Thanks to Eric McErlain who found some (amazingly shitty) video of the Grier hit.
After being able to watch it again it’s pretty clear that it was a dangerous and uncalled for hit. Grier wasn’t committed to the check but instead followed thru with a hit right on the 2 on Johnson’s back. I still don’t think Grier’s a dirty player – but this was a hit that shouldn’t happen.
So what does the NHL do? Fines him $1,000.
“I was just trying to finish my check,” Grier said. “I don’t know if he didn’t see me or what, but I guess I kind of caught him by surprise.”
Usually a hit from behind does catch a guy by surprise. I wrote a comment earlier over at Fear the Fin that I didn’t think there’d be any bad blood between the teams after that – but the lack of any substaintial punishment might create some. Grier is making $1.78 Million this year – and $1,000 is supposed to punish him? What a joke.