Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist will sit out six games as a result of his hit to the face of Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon Sunday.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Nyquist’s suspension. As a result Nyquist will forfeit just over $158,000.
“It’s important to note this is not an accidental or inadvertent high stick delivered by a player who is swatting at a puck in mid-air or who simply fails to control his stick in traffic,” said the player safety department’s video. “Rather, as Nyquist stated during the hearing regarding this incident he acts in retaliation for being cross-checked from behind.”
Here are the complete findings from the department of player safety:
Nyquist told Detroit reporters Tuesday that he didn’t intend to high-stick Spurgeon. He doesn’t have a long history of incidents similar to Sunday’s, in 317 career NHL games he has just 92 penalty minutes.
However, there are those who don’t think the NHL went far enough.
Gustav Nyquist speared Jared Spurgeon in the face. That's assault. He got six games. That's a joke. Nice work NHL. You screwed up again.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) February 15, 2017
According to the Detroit Free Press, Red Wings GM Ken Holland says there will not be an appeal.
