NHL suspends Sharks’ Dany Heatley for two games
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A few hours after NHL general managers ended meetings Wednesday that were dominated by the topic of more severely punishing blows to the head, the league suspended San Jose Sharks forward Dany Heatley for two games for elbowing Dallas’ Steve Ott in the head Tuesday.
Based on his average salary, Heatley will lose $80,645.16 for the offense. The money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Heatley was assessed a minor penalty for interference on the ice but the league can review any play for the purpose of imposing a fine and/or suspension.
The Sharks, who are only three points ahead of the Kings atop the Pacific Division and have played one more game than the Kings, won’t have Heatley in their lineup Thursday against Minnesota or Saturday against St. Louis.
A phone hearing for Boston’s Brad Marchand, who elbowed Columbus’ R.J. Umberger in the head Tuesday, is set for Thursday.
NHL Vice President Colin Campbell, who usually handles supplementary discipline proceedings, won’t rule in the case because his son, Gregory, plays for Boston. The ruling will be made by league Vice President Mike Murphy, whose decision last week that Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara’s crushing hit on Montreal forward Max Pacioretty didn’t warrant a suspension sparked debate about where the league will draw the line on blows to the head.
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-- Helene Elliott