many people in the hockey world were focused on an incident that happened behind the net in the Florida Panthers-Vancouver Canucks game. After putting his talents on display again, by eluding several defenders, Elias Pettersson was run into the boards by Florida defenseman Michael Matheson, who then seemed to throw the young Vancouver star into the ice. Pettersson, one of the lightest players in the league, was injured on the play and had trouble even getting to his feet before leaving the game.
Immediately there was outcry from the Canucks faithful that Matheson deserves a suspension, and today Darren Dreger of TSN tweeted that the league is indeed reviewing the incident. As of this writing no hearing has been offered to the Panthers defenseman, but many believe he should be facing several games for something that could be construed as “intent to injure.” Vancouver head coach Travis Green certainly seems to think so, repeatedly saying after the game that it was a “dirty play.”
There are of course many who oppose the idea of any supplemental discipline for Matheson, saying that the incident looked worse than it actually was because of Pettersson’s slight frame. Though officially listed at 176-lbs, the rookie phenom may well weigh even less than that and certainly doesn’t have the sort of size or strength of many around the league. Incidentally neither really does Matheson, who is listed at 193-lbs himself and is not regarded as an overly physical player.
It’s easy to see the arguments on both sides, but what do you think? Should Matheson be given a suspension for the play last night? Does the fact that he was not even penalized on the play come into the decision, or the fact that Pettersson suffered an injury? Vote below and share your thoughts about the incident in the comment section.
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I don’t think so. There was obviously nothing wrong with he hit, and although I didn’t like the slam, I think it does happen more than people think. It was an unfortunate outcome but I don’t see how it was intent to injure. If it was a 200 pound forward instead nobody would be talking about this.
The last time I checked, body-slamming an opponent, especially with intent to injure, is not permissible in the NHL. If Matheson is going to be embarrassed by players undressing him on the ice this early in the season (twice by Pettersson in one shift in this game) then his career is not going to last much longer. The era of goons in the NHL is pretty well done too.
This should have simply been a roughing penalty at most. It’s not Matheson’s fault the kid cant handle a little punishment from a vet.
If a kid is out running around the ice making everyone look slow, you have to slow him down somehow lol
So you think that hits like Bertuzzi’s sucker-punch on Steve Moore should be allowed in the NHL? I don’t get your point.
How do you possibly see this play and equate it to the Bertuzzi one?
I think this could go either way. From the Canucks side it makes sense why they’d be mad, but from the side of Matheson and the Panthers you can see why they don’t believe it was that bad.
Physically attacking another player with intent to injure is not exactly a part of the game.
I don’t think the play itself is dirty, as Green described it was. We see that kind of play all the time and penalties are hardly(if ever) called. If Pettersson gets right back up or even returns to the game later on, we aren’t even talking about a suspension.
The only thing that is worthy of suspension is whether or not he actually intended to hurt Pettersson. That part is very debatable but also hard to actually prove. Either way, if he is suspended, it should not be for the play itself but for his intentions on the play.
Over 77% of those polled on this play will disagree with you. A suspension is deserved.
A lot of people thought Anthony Barr’s hit on Aaron Rodgers was dirty and now they’re crying because the league has begun penalizing it en masse. While this looks rather agressive just be careful what you ask for in regards to the league punishing guys, we might wind up where anytime someone is thrown to the ice being a penalty. It deserves a penalty in game for roughing and a fine for the level of aggression and risk of injury.
He’ll likely get a game or two simply because Pettersson was hurt. The NHL really only suspends if the play results in some sort of injury. If Elias gets up, this is a complete non-issue and this article and thread do not exist. This exact play happens all the time. PK Subban has been doing this exact play for nearly 10 years and not one of them has resulted in him being suspended or even warranted discussion about suspension. Hell, Drew Doughty dropped Jesperi Kotkaniemi in nearly identical fashion the other night. The difference between the plays? Kotkaniemi got right back up and wasn’t hurt therefore no one batted an eyelash.
As I originally said, if Matheson is suspended, it’s because the league determined he did in fact intend to injure Pettersson and not for the actual play itself.
If that draws a suspension then we can start seeing suspensions almost nightly. Sucks he got hurt but people get hurt on legal checks all the time. Rough game. I just didn’t seeing anything besides a legal check in there.
No, if that play draws a suspension then we will start to see less of these dirty hits in the NHL. I find it odd how the few people on this board support goon hockey…that era is over.
I think it’s because everybody realizes this was an unfortuanate outcome with a strong player and one of the smallest in the league. I wouldn’t exactly call Matheson a “goon” or even say this was a goon like play. It was simply just a mismatch that Matheson probably misread.
You need to watch the video a few more times my man. Saying it was a “mismatch” as if it was some unfortunate event is incorrect. Dude slammed dude into the ice and clearly concussed him.
Dirty as hell play.
That play happens a lot more than you expect. I believe 100 percent Matheson had no bad intentions
And to assume that I (and others) like “goon hockey” because of this borderline play is laughable. I hate guys taking up roster spots because they can get rough. Save your outrage for a play that’s worse than this, because you’re going to see dozens over the course of this season.
Don’t know who it would be specifically…but someone on the Canucks better make that dude answer. Dirty hit for sure. If the league does nothing about it, his teammates better.
Agree the hit wasnt itself dirty and I love hitting in hockey. I actually think they have gone too far in the suspensions for hits that look pretty ok but throwing someone on their head is. If this would have happened to Johnny Gaudreau would Matheson have been tossed out? yes because Gaudreau is a smaller guy and skilled but he is also SHORT. So they are both roughly the same weight but because Petersson is skinny he doesnt get the same treatment? Lots of kids are coming into the league at 19 now and no they are obviously not going to be as strong as the vets, and if they lose a puck battle or get nailed with a good hit then fine but grabbing and tossing someone directly on their head because they don’t weigh enough? come on
No.
The hit itself was dirty. The follow through however was. Attempting to slam the guy through the ice on the follow through is an attempt to injure. He will see a 1 or 2 game sit down.