Columbus Blue Jackets James Wisniewski and Minnesota Wilds Brad Staubitz face hefty suspensions –NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL) continued its crackdown on illegal hits as the senior vice president of player safety, Brendan Shanahasn, awarded Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman, James Wisniewski, for the remainder of the preseason and eight regular season
games along with Minnesota Wilds forward, Brad Staubitz, for three regular season matchups in addition to the preseason.
Columbus’s enforcer, Wisniewski, was handed down a hefty suspension due to his hit during a preseason matchup with Minnesota Wild, as he checked their forward, Cal Clutterbuck, from behind, giving him a right-arm blow to the head after the period ending
horn hand sounded.
Being a repeat offender, Wisniewski was given harsher treatment and is also forced to give up $536,585.36 in salary.
Columbus Blue Jackets coach, Scott Arniel, was astonished at the decision, but in the end realised that there was nothing that could be done.
"It was a lot harsher than I was expecting, but there's not much we can do about it. We've got to move forward - they've made their decision. We've already put our best foot forward when it came to our side of the story, and obviously the league felt that,
being a repeat offender, a blow to the head, that was the call that needed to be made", said Arniel.
Minnesota attacker, Brad Staubitz, on the other hand was handed down another suspension for his hit in the same contest, but during a different incident in which he checked Columbus’ Cody Bass into the boards.
"You've just got to be conscious all the time of what you're doing. It's tough. You've got to play hard, especially in the role that I'm in", Staubitz said. "It's a narrow line".
Wisniewski recently signed a huge, six-year deal with Columbus Blue Jackets, worth an estimated $33 million earlier in July after becoming a free agent, while Staubitz is also in the first year of his new two-year, $1.15 million contract.
Columbus will have Wisniewski back on October 25, nearly a month later, in their matchup against Detroit Red Wings. Minnesota expects to play Staubitz after his suspension, which ends on October 13, as they host Edmonton Oilers.
Tags: