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Jeff Carter Knocks Anssi Salmela Out Cold

In the midst of a gorgeous little goal to put the Devils up 2-0 on the Flyers in the second period on Monday night, Anssi Salmela was knocked out cold following a hit from Jeff Carter. He appeared to lose consciousness before hitting the ice, and the brunt of his visible injuries seemed to come from his impact with the ice. By all accounts, there was a lot of blood on the ice once Salmela was carted off.

My first reaction was that this was a dirty hit. The timing is extremely suspect, and in real time it looks absolutely terrible. When you slow it down and take a look at the replay, it's a little less incriminating. It looks like a shoulder to the head of Salmela instead of an elbow, and the Devil has his head down in a high traffic area.

It wasn't a terribly late hit regardless, but if the argument is that Carter caught Salmela late, the obvious rebuttal is that if Michael Leighton makes the initial save, Salmela is right in front of him to bang home a rebound. Carter took care of that. Otherwise, I would say that this is an unnecessary hit, but given that little nuance it's hard to make that judgment.

Either way, it's a blindside hit, and league officials have stated they're trying to get blindside hits out of the game.

Just as with the Mike Richards hit on David Booth earlier this season, the result is terrible but it's hard to argue that Carter intended to injure Salmela. It would've been a shoulder-on-shoulder check if Salmela didn't have his head down.

We're not going to try to figure out how the NHL levies suspension decisions, but there was no penalty on the play. It basically comes down to which camp you're in. Do you believe that discipline should be handed out based on intent or based on result?

Poll
Does Jeff Carter deserve to be suspended for his hit on Anssi Salmela?
Yes
151 votes
Not sure
60 votes
No
429 votes

640 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 43 comments  |  Add comment |

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you know he will be suspended, we are the flyers

by Ant on Feb 8, 2010 9:44 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

That means nothing. Richards wasn’t suspended for the Booth hit.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Feb 8, 2010 9:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

But not for lack of trying, remember:

Briere got two games because the league was champing on the bit to suspend a Flyer because, as much as they wanted to suspend Mike Richards earlier this month for his hit on Florida’s David Booth, they couldn’t find anything wrong with it within the rules.

Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 8, 2010 9:52 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

we one and he lost.

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Feb 8, 2010 10:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i mean won or maybe carter 1 devils 0

I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.

by Christopher A on Feb 8, 2010 10:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

It was a clean hit, his shoulder doesn’t come up until after he cleaned his clock. It certainly changed the momentum of the game.

by SkookFlyerfan on Feb 8, 2010 10:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

He shouldn’t be suspended, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends getting suspended.

by edbro on Feb 8, 2010 10:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

The TV angle that faces them shows it was in fact not dirty.
From behind it dose not look good at all.
If he dose get 3 games I will not be screaming Conspiracy

by Prometheus74 on Feb 8, 2010 10:16 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree fully. It’s hard to say whether he should or should not be suspended, but if he does get a couple games, it will be hard to argue against it.

This could go both ways, but because it’s the Flyers and Richards got away with the hit on Booth, Bettman will fill the need to overcomensate and suspend Carter.

His missings of the net will be greatly missed for those couple games.

Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".

by JFein on Feb 8, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Its really head to say. In the normal angle it looks like a head shot, but on the two alternate angles it looks like Carter gets more of Salmela’s shoulder. If its a hit to the head, he deserves a suspension. I don’t care what part of your body you use, if you hit a guy in the head, you deserve a suspension. Richards should have been suspended for his hit on Booth.

We shall have to see what the league decides . . .

by flyrsfrk05 on Feb 8, 2010 10:31 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

the replay between 4:44 – 4:52 you can see the guys head is down. I wonder if the game’s emphasis on offense is favoring more finese puck handling which may cause players look down more often then they should to perform more complicated moves. I don’t know if this is the case here. But i ‘ve heard it said that players, younger ones in general are skating with their heads down. I don’t if that’s true or something that is always said year after year when hits like this happen

by j reed on Feb 8, 2010 10:52 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

You have a valid point about why the younger players might be keeping their heads down more than they should because of the emphasis on finesse. Combine that with not having learned to keep their head up yet, and you have a recipe for potential disaster. I hadn’t see it from that perspective before.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 8, 2010 11:55 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well as per Bob McKenzie on TSN said that Carter won’t be suspended, due to Carter didn’t charge or it wasn’t a late hit, as per the reply Bob said that Carter went for the shoulder and connected with the shoulder and then hit his head with the follow through

by freezers23 on Feb 8, 2010 10:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Either way, it’s a blindside hit, and league officials have stated they’re trying to get blindside hits out of the game.

I understand trying to get blatant head shots out of the game, especially where a player has to extend himself to make it. But blind side hits? Is there any open-ice hit that doesn’t catch the puck-bearer off-guard?

