4:58 p.m.: Perron’s in-person hearing will take place via Zoom tomorrow afternoon, the Department of Player Safety said Sunday night.
11:10 p.m.: The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has announced that veteran forward David Perron has been offered an in-person hearing for a cross-check in last night’s game that he delivered to Ottawa Senators blueliner Artem Zub.
According to the Department of Player Safety’s protocols, a player is offered an in-person hearing “if the infraction might require a suspension of six games or more.”
Looking at the play in question, it’s understandable that George Parros and the Department of Player Safety would consider significant supplemental discipline. The infraction occurred late in the first period of yesterday’s game. In response to a play that left captain Dylan Larkin motionless on the ice, Perron unleashed a high cross-check onto Zub’s head area, attacking a player who appeared to hold his hand out looking to diffuse the situation.
Not only did Perron make direct contact with Zub’s head, he also jumped upwards to do so, displaying a clear intent to attack the head area. While the principle of sticking up for one’s teammate is central to the game, it’s hard to argue Perron did anything but take that principle way too far with his actions. Perron was immediately assessed a match penalty on the play, the penalty carrying the serious tag of “intent to injure.”
As a result of this play, the Red Wings appear likely to be without Perron for a potentially significant period of time. A suspension appears to be a certainty at this point, which would leave the Red Wings without one of their most experienced forwards. The team’s recent acquisition of Patrick Kane should soften the blow of that loss, of course, but still losing a player who scored 24 goals and 56 points last season for some important games is surely bad news for Detroit.
Assuming a suspension, expect to see 23-year-old Jonatan Berggren assume Perron’s spot in the lineup. The 23-year-old 2018 33rd overall pick has scored 15 points in 16 AHL games so far this season and scored 15 goals in his NHL rookie year in 2022-23.
Whatever happened to Zub is directly Mathieu Joseph’s fault. 4th line scrub knocks out the leading scorer and captain, with a blatant headcheck of his own, and Perron is the enemy facing suspension?
At least he had some stones to stand up for Larkin after a similarly violent, illegal cheapshot a few feet away from him which resulted in a scary injury to the best player on his team.
Joseph’s punch to the back of the neck needs to be punished severely! These shots to the back and the back of the head in particular need to out of the sport!
The Joseph play happens 20 times a game lol. It was unfortunate but you don’t punish based on the result of the play.
And on top of that, it was the contact with Kelly which looks like it did the damage. If you actually watch the video, it’s not even a cross check or a punch that Joseph does, it’s a push in a net front scrum lmao. I can’t believe how overboard Detroit fans went last night trying to justify Perron based on a terrible outcome.
Gotta agree with JD as a neutral fan – looked unfortunate that he kinda got sandwiched but think there was barely any intent there. Toronto reduced the penalty DOWN to 2 mins after review which sort of indicates to me there wouldn’t be much supplemental for Joseph and I think that’s probably correct. It sucks but it’s not a particularly violent play.
Perron on the other hand… dayem that was nasty. 10 games.
Just realized Matthieu Joseph is having a career year… I’m probably not the only one who hasn’t followed Ottawa closely this year, but I’m unclear as to how the league’s reaction seems to disregard Joseph’s initial head check that started the whole situation.
Just because Joseph isn’t offered an in-person hearing doesn’t mean he won’t be suspended. Just that it’s likely less than 5 games. Perron went in and cross checked the wrong guy in the face. Big difference.
@JerZmicNtheBoys — I was listening to the Ottawa side when that mess started. The only thing going in Joseph’s “favor”, was he, himself, waving for the trainers after seeing if Larkin was OK. It was the right thing to do, but not clocking the opposition captain would have stopped this in the first place. He deserves a hefty suspension, for his own recklessness. Perron went after Zub like he thought he was the cause, and that was 5-alarm stupid. I would disagree with Mickey that Perron “won’t argue the intent to injure.” I can’t imagine what excuse he’d use, but a message needs to be sent from DoPeS.
He’ll get the equivalent punishment that Evader Kane got on his hit to Broden.
