from Mark Spector of Sportsnet.

The checking-from-behind penalty was given major and game misconduct status for the 1991-92 season.

But why is it that today, more than three decades later, we still have so much checking from behind?

“So, body checking,” began cerebral Tampa head coach Jon Cooper. “The back is part of the body. So, when you turn at any moment, as fast as this game is, your back can be exposed.

“I don't know a player in the league — well, maybe a couple — that would go around thinking they're going to hit a guy in the back. There's way too much respect among the players. Because it's played so fast, some of those checks are going to happen. But I just don't feel that guys go in and hit a guy deliberately in the back.

“I just I have not seen it, whether it's my team or other teams.”

After a skein of such hits — from Evander Kane on Jonas Brodin, to Nick Cousins on Erik Gudbranson, to Eric Robinson on Justin Barron — we spent time talking to a few NHL players off the record. Then, we put our questions to Cooper, one of hockey’s smartest coaches, and one of its most thoughtful defencemen, Mattias Ekholm.

Our initial takeaway?

All of us folks on the outside of the game are more worried about this so-called “problem” then are the people who actually play and coach the sport.

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