Jacob Trouba is no stranger to borderline hits in big-time playoff games.
On Monday’s Game 7 between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, Trouba rocked Timo Meier with a hit up high in the opening minutes of the third period. With the Rangers down 2-0 in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with their season on the line, Trouba looked to light a spark in New York with the heavy hit.
Unfortunately, Trouba’s hit was quite the violent one, as Meier was down on the ice in pain after taking a shoulder to the face. Meier did end up returning to the Devils’ bench later in the third, but Trouba absolutely lit him up with a brutal hit.
Jacob Trouba with a hit on Timo Meier in the middle of the ice pic.twitter.com/Tt9b17N2aV
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 2, 2023
Another look at Jacob Trouba's huge hit on Timo Meier #NYR | #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/feRXfNrvd8
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) May 2, 2023
Yeah, that’s as hard of a hit as you’ll see in the NHL. Trouba wasn’t penalized for the play, as that kind of hit is technically legal according to the NHL rule book. Because Meier was leaning over in a vulnerable position on the play, Trouba’s hit was deemed legal by the referees on the ice.
Rangers' Trouba hit on Devils' Meier ruled legal. Head contact may be permitted if unavoidable or if player's body position contributed to the contact – which, with Meier bent over, leaning forward, did on this play. #NYRvsNJD pic.twitter.com/uuXrnlNYzy
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) May 2, 2023
NHL fans, however, were stunned that that type of hit still remains a legal one given how violent and devastating it is. While Trouba may not have been penalized for the hit due to its legality, hockey fans were quite upset all the same.
I don’t know, I don’t really care if that Trouba hit is legal, I really hate seeing those types of hits.
— EvolvingWild (@EvolvingWild) May 2, 2023
That is REALLY borderline for Trouba. Often his monster hits are chest first and clean. But that one seemed to get a lot of head. Gotta watch it a few more times
— Matt Larkin (@MLarkinHockey) May 2, 2023
The first part of Meier’s body that moves when Trouba hits him is his head. Really no other way to view it. Meier had his head down and also seemed to lean forward when he lost control of the puck. Trouba caught head first in the sequence. Sort of drove up and in.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) May 2, 2023
We're going to have the same discussion about this TRouba hit that we do about all of the other ones. It's a clean hit by the NHL rulebook. It shouldn't be, but it is.
— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) May 2, 2023
There's just no need for these hits anymore. https://t.co/3wWnyDW8ei
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) May 2, 2023
First point of contact is the head. Trouba can’t keep getting away with these. Hope Meier is ok
pic.twitter.com/75FmZXHnMb— Maria Bouabdo (@BouabdoMaria) May 2, 2023
Holy Sh@&. That was a hellacious hit by Trouba on Meier. As hard as i can remember any open ice hit from the last few years. By the rules, it was completely clean. Happy to see Meier get up.
— Mike Johnson (@mike_p_johnson) May 2, 2023
What's worse about Trouba's hit is that it is straight up predatory, even if he doesn't make head contact.
Meier is covered. There's two Rangers near him.
Trouba goes out of his way to make the hit.
— The Unchecked Patrick Damp (@SynonymForWet) May 2, 2023
it’d be nice to go a 10 game stretch without a controversial Trouba hit
— Juliana Nikac (@juliananikac) May 2, 2023
You’ve gotta follow these guys.
Appears to be a legal hit *under the rules* but should it be? https://t.co/3WD5ErCuHM
— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) May 2, 2023
