Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith gets hefty five-game Suspension -NHL Update
Vancouver Canucks can now breathe easier as they were dealt justice after the elbowing incident between one of their top players, Daniel Sedin, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman, Duncan Keith, occurred during a matchup on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.
Canucks lost Sedin to the incident and has been re-evaluated the following day, but it is still not sure how many games he will be forced to miss due to an apparent injury caused by an elbow to the face.
"We respect the league's decision and move forward from this point on and try to renew a playoff position and secure the highest seeding possible," Canucks assistant general manager, Laurence Gilman said. "That being said, our priority, obviously, is Daniel's
health and well-being."
Keith was awarded a five-game suspension by the National Hockey League’s (NHL) vice president for player safety and hockey operations, Brendan Shanahan. It seemed like a hefty charge to give to a first time offender but Shanahan, in his explanatory video,
describes it as being due to the severity of the hit.
"Regardless of Keith's assertion that the intent on this play was to impede Sedin's progress as opposed to a retaliation for an earlier hit, Keith's hit was still dangerous, reckless and caused injury," Shanahan said.
The veteran, 28-year-old defenseman was playing in his seventh straight season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He registered 40 points (4 goals, 36 assists) and a plus-minus rating of 16 in the 72 games he played so far.
On a five-game winning streak, Keith will not be playing with the hot Chicago Blackhawks team in their next contests against Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Predators again on March 31 and against Minnesota Wild on April 1.
He will be eligible to make a comeback in their final two games against Minnesota Wild on April 5 and Detroit Red Wings on the 7th.
Keith will also be giving up $149,688.15 of his annual salary due to the suspension, which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Now, Chicago Blackhawks will continue playing without some of their best players since Duncan Keith has been suspended while captain, Jonathan Toews, does not have a return time decided as of yet, definitely making the team vulnerable from every aspect.
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