Taylor Hall hit on Philip Larsen, Legal or not?

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 7, 2016

The hit that Devils’ forward Taylor Hall delivered on Vancouver defenseman Philip Larsen during Tuesday’s game at New Jersey proved a big topic around the league.

Hall had speed as he came around the back of the net and just before an unsuspecting Larsen received the puck and was set to turn the other way, Hall laid right in to him with a violent hit that appeared to leave Larsen unconscious before he even hit the ice.

What followed may have been a more scary situation as a melee occurred almost immediately as the Canucks went right after Hall while Larsen was prone on the ice. On at least two occasions, a player made contact with Larsen’s head during the scramble before Markus Granlund and goaltender Jacob Markstrom recognized the danger and tried to protect their fallen teammate and steer the group of players off to the corner and call for medical help.

The league reviewed the play and deemed it a legal hit that did not cross any of the parameters for further supplemental discipline.

{mprestriction ids=”1,2″}

The Canucks announced on Wednesday that Larsen had been medically cleared to return to Vancouver.

Coach Desjardins talked to Larsen today and he's in good spirits. All his movements are fine and he was positive about the situation.

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 7, 2016

Here’s what Lightning head coach Jon Cooper had to say about the hit:

“I feel awful for him, but by no means did I see Taylor Hall break any of the rules. In the 70’s that’s probably a hit that happens all the time (but) you just don’t see those hits that much today and I think that’s why people step out of the box and say we have to take a look at this. First and foremost, I hear Larsen is OK because the optics of it looked bad after the hit. It’s an unfortunate situation, it doesn’t happen that often and you hope it doesn’t happen too much more often. But I can’t sit here and say I saw anything really wrong with the hit.”

I agree with Cooper, in watching the replay several times, Hall does not appear to do anything egregious in his actions. Hall does not leave his feet, his elbows stayed compact to his body, he does not lead with the elbow nor follow through in any malicious manner. Larsen just appeared to be totally unaware of Hall’s presence coming at him and was not in any position to prepare for the contact, which may have led to the violent nature of the outcome.

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.

{/mprestriction}