Rick Tocchet reveals the unpenalized, blindside hit from behind on Chytil by Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson has placed the centre ‘basically’ in protocol
There were two concerns when Filip Chytil was acquired in a multi-package trade with the New York Rangers on Jan. 31.
And, more importantly, could he stay healthy and avoid yet another head shot and concussion?
Chytil, who was limited to 10 games last season with a concussion, and had symptoms earlier this season with the Rangers, appears to have suffered another one on Saturday.
“I talked to him today a little bit,” said Tocchet. “He felt OK, nothing great. He’ll go through the every day to see how he feels type of thing. He has had a few (concussions) in the past and we’ll see how this thing turns out.
“Sometimes, they can rapidly turn, so you’ve got to stay positive.”
On his fourth shift in the third prior on Saturday, Chytil was tracking the puck in the offensive zone. He had just sent a backhand pass into the corner boards to keep the forecheck going when he was struck. His head hit the dasher board and his neck snapped back violently in a whiplash motion associated with concussions.
And when Chytil slowly gathered himself, he buckled to the ice and left the game. The was no penalty on the play and the NHL Department of Player Safety has not issued any kind of statement about possible supplemental discipline.
“I have faith that those guys (DOPS) know what they’re doing and you have to continue to have the faith and educate,” added Tocchet. “And that’s my job.”
Discipline can be applied to any player, regardless of whether or not the infraction was penalized by an on-ice official. And injury can be taken into account. As per article 18.2 in the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, the are these factors:
• A violation of league rules, and whether the contact is intentional or reckless, or the use of excessive and unnecessary force.
• Injury to the opposing player involved in the incident.
• Status o the offender, specifically a history of supplemental discipline.
• Situation of the game. Late in game, lopsided scored, prior events in the game.
“I try to tell our players when you’re about to hit a guy and you see hit name (name plate), you’ve got to abort it, or you’ve got to let up,” said Tocchet. “You’ve got to approach the way the game is because those are danger hits.”