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Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:55 pm EST

Kings' Zeiler only gets three games for Foote hit

By Greg Wyshynski

If the hit from behind Los Angeles Kings forward John Zeiler put on Adam Foote of the Colorado Avalanche has skipped your mind already, we posted the video over the weekend. It shows Foote going to the corner for the puck, looking back at Zeiler skating after him; Foote has his back to Zeiler to play the puck, and Zeiler gives him a shot to the back with his arm -- sending Foote crashing into the glass head-first, and he remained flat on his stomach near the boards while trainers rushed out.  

According to the NHL, which has allegedly reaffirmed its commitment to fight against dangerous plays that potentially lead to head injuries, this offense was worth three games in the press box:

Los Angeles Kings forward John Zeiler has been suspended for three games, without pay, as a result of a boarding incident that took place during NHL Game #295, Nov. 22 against the Colorado Avalanche, the National Hockey League announced.

Zeiler was assessed a major penalty for boarding and game misconduct for hitting Colorado defenseman Adam Foote at 6:51 of the second period. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Zeiler will forfeit $8,770.17. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Maybe Foote's diagnosis didn't come quickly enough. In a League where the punishment fits the aftermath, Foote will miss his team's game against the Anaheim Ducks pending tests for neck and back injuries, along with a possible concussion.

There's been plenty of debate about dangerous hits this season. Sometimes, the NHL has gotten it right. This is not one of those times. If you wanted to compare this to the Tom Kostopoulos hit on Mike Van Ryn, another three-game suspension, go ahead -- that suspension clearly didn't deter anything.

A premeditated hit from behind that had Foote worried about his career ending that night gets three games with no pay. Yeah ... that'll teach'em. 

