Sharks' Stuart suspended three games

Brad Stuart has been suspended by the NHL for three games for this hit on Rick Nash. I think it's the right call in this situation. Thoughts on this hit? Do you think the suspension is excessive?

NEW YORK – San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart has been suspended for three games, without pay, for an illegal check to the head of New York Rangers forward Rick Nash during NHL Game No. 44 in San Jose on Tuesday, October 8, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, Stuart will forfeit $55,384.62. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 2:32 of the first period. Stuart was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing.

For a full explanation of the Department of Player Safety's decision, complete with video, please click on the following link. 

Related articles

• NHL Hockey: Brad Stuart has hearing for hit on Rick Nash (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Rangers await ruling on Brad Stuart's hit on Rick Nash (newsday.com)

NHL Hockey: Brad Stuart has hearing for hit on Rick Nash

Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart has a hearing for his brutal, dirty, and unneeded hit on Rick Nash. These are the kinds of hits that the NHL is trying to ban from the game of hockey. Also, Nash was suffering from headaches after the game. Again, there are some people that are appalled by fighting in the NHL, I am appalled by these types of hits.

NHL.COM -- San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart will have a hearing Wednesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for an incident during a game Tuesday night against the New York Rangers at SAP Center.

At 2:32 of the first period, Stuart was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing after a hit on New York forward Rick Nash.

Nash played several more shifts in the first period, but did not return after the first intermission.Rick

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

San Jose won the game, 9-2

Here's my question; do you think that Stuart will be suspended for this hit? If so, how many games? I think this is going to be a 2-3 game ban.

Brad Stuart rocks Gabriel Landeskog

This was the hit that everyone was talking about yesterday. The Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart absolutely destorys the Av's forward Gabriel Landeskog with what appears to be a legal hit. I don't think it's a violation of rule 48. Or is it?

Rule 48 - 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 is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.