If you saw the hit that Raffi Torres of the Vancouver Canucks perpetrated against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, you know it was wrong. Granted, a certain contingent of hockey fans will say that's the way the game was meant to be played. But, given what we now know about head trauma and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a move like that warrants more punishment than two minutes in the box.
↵And Seabrook himself agrees. "With his history, I think that hit deserves a suspension," the 25-year-old told the media today. Here's the full video of his press conference, courtesy of the Tribune's Chicago Breaking Sports:
↵↵Although head coach Joel Quenneville called the hit "brutal" after the game last night. He followed up his comments today by giving the NHL a measured vote of confidence regarding their apparent unwillingness to penalize Torres further. "I have no problem with [how] the league views it. They know the standards, they know the criteria. They do a good job with that." Coach Q did say he thought the hit warranted a major penalty.
↵Will Torres' brutality spark the Blackhawks to a win in Game Four tomorrow? We can only hope. It would make a great story. As things stand, that one play certainly didn't determine the 'Hawks fate this troubled season. But it could come to symbolize their struggles.