Mike Richards hit on David Booth: Clean or Dirty?
October 26, 2009 – Adam Steevens
Adam Steevens is a student, author and blogger who has semi-coherent thoughts about the NHL
Mike Richards lays out David Booth as he’s coming through the neutral zone – knocking him unconscious at first, and sending him off the ice on a stretcher. The NHL has publicly stated that Richards will not be suspended for the hit, but it still brings up the age-old question – was this hit clean?
I think it’s clear in the video that Richards leaves his feet a bit, and leads the check with his elbow – so I think this hit is at least marginally dirty. David Booth should have had his head up, sure, but Richards is clearly headhunting here. The NHL should have suspended him for this hit, no question.
Related posts:
No question that it is a dirty hit. He is clearly head hunting, he leaves his feet, is he finishing his check? Well that is questionable, its not a late hit but I believe he did have intent to injure. He should get at least a game or two, but it is because he is a superstar that he will not face any discipline. Same goes for Ovechkin, he just continues to get away with anything.
[...] Was the hit on Booth clean or dirty? [The Puck Doctors] [...]
wasn’t a late hit
If the hit was dirty, he would have gotten fined or suspended. The hit was within the rules of the NHL. I don’t believe Richards was head hunting, he was finishing his check and you can clearly see Booth slow up a bit right as he passes, then turns his head to admire his pass, thus making his shoulders turn, and Richards just ended up clipping his chin a bit with his shoulder. The shoulder was down, and he didn’t leave his feet before the hit. I dont understand why everyone is debating hit’s the last few years. No one ever said anything about Scott Stevens besides “wow, that was a great hit.” Check the Stevens hit on Paul Kariya, it is insanely identical to this one, and there was no discussion.
@adam
Psh. Richards jumps off the ice to hit booth in the head. Come on man, he’s headhunting. As far at the hit on Kariya in the finals – I said from the beginning that was a dirty hit as well.
Richards is dirty player. Kind of like a Bobby Clarke back in the day. That’s just the way he plays.
Richards is a dirt bag. He clearly launched to hit David Booth. Richards should be outta there for a time.
[...] debated a while ago about the hit on David Booth, but after several other questionable hits (and suspensions), the NHL is discussing hits to the [...]
[...] the Olympic break, Mike Richards laid a huge hit on Panthers forward David Booth – a hit that would take him out of the lineup for three months. Last night against the [...]