No Suspension for Reaves; Darren McCarty said: “Clean Hit in My Day”

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Reaves will not receive any supplemental discipline for his heavy hit that put Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek after the game Wednesday.

Twitter was on fire during and after the game debating whether the hit was legal. No penalty was assessed on the play, which occurred in the first period of the Wild’s 4-1 win. Hronek did not return to the game. Reaves had been suspended three times before.

But the Department of Player Safety’s decision not to hold a hearing was anticipated. Revered former Red Wings player Darren McCarty tweeted: “Clean hit in my day.”

Regardless of what the NHL ruled on this play, there were going to be people who disagreed.

Doing His Job

“Reaves didn’t do anything except his job and destroys Hronek,” McCarty said.

One reason why Reaves is in the clear is because Hronek seemed to see Reaves and then turned his head. Reaves said after the game that Hronek locked eyes with him. Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said Hronek believed there was a delayed penalty coming. That’s why he looked away. That act left him in a vulnerable position. Lalonde also said Hronek would like to have the play back.

Hronek ended up in concussion protocol and the Detroit Free Press quoted Lalonde saying that Hronek wanted to go back into the game. However, doctors wouldn’t let him.

Diagnosing concussions can be medically challenging because symptoms sometimes don’t occur immediately. The Red Wings don’t play again until Saturday. That gives doctors a longer period to evaluate Hronek.

The Red Wings also still haven’t provided any details about captain Dylan Larkin’s injury. He didn’t play Wednesday after injuring his right hand blocking a shot.

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