Dallas blue liner Jamie Oleksiak has been suspended by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde during Saturday afternoon’s game, the league announced. According to Cap Friendly, Oleksiak will forfeit $10,208.33 in salary. The defenseman was not penalized on the play.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News speculates the Stars could turn to Patrik Nemeth or Johnny Oduya to take Oleksiak’s spot in the lineup. Nemeth was a healthy scratch yesterday while Oduya is currently on IR. Heika mentions that the team has made roster moves that would be necessary in order to activate Oduya.
Oleksiak is in his fifth season with the Stars and in 13 contests in 2016-17, the 6-foot-7, 255-pound defender has three goals and four points with 16 penalty minutes. In 91 career appearances, he has tallied four goals and 16 points with 61 penalty minutes. Dallas selected Oleksiak in the first-round of the 2011 entry draft.