Sportsnet is reporting that the NHLPA has filed an appeal on behalf of Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron after he was suspended six games for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub on Saturday night. Perron cross-checked Zub after a battle in front of the Senators net turned ugly resulting in Perron’s teammate Dylan Larkin being severely injured after taking multiple shots to the head and neck area from Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly. While Larkin lay motionless on the ice, Perron went after Zub and crosschecked him in the face which ultimately resulted in the suspension.
The incident was out of character as Perron doesn’t have a history of suspensions or supplemental discipline. It was certainly a heat of the moment reaction from the 35-year-old but one which will cost him to miss some games. The fact that Perron doesn’t have a history of disciplinary actions could play in his favor while he goes through the appeal process.
Perron’s appeal will go right to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman who will make a decision on the matter. If Bettman opts not to grant Perron the appeal, he can go to an independent arbitrator who will then decide. If the suspension remains in place at six games, the native of Sherbrooke, Quebec wouldn’t be able to return to the Red Wings lineup until their matchup on December 22nd against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The six-game suspension to Perron is the longest suspension handed down by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety in nearly two years and highlighted a busy weekend for George Parros and company.
The NHL is a JOKE! Matthieu Joseph who hit and injured Dylan Larkin does not get disciplined, yet Perron who goes to defend his Captain gets a 6 game suspension? This league always seems to stoop to new lows and this is the perfect example
While I agree that Joseph should’ve been suspended, Perron did not defend his captain. If he would’ve defended his captain, he would’ve gone after Joseph, not Zub. Perron deserves to be suspended, maybe not 6 games, but you can’t just cross-check a guy in the face
Agreed Perron deserves something but if anybody turned around and saw their captain on the ice your lucky that was all that happened
You don’t suspend based off of the result of a play, you suspend based on the action. Suspending Joseph for pushing Larkin into Kelly would be insane. You see that exact same thing 20 times per game in front of the net. It’s was an unfortunate outcome and Joseph got his two minute penalty, the only logical punishment he will get.
Perron earned it, He clocked the wrong guy, I see the 6 games in this case. Awkward!!!
I looked to the replay, Zub pushed Perron, who pushed Joseph who headshot Larkin, look to it carefully and if Zub doesn’t push Perron, nothing of this would happened.
I dont think Joseph had the intention to headshot larkin but because of the push from Zub, his stick came too high and he headshot Larkin with it, so yes all this is the Zub responsability.He got his Karma.
Also Joseph should avoid to hit the players on their upper body, by hitting the players to their upper body, he’s putting the players to the risk to get headshot, He’s a nasty guy, he deserve to be suspended if the rule 48 was not subject to interpretation.
Perfectly said, facts!!!
Person has a history of these kind of cheap shots.
He should know better. He has had a history of concussions.
If he was going to defend anyone, he should have dropped his gloves.
6 games is about right.
With no history? He should have known better? Silly…
If Zub had only yelled “I DIDN’T DO IT!” at Perron, none of this would’ve happened. Or, maybe not. Hopefully, we won’t be counting disenchanted ex-fans by the thousands if Bettman undoes the suspension by any degree.
They better not reduce it. Violent crosschecks to the face/head after play has stopped has no place in the game. Wish he’d gotten 10 games.