In a significant development for the Detroit Red Wings, forward David Perron has been suspended for six games without pay following a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub. This incident marked the first suspension in Perron’s extensive 1,081-game NHL career. The suspension decision was made by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, highlighting the severity of Perron’s actions.
The Incident
The cross-check delivered by Perron to Zub was in retaliation for a series of hits on Detroit captain Dylan Larkin by Senators players. Larkin initially took a hit from Senators forward Mathieu Joseph, which propelled him into Ottawa’s Parker Kelly. While Larkin was still on the ice recovering, Perron made his way towards Zub and raised his stick high, ultimately striking the defenseman’s head. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety emphasized that the impact of the blow was absorbed by Zub’s head due to Perron’s choices and actions.
Following Perron’s match penalty at 13:50 of the first period, he was offered an in-person hearing by the player safety department. However, Perron chose to have the hearing conducted over Zoom. The NHL confirmed that Perron’s cross-check was not considered a “hockey play” but rather an intentional strike aimed at exacting retribution on an opponent. The league rejected the argument put forth by the Red Wings that the cross-check did not directly hit Zub’s head because the defenseman raised his arm at the moment of impact. According to the NHL, the contact was a glancing blow to Zub’s shoulder pad, with Perron’s stick angle and height remaining unchanged.
The NHL’s disciplinary policy explicitly states that there are no exceptions for “heat of the moment” actions. Players are informed before the season that their actions, even if retaliatory against an opponent’s illegal act, will not be excused. Perron’s suspension serves as a reminder that players are responsible for maintaining sportsmanship and playing within the rules of the game.
As a result of the suspension, Perron will forfeit $148,437.48, which will go towards the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. Since the suspension spans six or more games, Perron has the option to appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and, if necessary, to a neutral arbitrator. The financial and potential game repercussions highlight the significance of Perron’s actions and the subsequent consequences he now faces.
Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde expressed minimal commentary on Perron’s suspension but reiterated his support for his players. Lalonde mentioned a two-game suspension given to Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews for a similar high, forceful cross-check incident against the Buffalo Sabres two seasons ago. Lalonde argued that the four-game difference was notable, considering Perron’s clean disciplinary record spanning over 1,100 games. Despite Perron’s disappointment, Lalonde emphasized the importance of trusting the established process.
Perron’s agent, Allan Walsh, publicly criticized the suspension, branding it as a “farce” and referring to the NHL’s Department of Player Safety as the “Parros Kangaroo Court.” Walsh contested the notion that Perron’s cross-checking incident jeopardized player safety, emphasizing that there were other instances where players received less severe punishment for violent cross-checking incidents resulting in injuries. Walsh pointed out that Zub played the following shift and that there was no injury significant enough to require immediate removal from the game.
David Perron’s suspension serves as a watershed moment in his NHL career, marking the first time he has faced disciplinary action for his on-ice behavior. The incident involving the cross-check to Artem Zub’s head highlighted the gravity of Perron’s actions and led to an extensive six-game suspension. The NHL’s commitment to player safety and its no-tolerance policy for retaliatory acts underlines the league’s efforts to ensure the integrity of the game remains intact.
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