(evades punishment)
I see your stance MacJablonski, however, I’d argue that just because he waved the trainers over doesn’t mean it wasn’t a gutless play deserving of a major penalty/suspension. Just because he was immediately regretful of making the decision which would likely result in the injury of another doesn’t mean he should be penalized any less for what he did.
@JerZmicNtheBoys – That was basically my point. The appearance of remorse, which could be viewed as just an acting job, or a genuine reaction. Too many guys these days are shoot first, shoot again, then ask questions later. These situations are compounded by the fact that some players are never prepared to be hit. The guys that are blindsided are in a defenseless position, though. Does he deserve a suspension, though? I agree with you, it should be a substantial one.
100% JerZmicNtheBoys
If people take minute to actually watch video. he gets hurt when he is sandwiched between Joseph and Kelly. Perron he saw Larkin on ice attacked the closest player. He did even have a clue what happen. He let with his stick. Sadly typical of today’s bettman nhl. Fight after clean hits/ cheapshots all over the place.
“in-person hearing will take place via Zoom”
If this isn’t an oxymoron, I don’t know what is.
Kelly clearly made contact as well, and seemed to lean in with his shoulder to larkin’s head, but simply could’ve been bracing himself for the contact. Definitely looked suspect on his part, but it did happen fast. Joseph is the one who made the initial cross check to the head/neck to a player looking the other way, and with a captain down on the ice, it makes sense Perron being the vet he is sought the guy closest/available to make a statement; I don’t condone head checks by anyone, but if Joseph doesn’t initiate, none of the other stuff happens.
Seems Larkin was lights out by the time he made contact with Kelly but it’s hard to tell because his head was down. I think someone fighting Joseph on his next shift would’ve been totally warranted, not a head check, but it’s understandable when your captain is motionless to want to exact revenge immediately.
Hopefully Perron is not the only one serving a multi-game suspension, because he certainly isn’t the only one deserving of one in that situation.
Here’s what chaps my ass about that game.
Why in the world was Klim Kostin a healthy scratch for this Ottawa game? Lalonde dresses 7 D-men. Are you freaking serious. So you mean to tell me that it was critical to have Holl and Petry both dressed and have Kostin sit? It was an absurd move by Lalonde. Petry and Holl both suck. I could be wrong, but I think Lalonde healthy scratched Kostin earlier this year against Ottawa as well. Makes zero sense.
Kostin was our best forward in the Sharks game. He was dominant every shift. The Sharks could not handle him. The guy actually has an impressive skill set. He can really skate. He’s actually a good stick handler, got good moves and a hell of a snap shot. Not to mention the physical presence he brings.
Ottawa has been punking us for two years now. Idiot Tkachuk challenged our entire bench last year and nobody from the Wings has addressed it yet. It’s unreal.
Furthermore, Lalonde’s comments after the game saying he accepted/ agreed with the refs giving minor penalties to the Sens two players is extremely troubling. He then said a nice thing about Joseph for being honorable to fight after.
Could you imagine if this was John Torterela? Good lord he would have flown off the handle protecting his unconscious captain laying on the ice.
Agreed, and very strong point regarding the decision to dress 7 dmen. More specifically, sitting Kostin made no sense based on the lack of physicality up and down Detroit’s lineup, up front. If I was Larkin, I might be a bit chapped by that post game presser unless Lalonde had a different speech for the fellas in the locker room and didn’t want to make the target any bigger re. Perron’s pending suspension. Torts would’ve went on an amusing tirade after that game.
So, the next day after I posted that, I see the Wings put Kostin on the IR. Not sure why. He looked great in that San Jose game and to my knowledge finished the game so who knows. Must have been something in practice the next day.
So, I take back my comments about him not being in the lineup. But not about Lalondes lack of support for the Larkin thing. You must make stronger comments in the press to support your captain.
He got cross checked in the neck by Benn in Dallas last year or two years ago and that still hasn’t been addressed either. Even if you lose the fight you have to show up for your captain.
Back in the day if something like that happened, #24 and #26 would have taken care of it immediately. Even if that meant taking an extra penalty or two.