Video: Was Dion Phaneuf's Hit on Kyle Okposo Dirty or Just Uncalled for?

Last night in a preseason NHL game between the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders, Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is known for crushing hits, laid one of his patended side-swiping blows on young Islanders winger Kyle Okposo, which then led to a semi-brawl on the ice between the two teams.

Kyle was moving around after the hit, as you can see on the video, but he had to be taken out on a stretcher, which is obviously not a good sign.

I have been reading around the Internet all morning to see what others feel on the situation. The majority seem to feel the hit was clean but uncalled for because it is preseason hockey. Others feel Kyle should always be skating with his head up through the neutral zone, regardless of preseason or regular season, or expect the worst to happen.

There is no word yet on the situation of Okposo's health and Phaneuf's consequences, if there will be any, but expect something to come out by the end of the day.

Now I ask you: Did Phaneuf leave his feet before the hit or use his elbow during the collision? Or was this hit clean and just uncalled for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WooGFHLZoVE

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