Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras received a three-game suspension after his hit to the head of the Detroit Red Wings Fram Michael Rasmussen on Sunday.
The discipline came down on Monday, after Zegras had a hearing with the NHL Department for Player Safety.
Rasmussen had already chipped the puck up the ice and did not look when Zegras delivered an axis to the head and neck area. Rasmussen, 25, was slow to stand up and did not return to the game.
No disturbance penalty was called on the game in question, which happened late in the second period of Ducks 5-4 overtime loss on Detroit.
“Zegras begins his striking movement after Rasmussen releases the puck and the contact is made outside the window where a check can be legally finished,” said a player security representative in an explanation video. “In addition to the latency, what makes this hit rise to the level of supplementary discipline the significant main contact of this game, combined with the strength.”
Zegras, 23, will miss a road game at Buffalo Sabers on Tuesday, followed by home games on Thursday and Saturday against Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. He is eligible to return on March 4 at Edmonton Oilers.
It marks his first career suspension.
Zegras has recorded seven goals and nine assists in 34 games this season. He has 170 points (62 goals, 108 assists) in 245 matches since Ducks prepared with the ninth total election in 2019.
Rasmussen has nine goals and six assists in 56 games this season. He has 135 career points (58 goals, 77 assists) in 369 matches with Red Wings, who prepared him ninth in total in 2017.
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