Players suspended or fined by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety or Hockey Operations during the 2019-20 season:
Suspensions
| Offender | Team | Date | Gms | Rule | Penalty | Lost Salary | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kane, Evander | SJS | 9/29/19 | 3 | Abuse of Officials | GM Abuse of Officials | $112,903.23 | Article |
| Lowry, Adam | WPG | 10/26/19 | 2 | Boarding | 2:00 | $31,362.00 | Article |
| Lucic, Milan | CGY | 11/2/19 | 2 | Roughing | 4:00 | $64,516.13 | |
| Foligno, Nick | CBJ | 11/9/19 | 3 | Elbowing | 5+GM | $88,709.67 | |
| Hathaway, Garnet | WSH | 11/18/19 | 3 | Unsportsmanlike (Spitting) | Match | $24,193.55 | |
| Bortuzzo, Robert | STL | 11/23/19 | 4 | Cross-checking | 2:00 | $67,073.17 | |
| Kerfoot, Alexander | TOR | 11/23/19 | 2 | Boarding | 2:00 | $37,634.41 | |
| Cernak, Erik | TBL | 11/25/19 | 2 | Elbowing | None | $7,500.00 | |
| Farabee, Joel | PHI | 12/15/19 | 3 | Interference | 5+GM | $14,919.35 | |
| MacDermid, Kurtis | LAK | 12/31/19 | 2 | Illegal Check to Head | None | $7,258.06 | |
| Perry, Corey | DAL | 1/1/20 | 5 | Elbowing | 5+GM | $40,322.58 | |
| Kassian, Zack | EDM | 1/11/20 | 2 | Aggressor | 4+GM | $20,967.74 | |
| Lauzon, Jeremy | BOS | 2/8/20 | 2 | Illegal Check to Head | Match | $8,037.63 | |
| Kassian, Zack | EDM | 2/13/20 | 7 | Kicking | None | $166,463.41 | Article |
| Kane, Evander | SJS | 2/14/20 | 3 | Elbowing | 2:00 | $256,097.56 | |
| Lemieux, Brendan | NYR | 3/11/20 | 2 | Interference | 2:00 | N/A | Article |
| Caggiula, Drake | CHI | 8/1/20 | 1 | Illegal Check to Head | None | N/A | Article |
| Niskanen, Matt | PHI | 8/21/20 | 1 | Cross-Checking | None | N/A | Article |
| Reaves, Ryan | VGK | 9/4/20 | 1 | Illegal Check to Head | Match | N/A | Article |
| Killorn, Alex | TBL | 9/9/20 | 1 | Boarding | 5+GM | N/A | Article |
* Preseason games
Fines
| Offender | Team | Date | Fine | Rule | Penalty | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paquette, Cedric | TBL | 9/26/19 | $2,500.00 | High-sticking | 2:00 | Article |
| Ritchie, Nick | ANA | 10/16/19 | $4,121.89 | Roughing | 2:00 | Article |
| Helm, Darren | DET | 10/17/19 | $5,000.00 | Slashing | 5+GM | Article |
| Sundqvist, Oskar | STL | 11/16/19 | $7,392.47 | Charging | 4:00 | |
| Johansen, Ryan | NSH | 12/3/19 | $5,000.00 | Elbowing | 5+GM | |
| Kane, Evander | SJS | 12/3/19 | $5,000.00 | Elbowing | 5+GM | |
| Tkachuk, Brady | OTT | 12/7/19 | $2,486.56 | Cross-checking | 2:00 | |
| Lemieux, Brendan | NYR | 12/8/19 | $2,000.00 | Elbowing | None | |
| Girard, Samuel | COL | 12/18/19 | $1,957.88 | Boarding | None | |
| Fabbri, Robby | DET | 12/21/19 | $2,419.35 | Spearing | 2:00 | |
| Stalock, Alex | MIN | 12/21/19 | $2,000.00 | Diving/Embellishment | None | |
| Tortorella, John | CBJ | 12/29/19 | $20,000.00 | Comments toward officiating | -- | |
| Pageau, Jean-Gabriel | OTT | 12/30/19 | $2,500.00 | Roughing | 2:00 | |
| Malkin, Evgeni | PIT | 12/30/19 | $5,000.00 | High-sticking | 2:00 | |
| Cousins, Nick | MTL | 1/7/20 | $2,688.17 | Boarding | 2:00 | |
| Arvidsson, Viktor | NSH | 1/7/20 | $2,000.00 | Diving/Embellishment | 2:00 | |
| Trouba, Jacob | NYR | 1/11/20 | $5,000.00 | Slashing | 5+GM | |
| Lindgren, Ryan | NYR | 1/16/20 | $2,486.56 | Interference | 2:00 | |
| Roussel, Antoine | VAN | 2/10/20 | $5,000.00 | Slashing | 2+10 | Article |
| Dumba, Matt | MIN | 2/11/20 | $5,000.00 | Slashing | None | Article |
| Chara, Zdeno | BOS | 2/12/20 | $5,000.00 | Cross-checking | 2:00 | |
| Julien, Claude | MTL | 2/15/20 | $10,000.00 | Comments toward officiating | -- | Article |
| Niskanen, Matt | PHI | 2/20/20 | $5,000.00 | Slashing | None | |
| Sabourin, Scott | OTT | 2/20/20 | $1,881.72 | Unsportsmanlike Conduct | 10 Misc | Article |
| Hayden, John | NJD | 2/25/20 | $2,016.13 | Cross-checking | 5+GM | |
| Josi, Roman | NSH | 3/7/20 | $5,000.00 | Cross-checking | 2:00 | |
| Sundqvist, Oskar | STL | 3/8/20 | $5,000.00 | Roughing | 2:00 | |
| Ferland, Micheal | VAN | 8/2/20 | $5,000.00 | Spearing | 2:00/Slash | Article |
| Kunin, Luke | MIN | 8/2/20 | $1,000.00 | Unsportsmanlike Conduct | Bench Minor | Article |
| Matheson, Mike | FLA | 8/4/20 | $2,500.00 | High-sticking | 4:00 | |
| Brind'Amour, Rod ^ | CAR | 8/12/20 | $25,000.00 | Comments toward officiating | -- | |
| Pacioretty, Max | VGK | 8/16/20 | $2,500.00 | Slashing | None | |
| Tortorella, John ^ | CBJ | 8/25/20 | $25,000.00 | Comments toward officiating | -- |
^ head coach
Suspensions do not include players suspended for off-ice violations, including violations of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program (e.g. VGK Valentin Zykov’s 20-game ban) or unacceptable off-ice conduct (e.g. 3-game suspension for WSH Evgeny Kuznetsov).
Repeat Offenders
A repeat offender is one who has been suspended for a second offense within 18 months of the previous offense. Repeat offender status only applies to the way fines and salary forfeiture is calculated. All disciplinary history is considered when determining a player’s suspension. Repeat offenders’ fines are calculated based on the number of games in a season: [(salary/82)*suspension length]. Others are calculated based on the days in a season: [(salary/195)*suspension length].
Hearings
Fines: Hearing not required if less than $5,000; phone hearing if over $5,000.
Suspensions: Phone hearing required if up to five games; suspensions of six games or more require an in-person hearing be offered. If a player waives his right to an in-person hearing, he may still receive a suspension of six games or more via phone hearing.
Fines and Salary Forfeitures
Fines can be up to 50% of a player’s daily salary (salary/195). Fines may not exceed $10,000 for a first offense and $15,000 for a second offense within a 12-month period.
Evolution of a Suspension
A look inside the NHL Department of Player Safety’s process:
