Gustav Nyquist Gets Player Safety Hearing

Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Wild, one the hottest teams in the NHL played the Detroit Red Wings. At the 14:13 mark of the first period, Gustav Nyquist of the Red Wings was crossed checked from behind by Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild. Nyquist fell to the ground, he got up, not very happy about the check from behind, turned around and slashed Spurgeon in the face with the blade of his stick. Following the slash. Chris Stewart went after the “Hash Slinging Slasher” and a brawl ensued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF-p_y8_8jE&feature=youtu.be

The result of the play was Stewart getting a two minute roughing penalty for roughing Nyquist, Nyquist received a two minute penalty for the high stick, and another two minutes that was served by Anthony Mantha. The powerplay for the Wild resulted in a 1-0 lead. The Wild ended up winning 6-3.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has reviewed the hit and has offered Nyquist an in-person hearing for a high-stick on Wild’s defensemen, Jared Spurgeon. The significance of the in-person hearing means that the NHL has the option to suspend him six games or more. The Department of Player Safety has said the date and time has not been set yet. Nyquist is also able to opt of of the in-person hearing for a phone hearing.

Spurgeon received a few stitches and went back on the ice just minutes later. Nyquist responded on the incident saying to reporters, ““(It was) completely accidental. Obviously didn’t mean to do that. My stick gets caught. I’m trying to get body position on him and I’m happy he was out there again. Obviously had no intention of doing that, so my stick gets caught and it looks bad but I’m happy he’s OK, that’s just a battle, that’s just the way it goes. Along the boards, then after that I’m trying to get body position on him and my stick gets caught, so it was good to see him out there right after. I’m happy he was out there playing the rest of the game.”

When asked about the incident, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune Spurgeon said, ““I haven’t really seen a replay or anything. I’m sure something will happen and the league will do something I’m just happy it didn’t go in my eye or something like that.” when his teammates were asked about the slash, goaltender Devan Dubnyk said he was surprised the in game suspension wasn’t more. He said, ““I just don’t understand how that’s not a five-minute penalty. Obviously he’s not a player that is going to, I want to say do it on purpose except anybody watching the game, … it’s a five-minute penalty regardless,”

Nyquist doesn’t have any history with the league or any incidents like this. The only thing on his record is a $2,000 fine for diving last season. To me watching the game live on NBC, the slash looked intentional, I don’t think he meant to hit him in the face, but the intention was there. Last season Drew Stafford was suspended for a game for high-sticking Nick Holden of the Colorado Avalanche. The NHL determined that his high stick wasn’t intentional. Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks, was also in a similar situation and was suspended six games for a dangerous high stick on Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle.

This is a little more similar to the Nyquist slash, Keith retaliated after being knocked down as did Nyquist. I think a six game suspension is more than fair. The slash was intentional, whether he meant to hit Spurgeon in the face or not he meant to slash him. He has no real history with suspensions, but six games is more than fair.

Written by Chase Barnhart