Los Angeles Kings F Tanner Pearson Suspended for First Two Games
Los Angeles Kings F Tanner Pearson has found himself suspended for the first two games of the season for a blatant hit to the head on the Oilers defenseman Brandon Davidson in Preseason action.
Los Angeles Kings F Tanner Pearson is one of my favorites, and I love the Kings, but hits like these are too dangerous. It’s the type of play we are trying to eliminate from our game.
Honestly, Pearson is lucky he only got away with a two-game suspension and not more. While the LA Kings forward stated that he did not intend to hit Davidson’s head, you can tell through the video that he knew where he was hitting.
This is Tanner Pearson’s first time dealing with the NHL‘s Department of Player Safety and could explain why he isn’t facing stiffer a penalty. But the moral is the same. Hits like these are dangerous, avoidable, and can cause serious injury that could end a career.
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Players who unintentionally make contact with an opponent’s head are still at serious fault. Players need to be aware at all times, just as Pearson was aware he was going into a hit on Davidson.
I played hockey for the better part of 12 years. Due to personal reasons, I was preparing to end at age 16 for health purposes. That was cut even shorter thanks to a serious hit to the head that left me with a concussion. They are serious hits and can cause serious harm. Hits to the head aren’t going to stop entirely. It’s not that we have a bunch of head hunters in the game, but accidents do happen.
What Tanner Pearson did was completely avoidable, however, and I wouldn’t have complained if he faced stronger discipline.
The Los Angeles Kings lose out on Pearson for their last two preseason games, and then at the beginning of the season for their first game against San Jose and the second against Philadelphia. Pearson will also lose $15,555.56 in salary going to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.
You got off easy, Tanner. Don’t let it happen again.
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