Daily Haterade- Jordan Nolan: Cheapshot Specialist

Jordan Nolan of the L.A. Kings was suspended two games for boarding Darren Helm of the Detroit Red Wings on October 31, 2014

Since Jordan is a repeat offender from an unrelated incident in March of this year, he was suspended for 2 games, and fined $17,073.18, per the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Live Feed

Puck Prose

Jordan’s recent antics are typcical for a cheapshot specialist. I mean the guy just doesn’t use his common sense- assuming he possesses that trait in his DNA makeup.

Every team has a guy who goes out there to “mix it up”, but Nolan doesn’t do that. His purpose is to wreak havoc on whomever is in his sights- and that is just unacceptable. He really isn’t a hockey player in the true sense of the word. He’s more like Sean William Scott, a la “Goon.”

His reaction after the suspension displays his audacity about possibly injuring a player seriously: “His feet were pointed up the ice and I thought he was close enough to the boards where he wasn’t going to go in awkwardly.”

REALLY  JORDAN ? COMEONNOWMAN ! !

Here’s the video of the Helm hit,  if you care to see what I’m referring to:

As you can see, he had NO reason to board Helm, except for the fact that he is a dirty player, and it doesn’t phase him that he could be ending someone’s career- like he did to Rusty Klesla of the Coyotes.

This, of course, occurred during a PRESEASON game on 9-17-13 where Nolan was trying to make himself relevant. I attended that game, and this time Nolan went after Klesla’s leg. The other Coyote players did not take well to that, and a fight ensued. Mind you, this was a pre-season game, and the worst part was that Nolan was not even called for a penalty! The fans were outraged, and Nolan just acted like.. WHAT DID I DO?

Although the hit was classified as not punishable by the NHL, it caused Martin Hanzal to come to Klesla’s aid, and then Paul Bissonnette left the bench to get Nolan, and received a match penalty along with a 10 game suspension. It was exactly what Nolan was trying to accomplish. He instigates pandemonium, and I don’t agree that the NHL viewed this as a legal hit. Nolan left his feet, and led with his shoulder with Klesla’s head as his target. This should NEVER be allowed by any player.

There seems to be quite a few suspensions lately, so perhaps the NHL is watching more closely now. Look at the suspensions:

• Anton Volchenkov of the Nashville Pedators was suspended 4 games for an illegal hit to the head.
• John Scott of the San Jose Sharks was suspended for 2 games for a legal line change to engage in an altercation.
• Alex Burrows  of the Vancouver Canucks was suspended for 3 games for a check to the head.
• Andrew Ference of the Edmonton Oilers was assessed a 3 games suspension for an illegal hit to the head.

How does all this affect the Coyotes? Well, all of the above teams are in the Western Conference, with all but Nashville being in the Pacific Division. The Yotes play these teams, although their suspensions will be over soon, it helps if the other teams have a roster reduced due to suspensions.

I close with some words of advice for Jordan Nolan:

START PLAYING HOCKEY, AND STOP BEING A GOON ! !