Former NHLer Brooks Laich makes controversial comments on checking from behind

On Saturday night, Brooks Laich posted some controversial comments on twitter regarding checking from behind and boarding calls in the NHL today.

NHL analyst Mike Johnson posted a replay of Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Galagher being smashed into the boards from behind by Vancouver Canucks defenseman Travis Hamonic, saying that this kind of play is a penalty. He also went on to say that this needs to be called a penalty more to «curb its frequency.»

That is a penalty!! It unfortunately happens all the time by every team. They have to start calling it to curb its frequency. pic.twitter.com/KAUtW10MCz— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) March 21, 2021

Brooks Laich had another point of view, contrasting mightily from Johnson's. The former NHLer put more of the blame on the player carrying the puck rather than the person dishing out the punishment. He stated, «Players are intentionally putting themselves 2 feet from the boards with their backs turned to oncoming checkers.» He then went on to say that they are doing this to either expect to not get hit or draw a boarding penalty.

How about some onus on players with the puck to stop putting themselves in vulnerable positions? Players are intentionally putting themselves 2ft from the boards with their backs turned to oncoming checkers and then either:

A) expecting to not get hit, or
B) draw a boarding call— Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) March 21, 2021

This makes sense as the game of hockey is changing into more of a finesse game compared to being a super physical, hitting game, but what player does not try to draw a penalty? Every person that has ever played hockey knows that getting a man-advantage is huge for hockey and it can be a turning point in any game, so of course players are going to try anything to get a call.

Along with making those first comments, Laich also states that he thinks these situations are «making a mockery of the boarding call.»

It's making a mockery of the boarding call. In youth hockey, you are constantly taught to NEVER put yourself in that position because you cannot trust that the opposing checker won't check you from behind, and permanently injure you - so you never put yourself in that position...— Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) March 21, 2021

It just doesn't make sense for a former player like himself to say that, as penalties were placed in hockey for the safety and well-being of the players. Even though a lot of people may not like certain calls, it is for the greater good of the game.

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