Kings' Scuderi fined for Chimera check
Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 | 8:28 PM ET
CBC Sports
NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell confirmed Monday that he fined Los Angeles Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi for a low hip check on Jason Chimera.
Financial details were not disclosed.
"I fined Rob today and Rob was accepting," Campbell told HNIC Radio on Sirius.
Scuderi's hit occurred nine minutes into Sunday's 6-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The veteran defenceman leaned low as he backed into the onrushing Chimera, who was sent head over heels and landed on his head.
Chimera was shaken up but otherwise uninjured, except for a cut along his right brow.
Scuderi's hit was considered a legal hip check — he wasn't penalized on the play — but raised concern because he leaned so low to make it.
"Scuderi went really low and I felt it was a clip," Campbell said. "Fortunately, he didn't injure the guy.
"He did hurt him on the play, as far as receiving a cut. But he came back in the game, Chimera, so I didn't think it was a fair play and we fined him."
Quick to note Scuderi isn't "a dirty player," Campbell compared him to Rob Blake and Kyle McLaren, both of whom have perfected the lost art of the hip check.
"He does hit guys with a hip check," Campbell said of Scuderi. "Rob Blake's name came up and Kyle McLaren's, but they hit guys with their rear ends and they hit them in the hips and they hit them hard … [not] low."
Hearing with Ott
Campbell, the NHL's senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, later revealed having Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott in his sights for an overly abrasive effort in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Ott received minor penalties for roughing and kneeing plus a fighting major.
"We have our eye on him to the point that we have a hearing tomorrow with him because our eye has been on Steve Ott," Campbell said. "He is a repeat offender and he has been involved in discipline.
"It is not something we have to deal with right away so we will talk about it. Where I'm going to with it, I don't know yet."
