Thoughts on Tootoo / Colaiacovo Hit

After viewing the hit several times, tweeting my thoughts both ways, I’ve come to a conclusion.

Borderline dirty.
Very dangerous.
Not a (clear) head shot under the new rule.
Bad decision, but typical for Tootoo.

For those of you confused… Predators forward Jordin Tootoo laid a dangerous hit on Blues defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo late in the the third period of the Blues 3-0 victory Thursday night.

Please follow the link and take a look.

My initial reaction was: “Blindside, but not a head shot per the new rules”.

I watched it 2-3 more times last night which reinforced my conclusion. Then I watched it 5-6 more times this morning.

It appears that Tootoo left his feet and made contact with the shoulder en route to the head region. Colaiacovo was making the turn around the net as he gathered the puck. There appears to be no attempt to play the puck. As soon as the hit is made, Tootoo just stops.

Like he knows what’s coming.

Comparing Tootoo’s hit to Kris Letang’s on Blake Comeau, there is a difference. Letang leads with the stick and continues with the play. Or it looks like he would have if play wasn’t stopped. In that game the refs got it wrong. Head shot rule enacted and Letang was ejected.

In the Tootoo hit he is leading with the shoulder. Which is fine assuming the hit lands on Carlo’s shoulder and Tootoo goes for the puck. That didn’t happen.

His lack of reaction speaks volumes of his intent. He wasn’t trying to make a hockey play, he was looking for more.

Yes, Colaiacovo’s head was down. It has to be to see the puck. The position he was in was highly vulnerable and Tootoo took liberties with another players safety. He saw the play develop (from the top of the right wing circle) and made a b-line straight to Carlo.

If Carlo is in a defensible position and gets his bell rung…no worries…it’s a hockey play and injuries just happen. That’s not the case here.

I’m not calling for his head or a suspension. Per the rules, the hit received fair punishment in my opinion. A 5 minute major and an ejection. FSMW Color Analyst Darren Pang said the War Room in Toronto agreed with the call on the ice.

I just go back to Ryan Miller’s comments following Pominville’s injury. When will the culture changes? When will players change?

For the love of hockey, keep the hits and fighting, but be “a man” about it. Don’t come in out of a guys blind spot and destroy him. He is trying to earn a living in the same sport we all love.

If this was Cam Janssen on Kevin Klein, Predators fans would be up in arms. So let’s not get in to a “pot v kettle” debate. That goes for Blues and Preds fans.

Will the league do anything? Should they?

Possibly, but only because Tootoo has a history and his recent sucker punch on Ryan Reaves. Darren Dreger of TSN responded to a BlueNoteZone tweet stating that it was a dangerous play, but don’t expect additional league action.

I have to say that I am in agreement.

Borderline dirty…very dangerous…not a clear head shot…par for the course…