Weight's Hit Center of Controversy

There's been a ton of talk out there regarding the hit New York Islander Doug Weight put on Carolina Hurricane Brandon Sutter during the third period of Saturday night's game near center ice. Sutter received a concussion and an overnight stay at a Long Island hospital out of the deal; Weight, on the other hand, got nothing--the hit was legal, if not gruesome.

To sum it up, Sutter, a rookie, was reaching out with his stick for the puck and had his head down when Weight clocked him. Sutter fell like a sack of potatoes.

According to columnist E.J. Hradek: "I don't mean to blame the victim, but skaters have to protect themselves. In Sutter's case, that means keeping his head up. I feel bad even writing that, but it's a simple and sometime hard-learned lesson in a contact sport."

In some ways, I agree. Hockey is a contact sport, and perhaps the most dangerous considering the game is played on ice, the players have steel knives strapped to the bottom of their feet and are armed with long sticks shooting vulcanized rubber upwards of 100 m.p.h. You wouldn't exactly want to be skipping through center ice with your puppy by your side during the middle of a game. You have to expect big hits and projectiles and play somewhat defensively for your own health's sake. That being said, there is a fine line between "playing the game" and assault with a deadly weapon. The NHL has had to, and continues to, deal with this issue over the decades by enforcing rules that protect players and doling out suspensions for goon behavior.

Weight, a wily veteran, has surely been on both ends during his illustrious career. There's little doubt that the hit was meant to injure. But it's one thing to take a guy out of a play, and another to simply "take him out." Surely Weight could have adequately disrupted Sutter's play on the puck without risking his future in the sport. Perhaps players need to be reminded that everyone's career is only one hard hit away from ending.

Wanna view the hit? Click here.

What do you think about the hit? I appreciate your comments!