Ian Cole has been suspended 3 games for his hit on Detroit's Abdelkader
Cole delivered the hit on Abdelkader as he carried the puck into the Blues zone midway through Saturday's game. Cole's hit was blown out of proportion with the combination of Abdelkader looking dazed and the Wings calling for a suspension. I dont believe the hit even warranted a 1 game suspension but obviously the NHL thought otherwise.
The head was declared the "principle point of contact" and it was said he "targeted" Abdelkader's head, but then (as pointed out by a few people on Twitter) Shanahan goes on to say that it was unintentional--you determine how that can happen.
The league felt it was a reckless play even though Cole avoided using his elbow and I dont believe Cole was being reckless, I believe Cole misjudged the timing of the hit and wound up hitting the chin of Abdelkader.
The hit was a hit that has to be kept in hockey as an open ice hit like the one Cole delivered can really swing the momentum of the game. Obviously the elbow needs to be kept down and you cant leave your feet, but by eliminating this hit, you are in turn eliminating a key play in hockey.
This play was not dirty and was not reckless it was just bad timing and its an easy mistake to make and most certainly it wasnt worthy of a 3 game suspension.
If the NHL continues down this current path of inconsistency and unfair rulings, it is only hurting itself.
Pretty soon you will begin to see the physical aspect of hockey slowly fade away as players become to worried about the actions of any and every hit.
Shanahan had better come to realize the mistake he and the NHL are making because they could be, in fact, ruining the game of hockey.
NOTE: The Blues will likely call up Cade Fairchild since they are short as far as defenseman go
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