If there’s any rationale for suspension here, in my opinion it’s the timing, not the hit to the head. Even then, the timing is a split-second after the puck is released, which is hard to restrict in a fast game like hockey.

...prayers for Haitian victims, world leaders, and God's future for this country...

by NebCanuck on Feb 8, 2010 10:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

And if Leighton makes the save but gives up the rebound, Salmela is right there to follow through with the goal on the 2nd attempt.

It was a good hockey play by Carter, but at the same time, I see why people would want him suspended and it would not surprise me if the NHL does suspend him.

Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".

by JFein on Feb 8, 2010 11:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

good goal…good hit

by asmallvictory31 on Feb 8, 2010 11:08 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Clean hit

The hit was clean, timing was milliseconds apart from puck release to hit, and it was shoulder to shoulder. Hits are hits, and I’ve said before holding up usually just gets you injured, even though I understand and have said for years head shots are bad. As Flyer’s fans, we’ve seen our team deal with some major consequences from hard checks, not necessarily cheap or illegal (but maybe), so I don’t think the argument that “he’s a Flyer” should hold up anywhere, least of all in the league offices.

That said, I am still worried about the consistency. The lack of goals is alarming, seeing as we went thru this same type of drought when our losing streak started before.

Also want to know why Hartnell thinks he can make passes Forsberg wouldn’t try. He plays so hard, then throws a pass to no one at the point, or thru three defenders cross ice. Seems when they are winning and scoring, they are making good decisions between shooting or passing, but then loose that ability for periods or games at a time. Really hard to figure. Any thoughts?

by JerseyDriver on Feb 8, 2010 11:30 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Maybe his locks are impeding his vision.

by Ben Feldman on Feb 8, 2010 11:49 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

JJ shaved his mustache, can’t we get Hartnell to donate his hair to Locks of Love or something, so we don’t have to complain about it anymore?

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 8, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Its not even a hit from behind, Carter hits him from the side.

Its one of the best hits of the year.

by MarioD on Feb 8, 2010 11:44 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i don’t know about hits of the year-i kind of reserve that for hits that knock a player down, but not out like that. like lindros when he hit konstantinov and that russian couldn’t skate right afterwords.

Eat what the monkey eats, then eat the monkey. -U.S. Navy survival guidance

by psudrozz on Feb 9, 2010 12:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Wouldnt seem so dirty if it hadnt followed a goal. He DID have his head down. I feel it was clean. Probably a game or two suspension IF ANY.

by chillicothe20 on Feb 8, 2010 11:49 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I hope this doesn’t stop Carter from being physical. It was awesome to see him finally use his size. Great, great hit! Great game!

by Will21 on Feb 9, 2010 12:03 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Ditto. Size is something you have to use to your advantage.

by Kanayd on Feb 9, 2010 12:37 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Regardless of whether it actually turns out to be clean or dirty, based on his symptoms I think the kid has a concussion and that may weigh into the league’s decision (even if the concussion was caused more by hitting the ice).

This is the article from NHL.com:

Carter’s shoulder impacted heavily against Salmela’s head, knocking him unconscious. He spun him through the air and landed face-first on the ice just to the right of the Flyers’ goal.
Salmela laid face down on the ice for several minutes being treated by medical personnel from both teams. He was moving his legs before being strapped to a stretcher and taken off the ice. He received more treatment in the locker room, but felt good enough that he didn’t need to go to the hospital.
“I said I feel pretty good, so he (doctor) said I don’t have to go (to the hospital),” said Salmela. “I’m going to see doctors tomorrow. We’ll see how I feel.”
The only damage was a few fresh stitches on the bridge of his nose — likely from his visor when he landed on the ice — and a chipped front top left tooth.
Salmela said he had almost no recollection of what happened.
“Not much from the goal,” he said. “I didn’t even remember at first that I scored. But now I’m getting little more clear. … I’m getting better now. Just a bit of a headache but I think everything else is good. Just lucky.”

He’s got every warning sign, so I’m expecting it, even if it turns out to be very minor.

On the bright side, the same article contains a quote from Jacques Lemaire saying he doesn’t blame Carter for the hit, so maybe it’ll cancel out.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 9, 2010 12:09 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

It’s like a crossing route over the middle in football…there’s more risked invovled and either your a tight end whose mass can offset the energy of the collision more effectively than the more svelte, agile wide receiver or you are that receiver and you better be stituationally aware. Is it any wonder why receivers in this position drop passes right to them without being hit. Keeping your head down in hockey I imagine is not a safe way to skate which need not be an issue as keeping your head up I would think, allows you to see and respond more quickly to the play around you.

by j reed on Feb 9, 2010 12:15 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

The nonchalant way Carter did it too. It didn’t look like he put any effort it. Why doesn’t he hit more often?

