Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen will sit for two games for a high stick on Boston Bruins center David Krejci.
The hit came 8:00 into the second period when the two teams met on October 27 in Boston.
Rasmussen checked Krejci along the boards, following up his legal hit with a stick to Krejci’s head. The Detroit forward was given a minor penalty for high-sticking by referees Marc Joannette and Cody Beach.
Krejci was injured on the play; he left the ice and is currently day-to-day.
From NHL Department of Player Safety:
“Krejci picks up the puck after a Detroit shot on goal and skates it up the wall with Rasmussen pressuring. Rasmussen delivers a body check hitting Krejci’s left shoulder with his right shoulder. After completing the check, Rasmussen remains engaged, pivoting back toward Krejci and bringing his stick over the top of his body in such a way that causes it to strike Krejci in the head with some force. This is high-sticking.”
“It is important to note this is not the case of an off-balanced player flailing to steady himself after a collision. Rather Rasmussen’s use of the stick here is reckless – an attempt to apply extra force to his opponent after the initial contact. And while we agree with Rasmussen’s assertion that this not a malicious attempt to hurt Krejci, players are responsible for their stick at all times.”
What causes this play to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the reckless nature of the contact coupled with the force of the blow and the location where it lands on the opponent.”
We’re okay with two games on this play based on prior decisions by Player Safety. That’s right in line with how they’ve handled these types of situations in the past. We wouldn’t object, though, to coming down harder on plays with reckless – possibly intentional – stick fouls, like we’d seen previously with the one-game suspension to Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov. The easiest way to get these types of plays out of the game is to discipline them more severely.
Rasumssen had not previously been fined or suspended by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. He forfeits $15,783.78 as a result of the suspension.
