Hornqvist ‘hit’ was dirty, but Seguin has to be more aware

Someone put an APB out for Seguin/By S. Bradley

I bet Mike Murphy didn’t realize how much more work he was going to have once Gregory Campbell was traded to the Bruins.

For the third time in 10 days, the NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations will have to rule on a hit made in a game involving the Bruins, who this time were on the receiving end.

Murphy, who previously had to rule on the hits by Brad Marchand and Zdeno Chara, makes all disciplinary decisions involving games featuring the Bruins because, as everyone knows, usual disciplinarian Colin Campbell is Gregory Campbell’s father.

According to a Tweet from ESPN hockey writer Pierre Lebrun, Nashville’s Patric Hornqvist has a phone hearing with the league because of this elbow to the head of Bruins forward Tyler Seguin last night:

There’s no doubt Hornqvist deserves a suspension, especially in light of the bans handed to Marchand and San Jose’s Dany Heatley this week.

Now this has nothing to do with the specific hit or the punishment — which should be at least two games — but is anyone else worried about Seguin’s safety going forward  if he doesn’t learn to be a little more aware of his surroundings? If Hornqvist just went at Seguin clean without an elbow, Seguin would’ve been crushed. Although it might’ve been a late hit for interference, it would’ve made him part of the glass because Seguin was watching his pass instead of realizing he was in a vulnerable position.

Maybe it’s just because Seguin’s inexperienced with actually battling along the walls, but Seguin needs to not be a spectator there. He has to realize he’s near the boards, he just had the puck, there might be a price to be paid.

Again, it was dirty elbow, the league should suspend Hornqvist and Seguin was lucky to just suffer a cut ear and nothing more. Going forward, however, Seguin might not be as lucky so he would be smart to better brace himself and avoid putting himself in a vulnerable position.