Jets’ Byfuglien avoids discipline for hit on Gallagher

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This article was published 03/11/2015 (3613 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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TORONTO — Dustin Byfuglien has avoided punishment from the NHL after his hearing today with the league’s department of player safety.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman was called on the carpet for a check made on Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher Sunday night, but the league ruled today that while there was some contact, the head was not the principle point of contact for the blow.

The hearing took place this morning before the Jets practised in suburban Toronto.

During the hearing, the Jets made a vigorous defence of Byfuglien’s check, eventually earning the NHL’s agreement that the contact to Gallagher’s arms and upper-body was the biggest reason the Montreal player went flying.

In the league’s decision, Patrick Burke of the department of player safety said they “largely accept his explanation of the incident,” that Byfuglien was looking to go up the ice for further play since Gallagher was already being penalized.

Burke also said it was clear that Byfuglien kept his elbow down and did not leave his feet to make the check.

If that’s true, then the elbowing penalty Byfuglien received was not legitimate, but Burke didn’t mention that.

After the Jets practice, but prior to hearing the verdict, Byfuglien spoke to reporters and sounded certain he was going to be found guilty of something illegal.

“I have not heard anything yet,” Byfuglien said at the time. “The case they’re looking at right now, I played the puck and I have no intention to try to hit him. I’m trying to go up ice on a delayed call and I get the shit end of it.”

The Jets defenceman was not available for comment after the decision was rendered.

Gallagher turns out to be the biggest villain in this play.

He was in the process of being penalized for high-sticking Winnipeg’s Toby Enstrom in the head and neck. When he went up the ice after that reckless foul, he encountered Byfuglien. After he was hit, he reacted with a hot temper, charging into a group of players when the play was whistled.

Byfuglien told reporters, and the NHL the same, he didn’t think twice about the contact on Gallagher.

“I honestly didn’t even think about it,” he said. “The game was going and I didn’t even know what was really going on. Hockey’s a fast game. Things move fast. Things happen.”

Jets coach Paul Maurice was asked if he thought Byfuglien was sometimes targeted for judgment because he’s such a big individual.

“I don’t know if you saw the hit on Jay Bouwmeester; it was clean… he could do that on every one,” Maurice said. “He’s laid off on just about 95 per cent of hits he’s ever made. If he wanted to, I mean most of what he does is just bump a guy, let alone drives him. Rarely.

“He’s that powerful.”

Things often happen when Byfuglien is in contact with opponents.

Maurice mentioned the Bouwmeester hit in a game against St. Louis in Winnipeg on Oct. 18. You may also recall last season when he ran over Edmonton’s Luke Gazdic.

But Byfuglien sometimes does cross the line.

He was suspended last season for four games for drilling New York Rangers’ J.T. Miller with his stick. He was also penalized, but not fined or suspended, for a dangerous hit on Minnesota’s Jason Pominville on Oct. 25.

In the league’s decision, Burke also pointed out that Byfuglien’s past history of discipline did not enter into this case.

“History only comes into play once it has been determined that supplemental discipline is necessary,” Burke said in the decision. “The hit itself is evaluated on its own merits, not on the player delivering the check.”

Today at Jets practice, centre Andrew Copp was again missing due to injury. He missed Sunday’s game in Montreal and won’t be available for the next two games, Maurice said.

The Jets meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, then play in Ottawa on Thursday.

 

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca