"Responsibility is on Jeannot" - Elliotte Friedman places blame squarely on LA Kings forward for head hit on Brock Boeser

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Nov 08, 2024 17:48 GMT

Elliotte Friedman blamed Tanner Jeannot for a head hit on Brock Boeser on the Nov. 8 episode of "32 Thoughts: The Podcast."

The incident happened during the Nov. 7 game between Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, when Jeannot made an open-ice hit on Boeser, catching him around the chin. Boeser left the ice and did not return to the game. Jeannot received a match penalty for the hit, which means NHL Player Safety will review it.

Friedman said regarding head contact:

"The number one thing I look at when there's any head contact is does Boeser do anything at the last second that gives, you know, or anybody who hits him, an excuse to hit his head? Does he move his head at the last moment? Does he make a sudden movement that a player can't alter their path? And the answer here is no, like Boeser's head does not move."

"That responsibility is on Jeannot to not make contact with the head or not pick the head. And, you know, sometimes if a player comes back, you can escape a further suspension because they'll say, 'Oh, he got kicked out with 50 minutes left in the game.'"

Boeser is a key player for the Canucks, leading the team with six goals and 11 points. The Canucks went on to tie the game 1–1 on the five-minute power play.

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Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet and captain Quinn on Brock Boeser's injury

Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet called it a "dangerous play" but didn’t have an update on Brock Boeser's injury.

“It was a dangerous play. I don't know how Brock is, I haven't seen him,” Tocchet said to media per Sportsnet. "We'll see when I see him, but, yeah, it's a tough play.”

Canucks Captain and defenceman Quinn Hughes, who scored a goal and an assist and led Vancouver to a 4–2 win, said:

“I haven't looked at it, but for the refs to call five minutes, obviously a dangerous hit.”

With the match penalty, Jeannot may face a suspension after NHL Player Safety reviews the hit. The NHL focuses on player safety, especially concerning head injuries. Brock Boeser’s status remains uncertain, and the Canucks will be hoping for a quick recovery.