No Suspension for Richards
Flyers forward Mike Richards will not be suspended.
No Suspension for Richards
After a 12-hour wait, the Daily News has learned that Flyers captain Mike Richards will not be suspended for his open ice hit on Florida’s David Booth on Saturday night.
“The hit was reviewed by the Hockey Ops staff,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Daily News Sunday morning, “and was determined to not warrant any supplemental discipline.”
Daly told us that the play, as reported on Frequent Flyers last night, was not reviewed by NHL executive vice president for hockey operations Colin Campbell because of a possible conflict of interest. Campbell’s son Gregory is a forward for the Panthers.
Panthers GM Randy Sexton said Booth was released from Pennsylvania Hospital this morning and is making his way back to South Florida this afternoon. He sustained a concussion but was otherwise uninjured.
This comes less than 24 hours after the NHL suspended Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu for 3 games for a head hit on Colorado’s Darcy Tucker on Friday night.
What are your thoughts? Was the hit suspension worthy or did the NHL make the right call?
You can view the hit right here:
Comments (104)
Mike Richards never struck me as a headhunter. Hockey is an intense sport and sometimes people get really hurt. It was right to throw him out of the game and that's where it should end.— Greg V.- I totally agree with Terrid: It was a high shot to the jaw - absolutely no reason for the hit to that area. As a 33 year Flyers fan, I am shocked and disappointed that Richards was suspended for a minimum of 6 games. This will open the door for further goonery. A clean hit is a good hit; this was not clean, it was cheap.— eagle8
- terrid..... WRONG!! It wasn't a cheap hit. It's so very easy to sit and watch the TV replay in super slow motion, from 6 different angles. Things happen on the ice in a instant. I really believe that neither were paying enought atterntion to where they were going. The oblighation is CLEARLY on the Florida player to keep his head up, and watch out, especially skating across the blue line. It's hockey, and a sometimes dangerous and scary game. You a correct, Booth had already released the puck, maybe half a second to a second before the hit, Richards can't just STOP and TURN, it ain't that easy. Learn the game if you're going to claim to be a fan. John R— way cool jr
- A hard, nasty hit....but completely within the rules. The League got it right and I applaud their courage to not bow to the crybabies.— CityOfBrotherlyThugs
- Richards never leaves his feet. His left foot is clearly still on the ice and his right comes off the ice after falling off balance after the hit. If another player had done this to the Flyers it would be construed that the Flyer should be more careful and keep his head up. If Booth's jaw is not the area of impact then he probably gets up and skates away. Anytime a Flyer delivers a hit it's dirty ala Broad Street Bully tactics. After all these years the hate and prejudice towards this team continues. Scott Stevens is a hall of famer for delivering such hits. The difference is he's not in the orange and black.Glad to see Campbell had to stay out of the decision he's a career Flyer hater.— crupi8
- its obvious that some of you have never played hockey. Richards laid a clean hit on him, did NOT leave his feet and did NOT lead with an elbow. It would have been a shoulder to shoulder check if Booth hadn't passed the puck and then changed direction towards Richards at the last second. No intent to injure. Good job on this call, NHL.— Dave
- Most importantly, I hope David Booth is ok and returns to the ice soon. Beyond that, ferocious hits happen every day in the NHL. They are a regular part of ESPN's top 10 plays of the day (unless someone gets hurt.) Smells like 20 -20 hindsight justice when the degree of injury is used to determine the legality of the hit.— timpduffy
- Booth had his head down, clean hit.— pitzdidg
- I would have been fine with a suspension on Richie, providing the ruling would stand for every future instancne, in trying to eliminate dangerous hits from the game. IN that regard, I think the NHL made the wrong decision. Teams and players would learn to adjust to making solid defensive plays on players playing with their head down; regardless the new standard would apply to all teams, possibly leading to more offense. Richie knew or should have known Booth was in a vulnerable position and did have time to respond differently. In most cases, players are aware of when an opposing player is in a vulnerable postion, and should have enough time to respond appropriately to prevent these kind of dangerous hits. As a Flyers fan, and a hockey fan, I do think the wrong decision was made by the league, in the more important interest of protecting the players.— smacklby
- It was a crossing pattern. Booth could have held on to the puck a bit more before passing. richards doesn't know what Booth is going to do, so he plans on checking him shoulder to shoulder. Then at the last second, Booth passes and turns to face Richards. Look at the play full speed. It would be an amazing play if Richards was able to hold up. I don't know if there's away to fix the problem, other than better/madatory head gear. Cause if it's not mandatory, then players won't wear it for fear that it'll impact their game. Again, look at it in slow motion, but also look at it in full speed...— CAFlyers
- terrid you are not a Flyers fan, if you were you would know that Richards is not that type of player. I bet you own an #87 penguins jersey.— jacdjc1
- Lindros was skating thru center ice looking at his skates that hit was far worse then this one— Goodhands
- flyers fan for 25 years. Someone is going to die soon.— T3rdEyevisual
- eff all you idiots who say it was a dirty hit. i'm glad he did it. if you don't want to get hurt, join a sewing circle instead of pro sports.— beezer77
- Terrid, in no way was that cheap! That is the way to play hockey. Some one comes across the the blue line with the puck he needs to take a hit. If you've ever played hockey you'd understand. The way it's taught is "don't back up to give up the blueline, put pressure on the offensive attack". They also teach "keep you're head up on the ice" which would've helped in this situation. I'm glad the Flyers are playing "tough" hockey, we won't win a Stanley Cup any other way! Glad to see Booth is ok!— johnnyem
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Frequent Flyers is your home for news and analysis of all things orange and black.
Reach Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com.
Frank Seravalli
Daily News Sports Columnist
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