Deryk Engelland Suspended Three Games for Head Check

[VodkaFish]

NEW YORK - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland has been suspended, without pay, for three games for an illegal check to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger during NHL Game #488 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 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, Engelland will forfeit $9,189.18. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 8:55 of the first period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Engelland will miss games Dec. 23 at Winnipeg, Dec. 27 vs. Carolina and Dec. 29 vs. Philadelphia. He will be eligible to return Dec. 31 at New Jersey.

[fcm]

Where's the head check?

[Big Violence]

Wow, 3 games for that hit?? That's a little excessive considering that Engo isn't a repeat offender and not known as being a dirty player. Shanahan is out of control with these suspensions

[Flyers2001]

I thought 3 would be on the high end. I know he didn't get called for a penalty in the game, but it was clear he left his feet and his arms went straight to the head.

This is the exact type of hit the league wants to eliminate. The refs should be taken tot ask for not calling it a penalty, then turning around and giving Scott the package. Their gloves came off same time.

After watching 24/7 and hearing an official basically call a penalty because a player was getting to rough was ridiculous. On ice officials do not have the right to make up the rules, its time the league starts holding officals accountable for thier actions as well.

[Orr4]

The on ice officials have the best point of view for keeping the game safe. This was an intent to injure that they should have penalized. I thought 2 games if you compare it to Lucic hitting Rinaldo, three isn't too far of a stretch for head hunting.

[gongermuskegon]

Last time i checked leaving your feet and making any contact with the head is a penalty, and in the year of shanaban if you mentioned head contact then three games seems like an easy out.

Gordie Howe wouldn't let this sort of play in the league

[Broons66]

I figured at the most two games seeing Engelland's a straight up player with no past history. It must have been the leaving his feet,the lunge,that swayed Shanahan to rule three games. Again,i dont agree with the the way the suits are policing the game.

[nyislesfan45]

It was a shot to the head and a pretty bad hit. Even if it's unintentional, it would be hard to think that the league isn't going to suspend him. Two would suffice but the extra was probably because he's an enforcer.

Now, they should probably look at Kronwall jumping two feet in the air at Kesler..

[gongermuskegon]

These are the hits that are supposed to keep fighting in the league...so thanks for the plugs that sometimes have a hard time pulling their heads out of their a$$'s

[fcm]

Originally Posted by gongermuskegon

Last time i checked leaving your feet and making any contact with the head is a penalty, and in the year of shanaban if you mentioned head contact then three games seems like an easy out.

Gordie Howe wouldn't let this sort of play in the league

The problem is that Engelland didn't left his feet before the hit and I don't think that it was a hit to the head.

[FightingIsGood]

Penalty? Yes.
Suspension? Hell no.

And that's all I'm going to say.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by fcm

The problem is that Engelland didn't left his feet before the hit and I don't think that it was a hit to the head.

He most def. left his feet prior to contact.

[Leafs_Fan18]

And the Wheel of Suspension lands on...

[gongermuskegon]

Agree with you on that fcm but in the shanban cave where replays are only viewed in superslomo, the guy didn't have a chance. It was a bad hit but Kroner's was worse...

[UKRedWing]

Stupid hit.

I don't know why everyone keeps complaining about the suspensions. If these players stopped making these kind of reckless hits there'd be nothing to complain about.

He aimed high and left his feet. He had no defence.