The Wings’ injury troubles are mounting as one of the team’s most consistent players, Johan Franzen, has a concussion after being hit by Willie Mitchell during the first period of tonight’s 4-3 OT loss to Vancouver. As Ansar Khan reports, we don’t know how long he’ll be out. You have to think he won’t be back this weekend, though.
Like Khan, I’m beginning to become concerned that this team, though more physical than any Red Wings team since ‘97, doesn’t have the toughness to really stand up to the opposition. Maybe keeping Valtteri Filppula over Brad Norton wasn’t such a good idea after all.
I have not seen the game yet - having gone to see Casino Royale instead - so I haven’t seen the hit and therefore can’t comment on it. I have it on tape, though, and will be watching it either tonight or tomorrow morning, so expect a full reaction from me in the afternoon.
I was watching the game and to me the hit appeared to be quite similar to the Torres hit on Williams. Mickey Redmond kept talking about how that kind of thing wouldn’t have happened in his day. They interviewed Schneider between periods and he said “You have to respect your opponent.” Basically that’s how I see it. While the hit is technically legal (though I don’t see why you couldn’t get a roughing penalty for taking a run at someone’s head…), it’s still something that shouldn’t be happening. It’s clearly dangerous and as the guy delivering the hit, you’ve got to make an effort to avoid head contact. Maybe they’re not specifically gunning for the head, but they’re not trying to avoid it either and that’s hardly any better. Mickey suggested that the NHL should change the rules to make such a hit illegal. I would have to agree on that. It’s only a matter of time before someone really gets hurt. At least there was a penalty given this time - interference - but only because the puck was already gone at the time of the hit. Hopefully the repeated occurrence will force the NHL to examine the issue further and make some changes before it happens again.