In a rare move, the NHL Department of Player Safety has released a video explanation addressing the controversial decision not to suspend Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud for his injurious hit on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies. The incident, which occurred during the second period of Toronto’s 3-0 home victory on Wednesday night, left Knies injured and ignited a firestorm of criticism from Leafs players and media.
Collision Sparks Outrage
The hit in question unfolded as Knies carried the puck over the red line. Whitecloud stepped up to deliver a check, his skates leaving the ice upon contact. While the on-ice officials reviewed the play, they ultimately deemed it unworthy of a major penalty, instead assessing Whitecloud a minor for roughing. This announcement drew the ire of the Toronto crowd, especially as Vegas ended up with a power play due to Simon Benoit’s double-minor for roughing in response to the hit.
Leafs React to “Bad Call”
After the game, Benoit expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating, stating, “I don’t think it’s a good call…his feet were off the ice when he hit [Knies] right to the head.” The Maple Leafs’ frustration was palpable as they watched their promising young forward helped off the ice.
“It’s a hockey hit. It’s been around forever. It’s a clean hit. It’s a tough play…But it’s hockey. That’s part of the game.”
– Leafs coach Craig Berube on the Whitecloud hit
Player Safety Breaks Down the Call
In an uncommon occurrence, the Department of Player Safety chose to address the non-suspension publicly. Contrasting the Whitecloud hit with two recent incidents that did result in suspensions – Ryan Reaves’ five-game ban for hitting Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse and Tanner Jeannot’s three-game sentence for an illegal check on Vancouver’s Brock Boeser – the league provided its rationale.
According to Player Safety, while there was “inarguably head contact” from Whitecloud, the Vegas blueliner’s check primarily made contact with Knies’ body rather than his head. As the video explained, “We see Knies’s entire body stopped in its tracks and driven backwards simultaneously with his head in a way that indicates the body absorbed the force of this check.”
The league also noted that Whitecloud took “a good angle of approach” and didn’t unnecessarily elevate “to pick the head.” Based on these factors, Player Safety determined that the head contact was “unavoidable” within the context of a “legal full body check.”
Knies’ Status Uncertain as Leafs Move Forward
With Auston Matthews already sidelined by an undisclosed injury since November 11th, the last thing Toronto needed was to lose another key offensive weapon. The 22-year-old Knies had been enjoying a strong rookie campaign, notching 12 points through his first 20 NHL contests.
Leafs coach Craig Berube provided a cautiously optimistic update on Knies’ condition, revealing that the young forward was “feeling OK” while still undergoing evaluation. Regarding the hit itself, Berube was unequivocal in his assessment:
“I mean, it’s a hockey hit. It’s been around forever. It’s a clean hit. It’s a tough play. He’s in a vulnerable position a little bit. The guy was on him from behind and it’s a tough play. But it’s hockey. That’s part of the game.”
– Leafs coach Craig Berube
As the Maple Leafs aim to keep pace in a competitive Atlantic Division, they’ll have to hope Knies’ absence is brief. In the meantime, the debate around Whitecloud’s controversial hit seems certain to rage on, even as Player Safety has made its stance clear. For a proud Original Six franchise with championship aspirations, “just part of the game” may prove a difficult pill to swallow.
