Connor McMichael and Jalen Chatfield dropped the gloves late in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. While no significant punches were landed, Chatfield’s UFC-like takedown of a helmet-less McMichael got a lot of attention afterward for just how dangerous of a play it was.
Many, including TSN analyst and a former league executive Craig Button, believed the slamming maneuver was worthy of supplemental discipline from NHL Player Safety.
“My thoughts is that is a play that doesn’t belong in hockey,” Button said on SC with Jay Onrait, Wednesday night. “You want to fight. We’ve seen fights in hockey. It’s stand up. You know, you get wrestled down sometimes and everything. But the way Jalen Chatfield takes Connor McMichael, spins him around and over the leg, it’s a UFC move. It’s a dangerous play. It’s intent to injure. There’s no room for that in the game.
“I get that the emotions and the intensity picks up at that point in time. But that’s an unacceptable play. I think that that merits a suspension. I think it has to be suspendable because you don’t need that type of play. Connor McMichael is a very fortunate person after that play, not having any type of serious injury. Because that could have been significant with respect to injury for Connor McMichael. Yeah, you saw him rub the back of his head there after he got slammed to the ice. Could have been dangerous for sure.”
The NHL, however, disagrees. Thursday morning, hockey insiders Frank Seravalli and Jeff Marek reported that the league will turn a blind eye to the play.
“Hurricanes defenceman Jalen Chatfield will not face any discipline from the NHL’s DoPS for his takedown of Connor McMichael of the Capitals at the end of their fight last night,” Marek reported on his X account.
McMichael did not appear to be injured on the play as he landed high up on his back. Both players were given five minute majors for fighting and a 10-minute misconduct while McMichael received an extra minor for roughing.
