Stanley gets call as Dillon suspended three games

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This article was published 07/02/2024 (607 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHILADELPHIA — Brenden Dillon’s big mistake is Logan Stanley’s long-awaited break.

A healthy scratch for 21 straight games, Stanley is expected to return to the Winnipeg Jets lineup Thursday night in Philadelphia. He’ll take the spot of Dillon, who’s been handed a three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari that happened in the second period of Tuesday’s game.

“Well it’s better than him being hurt, right?” Stanley said Wednesday of how opportunity has finally come knocking. “You don’t want to see your teammates get hurt, so we’ll take (a suspension) over an injury. It’s going to be nice to hopefully get in the lineup.”

On the play in question, Acciari took a direct shoulder to his head, sending his helmet flying and appearing to be knocked out instantly. He then fell face-first on the ice, attempted to get up and dropped back down. Bloodied and clearly confused, he had to be helped off the ice and didn’t return. He’s now in concussion protocol.

The call on the ice was a match penalty for illegal check to the head, and it was upheld after an automatic video review. Unfortunately for the Jets, the Penguins scored twice on the ensuing power play to turn a 1-0 game into a 3-0 lead, which ended up being the final score.

“As the video shows, Acciari skates the puck through the of the neutral zone as Dillon steps up from the middle of the ice to challenge,” the NHL’s video ruling, released Wednesday evening, begins.

“As Acciari chips the puck into the Jets zone, Dillon finishes a high, hard hit that misses Acciari’s core making the head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable.”

The video further explains that Dillon’s shoulder makes “direct and forceful contact” with Acciari’s head “which absorbs the majority of the force of the check.” Although acknowleding Acciari was bent forward at the time, he doesn’t “materially change the position of his head or body in a way that contributes to the head being the main point of contact.”

Dillon will miss the game against the Flyers, Saturday’s rematch back in Winnipeg against the Penguins and next Wednesday’s date against the San Jose Sharks at Canada Life Centre. He can return on Feb. 17 in Vancouver.

“If Dillon wants to deliver this hit, he must choose an angle that hits through Acciari’s shoulder and core, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact,” the league concludes.

Stanley, 25, has appeared in just seven games this season, the last one coming on Dec. 12 in San Jose. It’s been a steady diet of extra skating and press box popcorn on game nights ever since, with the Jets running out the same six healthy blue-liners. Until now.

“It’s tough, but just try to work as hard as you can in practice and almost treat it like a game when you’re doing battle drills and things like that,” Stanley said of trying to stay sharp and ready. “But, yeah, it’s been a while. Hopefully not too rusty.”

During Wednesday’s team skate at the Flyers practice facility in Voorhees, N.J., Stanley was on the third pairing with veteran Nate Schmidt. Dylan Samberg moved up to take Dillon’s spot on the second pair beside Neal Pionk, while the top duo of Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo remained intact.

Stanley, selected 18th-overall in 2016, said he understands why his name hasn’t been called by coach Rick Bowness, especially with the Jets playing so well save for a bump in the road over the past four games in which they’ve gone winless (0-3-1).

“I’m so happy that the team’s doing well. Of course I want to play more, as every player does. But we have a great team and we’re obviously winning games. And we’ve been healthy all year,” said the 6-7, 231-pound Stanley, who has yet to register a point this season.

“That’s something that’s out of my control. All I can control is how hard I work every day. Be a good teammate, be positive and be there for the rest of the guys.”

When the season began, Stanley was one of two extra defencemen along with Declan Chisholm. However, Chisholm was put on waivers a couple weeks ago after appearing in just two games with the Jets. He never made it to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, as the Minnesota Wild put in a claim.

That leaves Stanley now as the only extra blue-line option on the current 23-man roster.

“He’s been doing everything he could to be ready for it,” said Bowness.

“Just be reliable defensively, don’t try to chase the game, don’t try to do too much, make the simple plays with the puck and really just simplify the game as much as you can.”

A situation worth watching is what happens with Ville Heinola, who was set to not only make the Jets out of training camp but be in the opening night lineup (ahead of Schmidt) — only to break his ankle in the final preseason game.

Heinola, 22, is now fully healthy and has appeared in 10 games with the Moose, putting up four points (two goals and two assists). General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said last week the slick Finnish defenceman, selected 20th-overall in 2019, would likely be back up with the Jets soon. He didn’t require waivers to go down to the AHL.

If they want that to happen now, a spot will have to be created. The Jets are carrying two extra forwards in Rasmus Kupari and Dominic Toninato, so waiving one would pave the way. Stanley would also require waivers, and it’s clear the Jets believe another team would likely grab him given the way they’ve made personnel decisions around him. Although Dillon can’t play, he remains on the roster during his suspension.

A valid argument could be made that Heinola should be well ahead of Stanley on the depth chart and deserves the opportunity. Time will tell if that happens.

No question the Jets will miss Dillon’s physical presence. As for the hit, the Jets took a different view than the league.

“The game is fast. Dilly steps up, he makes the play. (Acciari) kind of gets out of the way at the last second and gets clipped. So it’s an unfortunate play,” said Stanley.

Dillon’s only previous suspension was a a one-game ban for slashing in 2017.

“I don’t think that’s going to change Dilly whatsoever,” said Stanley. “To play that way for that long… he’s a very clean player, he just plays the game very hard. So he’s not going to change.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg