Janssen will be hearing from the NHL shortly.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/14/10 at 09:18 AM ET

You can thank Ted, George McPhee, and BB for this.  This mentality of “we’ll get em on the power play” has players like Mike Green and Matt Bradley being targeted night in and night out because teams know the Caps are soft.  The mentality especially doesn’t concern a team that isn’t vying for a playoff berth.  Look at Matt Bradley’s eyes… he’s the toughest Cap and that is sad.  He’s given more blood and taken more head shots this year than any other player in the NHL.  This is what happens when your team goes toilet paper soft. 

And if you are anti-enforcer, ask yourself this:

Did these types of hits, sucker punches, etc. happen to the Caps more or less last year with Donald Brashear in the lineup?

Here’s a hint - it’s not even close.

Posted by Sig from DC on 02/14/10 at 09:23 AM ET

He cycled it back, and he was looking back like he felt the puck was still on his skates. I finish my hits. I thought it was a good opportunity. His head was down and I was just trying to get the boys into it.

So it was a deliberate targeted blindside hit on a vulnerable opponent - exactly what everyone agrees is NOT a part of hockey, even the people who waffle on headshots in general.

I bet two games at most - a slap on the wrist because the NHL doesn’t care about the health of the players as long as they feel it is more profitable to leave high levels of violence in the game.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/14/10 at 09:39 AM ET

There had better be a suspension for that.  How many seconds was it?  Like three?  Although I do agree with Baroque.  It probably won’t be more than a couple games.  They would not let you get away with that in Junior’s

Posted by Matt Fry from Winnipeg on 02/14/10 at 09:54 AM ET

Baroque - it’s a tough guy.  Four games minimum.

Posted by Sig from DC on 02/14/10 at 10:04 AM ET

This is the same guy who left his feet to bulldoze Canadiens goalie Carey Price two weeks ago.

He got away with that one, but I doubt he will this time.

Posted by Kevin on 02/14/10 at 10:49 AM ET

Really Kevin?  The Janssen on the Bradley hit was a dumb play but with Price he was getting out of his way, watch it again.  He jumps into the boards trying to get over/around Price.  Wow I thought that was a closed case.

Also always be aware of who is on the ice.
Never admire your pass.
Never ever play with your head down.

Janssen should not of hit him, it was a dumb play, but man Bradley needs his head in the game.  If it was any player who had hockey sense they would have seen Janssen coming from a mile away and at least prepared for the hit if not get out of the way.  I know Bradley has heart but aware of your surroundings.

Posted by Blah from here on 02/14/10 at 11:09 AM ET

I’m with Baroque on this one. It also bothers me that he blasted a guy already engaged with another player and out of the play.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 02/14/10 at 11:20 AM ET

I’d say closer to four or five if the Olympic break wasn’t coming up - the league probably figures that after a couple of weeks any outrage will subside, so they can get away with a smaller suspension.  Fewer people will notice or remember after the break.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/14/10 at 11:32 AM ET

So it was a deliberate targeted blindside hit on a vulnerable opponent

I agree with you on this part, he even said “ His head was down and I was just trying to get the boys into it.” So if his head wasn’t down you wouldn’t have hit him. That the cheap shit that the NHL needs to get rid of.

exactly what everyone agrees is NOT a part of hockey,

I’d like to believe this too, but I think there are people who think that it’s his fault for watching the pass and not protecting himself. Some also think if there is a problem it should be resolved on the ice with each team’s “Dirty Harry”.

I’m not one that thinks fighting should be banned in the NHL. I just think they should be spontaneuos. Two guys battling and they get frustrated for one reason or another and a fight breaks out. Thats how it use to be 20+ years ago.Not some agreed upon thing to get the crowd into it like nowadays. And definitely not some frontier justice like system fight.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 02/14/10 at 12:32 PM ET

Why do I feel like it is a waste of time to even comment on this since the NHL will slap hm on the wrist and he gets to stay on vacation for a few days longer after the Olympic break?

This is a clear instance where I think fighting belongs in the NHL. That was a response to a dirty hit and should be answered for unlike the staged goon fights or for a clean hit that just aren’t tolerated anymore.

Posted by hockey1919 from Montreal on 02/15/10 at 09:53 AM ET

That looked like he lunged up as he delivered that hit.  The camera angle isn’t great, so it’s hard to tell, but that looked like a attempt at a headshot.

Posted by Mike @ MHH from Oklahoma City, OK on 02/15/10 at 12:20 PM ET

John Shannon of Sportsnet say a ruling on Janssen won’t come until next week.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/15/10 at 12:22 PM ET