6:12 p.m.: Andersson has been suspended four games as a result of the play, NHL Player Safety confirms. Andersson will be eligible to return on November 1 against the Stars. Charging was the official designation on the play. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis later reported the Flames are planning to appeal the suspension, although a significant reduction in length is unlikely to happen in time based on past precedent.
10:19 a.m.: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson delivered an elbow to the head of Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine in the dying seconds of last night’s contest, earning himself a major penalty in the process. The clip of the play can be viewed here. It has also earned him a discussion with the league as the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link) that he’ll have a hearing today. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that it’s a phone hearing which means the maximum suspension would be for five games.
Laine did not travel with the Blue Jackets following the game for their game today against Minnesota, the team announced (Twitter link). He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Laine has changed positions this season and has lined up as a center in the early going. Not surprisingly, he has struggled a bit at the faceoff dot, winning just 41% of his draws while he has a goal and an assist in four games so far this season.
As for Andersson, he has once again logged heavy minutes for Calgary in the early going, averaging just shy of 24 minutes per game while chipping in with three points in their first five contests. The Flames are one of just two teams that aren’t in action tonight with their next contest coming tomorrow against Detroit. That means while the hearing will take place today, it’s possible that any supplemental discipline may be announced on Sunday.
I had a look at that hit… Yeah, throw the book at this guy. That was a malicious and deliberate attempt to injure.
Unnecessary hit at the end of the game. Andersson should be suspended for at least 2 games.
Andersson had himself a case of 5-alarm stupid last night. Even the crew on SN960 weren’t pleased.
Laine’s face-off % is misleading for a couple of reasons. One, 41% is a career best at 4 percentage points better than his previous best and 20 percentage points better than his first year in Columbus (his worst face-off year). Two, he has taken 44 face-offs in 4 games, 4th highest # in his career already. Meaning, to me, that the coaching staff is willing to trust him with an increased workload. He also seems to be blocking more shots (6 in 4). Perhaps Laine finally wants to do more than “just” score goals.
Perhaps you missed the part in the article where it says Laine has changed positions this year and is now playing Center. Meaning he has more responsibilities than he did as a winger.
Bush league play. Complete headhunt when the game was literally over.
The wrong part about the hit is the launching when Laine was already falling and in a vulnerable position. No history. I suspect 1-2 games unless Paros decides to make an example out of him early in the season.
DOPeS this year:
Vicious, intentional hit: 2 games
Someone breathes heavy on Bedard: 10 games
bone headed play, should be 3 at minimum just due to the game being basically over and a star player getting ran due to it
How do the jackets benefit from this suspension? He should have to sit when they play in Calgary (shit hole). NHL front office sucks.
How do the jackets benefit from this suspension? He should have to sit when they play in Calgary (sh^t hole). NHL front office sucks.
The rest of the Jackets team shoulda sent the message that a league suspension would be the least of Andersson’s worries. Next time Calgary is in town, that SOB and the whole team better be made to know what happens if someone runs one of their guys, or the rest of the league is gonna continue to push them around the rest of the season.