Related: Goons and Pugilism, Gary Bettman, Commissioner for Life

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74 Comments

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  1. bob_billy
    1. Posted by bob_billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Uh oh Wysh...You just opened a can of worms. All you who feel Foote is to blame, come out come out wherever you are! Although it seems like most of those comments came in the middle of the night so maybe they're all trying to sleep up for round two.
    Look, I am no Adam Foote fan, but that was a dangerous hit. Is three games enough? Not IMHO, but it is what it is. Speedy recovery wishes to Foote. Go Bruins!
  2. RobLobster43
    2. Posted by RobLobster43 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    It will teach him not to turn his back on a pursuer while going into the corner
  3. Wyshynski
    3. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ RobLobster43 --
    I didn't really get into this in the other thread, because it got out of hand quickly, but what would you have Foote do? Step aside and lay down a red carpet for Zeiler to possess the puck? He's actually trying to skate the puck back the other way. It's not a case where he turns his back and is like "bring it on!" And even if he did, Zeiler should know better than to give him a forearm to the back.
  4. cm
    4. Posted by cm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    Plenty of blame to go around on this one. No matter how you debate it, Foote could have played it smarter, Zeiler could have backed off. The league can legislate play all it wants, but this is what happens in contact sports. It will happen again. Maybe resulting in an injury, hopefully not. I won't go as far as calling the hit "premeditated" as every hit and check is "premeditated." It's the intent of the hit and the stupidity involved in making it that should weigh in on the punishment.
  5. Mazarin
    5. Posted by Mazarin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    Here's 2 new T-Shirt ideas for the league:
    "I cross-checked someone's face into the boards and all I got was this T-Shirt and a 3-game suspention!"
    and:
    "I played in the NHL and all I got was - I forget."
  6. GT
    6. Posted by GT Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    This can be avoided if the NHL were to reconsider the obstruction rules...instead of plowing into him, Zeiler could have gone to the side he thought Foote would move the puck. If he moves that way, then Zeiler can fight him for the puck...if Foote turns the other way, Zeiler could reach and obstruct. At least, that's how it was done in the past. But, instead of getting a penalty for breathing on a guy, now the players decide to just in full tilt.
  7. Anthrax Jones
    7. Posted by Anthrax Jones Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    So, it's the defenseman's job to determine the intent of the forechecker, and make a decision between getting his neck broken on a check from behind and playing the puck in the corner. The forechecker bears no responsibility whatsoever.
    Gotcha.
  8. Rick
    8. Posted by Rick Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    After watching the replay from all the angles, there's no way I lay this on Foote. He was clearly trying to turn back up the ice (to his right) when Zeiler gave him a ride right into the boards.
    Regardless, the only thing I wanted to add to this discussion is that I disagree completely with the idea that the suspension should be based on the result. The suspension should be based on intent and the extent to which the rules were broken. The injury is secondary because dumb luck can result in people getting hurt on small infractions and not hurt on clear attempts at headhunting.
    If you were trying to headhunt, then you should be suspended for that regardless of whether the person you were aiming at got hurt badly or not.
  9. cm
    9. Posted by cm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    And any debate about suspensions and punishment that doesn't explain why Bertuzzi is still able to lace up skates in the NHL is faulty.
  10. tbdang
    10. Posted by tbdang Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    Both players are liable in this hit. Foote shouldn't have come up short and stopped in the danger zone. Zeiler should have stopped. The game moves so fast that many of these decisions are not conscious though and instincts take over. That doesnt mean that there isn't fault and you shouldn't be accountable for what you do.
    I Hope Foote is OK and right back at it. He is a good, hard nosed and honest hockey player.
  11. j_n_16
    11. Posted by j_n_16 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Wysh, I brought up that point in the last article, and am still trying to press it. Exactly what is Foote to do?
  12. tmr
    12. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    The way I see it, Foote should go for the puck (that's his job) as well as Zeiler (his job too). But you can't tell me that what Zeiler did was the only way he could effectively play for the puck. He had options. Creaming a guy from behind is not the only way to get the puck. We see guys fight for the puck in that same situation every game without mashing a guys face to the boards. Look, I never liked Foote, but boarding is bad no matter how you slice it. Zeiler deserves the three games off.
  13. tmr
    13. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    At least 3 games off.
  14. k.m.stiles
    14. Posted by k.m.stiles Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    I'm a Kings fan and Zeiler is my absolute least favorite player because he is pretty much worthless to the team. All he does is skate around and hit guys and will not drop the gloves. I'm pretty sure that if he was any bigger, Foote wouldn't have been the first guy he injured. In the game against the Avs he played less than 4 minutes (through about half the game) and caused the team to be shorthanded for 5 mintues.
  15. Kevin G
    15. Posted by Kevin G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    Foote absolutely has to be able to trust the other players on the ice. zeiler should have been given a month - period. bump foote off the puck - fine! that hit was b.s. and everyone knows it (except the nhl brass)
  16. Pinchy The Lobster
    16. Posted by Pinchy The Lobster Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Oh God Rob.. Not you again. Ever hear of Rain Man? He has a way with repeating things too.
    Sincerely,
    Joey
  17. Spike
    17. Posted by Spike Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Foote should have played that better but it's basically all mute because Zeiler shouldn't hit him at that point. Zeiler needs to be smarter and I think he will eventually become smarter but he cannot make that hit.
    As for Foote, part of me feels like this is karma for his play in Vegas.
  18. Kevin G
    18. Posted by Kevin G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    And yes - bertuzzi should be allowed to clean up moore's house, run errands for him, etc. not play hockey.
  19. Anthrax Jones
    19. Posted by Anthrax Jones Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    Also, props to whoever found the most Stanley Kubrick-ish picture of Zeiler they could find.
  20. Shane G
    20. Posted by Shane G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    " are not conscious though and instincts take over"
    Then we should teach kids to let up when they see numbers.
    It's a simple concept.
  21. Shane G
    21. Posted by Shane G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    "And any debate about suspensions and punishment that doesn't explain why Bertuzzi is still able to lace up skates in the NHL is faulty."
    Like a bastardized version of Godwin's law, eh? ;)
  22. Shane G
    22. Posted by Shane G Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    "it's basically all mute"
    Moot. It's all moot.
    Damnit, now I'm "that guy"...
  23. Pinchy The Lobster
    23. Posted by Pinchy The Lobster Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    @Kevin
    I agree 10-12 games seems more adequate for a hack like Zeiler.
  24. Kevin G
    24. Posted by Kevin G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    Mut'e - It's French for MOOT
  25. hockeyjunkynutcase
    25. Posted by hockeyjunkynutcase Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    what a joke 3 games it just shows the NHL cannot police the teams the teams have to police themselves I mean three games for a non intent to injure hit not a big fan of foot but come on one game tops

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