by ToddtheFox on Feb 9, 2010 12:18 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

maybe it is his height.?….his shoulder might be at the head of alot players because he tall and therefore he is more reluctant in fear of drawing a penalty or hurting someone.

by j reed on Feb 9, 2010 12:23 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

i was thinking about his height too. carter’s listed at 6’3". salmela at 6’1". not a big difference there, so maybe not so much the height as i initially thought.

i do think too many people in the league make themselves too vulnerable now (specifically turning their back to a hit, turning it into a boarding call), but have no good answer on how to fix this. need to prevent things like this though, somehow. back to pre-lockout hockey?

by jhamer85 on Feb 9, 2010 12:34 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

and j reed, i understand your post now, a reason why carter doesn’t hit more often. so my reply isn’t too relevant to your post

by jhamer85 on Feb 9, 2010 12:35 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think he should be blame for the hit

But I feel it should like high stick, you’re responsible of your stick, so you should also be responsible of your hit

by MathB on Feb 9, 2010 12:34 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

maybe richards should be suspended for blowing his coverage. if he plays like the selke finalist like he was last year, salmela doesn’t get around him, doesn’t get to the front of the net, doesn’t get hit by carter, doesn’t get hurt, and doesn’t (or at least delays) score a goal

by jhamer85 on Feb 9, 2010 12:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Honestly, nothing wrong with that hit. If he’s suspended, the league is in the crapper. This is hockey….. these new kids want to play with their heads down like Lindros, they’re gonna get belted like Lindros.

After playing over two decades in many different levels…..I don’t know what a penalty is in this league anymore. Just yesterday, in the Pens/Caps game, ref called a slash when the puck carrier wasn’t within 15 feet of anyone…. but when he went to pass his stick broke (like the new one piece sticks like to, halfway up the shaft). Ref called a slash. My best friend and I were laughing…. like “on who??”

Carter has a right to make a hit there, and he hit the shoulder. The results of the hit shouldn’t dictate the suspension, the rules should.

by Dinky on Feb 9, 2010 2:44 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

This is hockey….. these new kids want to play with their heads down

I just watched it again in real time on NHL channel. The guy’s head is down the whole time, way before he even takes the shot. Interestingly, I watched our goals and everyone’s heads are up whether shooting or passing or skating into position. The commentators didn’t mention it the kid’s head position or that Carter was preventing him from a second chance had it rebounded. They also neglected the fact that Carter doesn’t have a reputation for these hard hits. But they did say it was legal.

by j reed on Feb 9, 2010 9:03 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Consults DGB league suspension flow chart

2 games.

Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com

by HockeyOutsiders on Feb 9, 2010 9:31 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

2 games? i saw it as 0. carter is a superstar (right?) and has no prior history (right?) so the chart goes to no suspension. unless we’re talking about different flow charts

http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2009/11/nhl-suspensions.html

by jhamer85 on Feb 9, 2010 11:24 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Same chart, I think it just depends on whether or not the NHL is currently willing to classify him as a superstar or not; I guess it matters how exclusive the person reading the chart feels that the superstar definition is. If they classify him a second liner it would be two games. But there’s no middle option between “superstar” and “second or third liner” in the chart, so if the chart reader is somebody who only defines “superstar” as the top 10 or so players in the league, you get a lot of guys in that grey area in between. I would expect people to choose the superstar option, but it’s totally subjective.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 9, 2010 11:59 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

well, i drafted Carter in the first round, 4th overall in my fantasy hockey league, so i think that would classify him as a superstar

by jhamer85 on Feb 10, 2010 3:06 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Or it would classify you as a person who over-rates players based on his homerism

by ToddtheFox on Feb 10, 2010 4:09 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

one of the top goal scorers last year? and we count shots on goal as a stat. my pick was pretty in-line with yahoo’s projection. how was anyone to know carter would think the net above the glass was just as good as the net behind the pipes this year?

by jhamer85 on Feb 10, 2010 8:13 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

That’s where the crux of the problem would be…. does the hypothetical observer in question define him as a superstar because of his goal scoring last year, or do they rule it as a fluke because of troubles this year and therefore no longer put him in that category? All I as saying was that arguments can be made for both sides and it was subjective, not how I personally feel.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 10, 2010 9:29 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I wouldn’t call him a superstar. Hopefully one day he’ll get there. btw, I still have Gagne so I know about over-rating based on homerism/man crush

by ToddtheFox on Feb 10, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

You can see Carter coming into the zone, he is just coasting at first. He’s definitely not lining him up. If Salmela or Carter meet a split second later, it’s a beautiful shoulder to shoulder hit. Regardless, need to see Carter hitting more often. He’s got too much size and strength too not use it

by Vansteel on Feb 9, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions   0 recs


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