It is profoundly silly that we even have to have this discussion, but the collective whining of worst fanbase west of Philadelphia demands it.
Here are the facts:
- Tom Wilson, a large person, and one of the best open ice hitters of the generation, obliterated Zach Aston-Reese with an open ice hit at the Capitals bench.
- The two players made eye contact, and both braced for the impending hit.
- Wilson made contact with Aston-Reese's jaw, injuring the latter on the play, while ending up in the Capitals bench.
Here is Rule 48 of the NHL rule book:
Illegal Check to the Head
48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an
opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and
such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
In determining whether contact with an opponent's head was
avoidable, the circumstances of the hit including the following shall be
considered:
(i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the
opponent’s body and the head was not "picked" as a result of poor
timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the
body upward or outward.
SECTION 6 – PHYSICAL FOULS
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE OFFICIAL RULES 2017-2018
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(ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by
assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full
body check unavoidable.
(iii) Whether the opponent materially changed the position of his body
or head immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit in a way
that significantly contributed to the head contact.
Here is why Wilson should not be suspended:
Per (i), Wilson clearly attempted to hit squarely through the opponent's body. Aston-Reese was slow to get his shoulder up, so he was unsuccessful at protecting himself. The timing on Wilson's behalf was great, the angle of approach was nearly head-on, and the extension of the body upward was not unnecessary - it was a normal hitting action. Wilson dropped his shoulder moments before making contact and followed through. The head was not targeted or "picked".
Per (ii), the opponent did not exactly put himself in a vulnerable position, but he was skating low as he tried to beat Beagle to the angle to get up ice. While this does not excuse head contact, it does mitigate the unavoidability aspect of an otherwise full body check, which this was.
Per (iii), the opponent did not change his head or body position in a way that contributed at all to head contact.
Our interpretation of the hit is that Wilson targeted a skater who was trying to get up ice, with a heads up shoulder to shoulder hit that resulted in an ostensibly serious injury (we wonder about the validity of the alleged seriousness of the injury) to his opponent. Aston-Reese saw the hit coming and attempted to brace himself. Wilson, having dropped his shoulder, followed through by extending upwards, driving his momentum into his opponent in an honest attempt to separate the player from the puck. Wilson did not stride into his opponent, as he had been gliding for approximately 15 feet at the point of contact, and was otherwise not moving quickly.
