Vancouver Canucks Defenseman Alex Edler suspended 3-games for illegal hit

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler, a repeat offender was given a Shannaban for this dirty and bush league hit on Sharks forward Tomas Hertl, who's taken the NHL by storm with his play so far this season. Hertl has scored (6g-1a--7pts) in four games this season and scored four goals in one game against the New York Rangers.  My question is; did Edler target Hertl to make a point, or is Edler just a just a dirty player that finally got burned for making a dirty hit? Thoughts?

NEW YORK – Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler has been suspended for three games, without pay, for an illegal check to the head of San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl during NHL Game No. 56 in Vancouver on Thursday, October 10, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Edler is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, he will forfeit $182,926.83. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 19:46 of the second period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

NHL Hockey: Do you have a problem with the Thomas Hertl goal?

So, do you have an issue with the goal that Sharks forward Thomas Hertl scored against the New York Rangers? I don't know, I don't have a problem with this per se, it's over celebrating, but some players do that on every single goal that they score. I can think of a particular college hockey team that does that.

Apparently, the Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates does.

Capitals Coach Adam Oates can appreciate the cool play, but sides with those who don’t see that type of goal as appropriate.

“I’m upset. I was just talking to George [McPhee] and he said all the kids do that nowadays, which I understand. But would he have done it on his first goal?” Oates said. “He hasn’t scored yet tonight and he gets a breakaway, is he going to do that

Sure, Hertl is showboating, but he does score an amazing goal. I suppose during the old days, someone would have come up and pounded on Hertl, or not. I am not sure if the Capitals have the moral high ground either. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal and then dropped his stick and pretended it was too hot to pick up.