Gustav Nyquist facing lengthy suspension after vicious high-stick
The Detroit forward may be suspended for 6 or more games
Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist could be facing a lengthy, and costly, suspension for a high-stick in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Wild.
Nyquist said the play wasn't intentional. On Monday Nyquist waived his right to an in-person hearing and will have a phone hearing on Wednesday. The request by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for an in-person hearing usually means a penalty of six games or longer.
Nyquist is suspended indefinitely until the hearing takes place.
Nyquist high-sticked defenceman Jared Spurgeon in the face late in the first period. Spurgeon had knocked Nyquist to the ice from behind near the side boards, and Nyquist came up swinging, using the blade of his stick to spear Spurgeon just below his left eye.
Spurgeon missed a few shifts while getting stitches in his cheek but returned before the end of the period. Nyquist got a double-minor, which irked Wild coach Bruce Boudreau.
"They didn't see it from the same angle I did," Boudreau said of the game officials. "They didn't think it was that bad. I said, 'Well watch the replay. You'll see it deserved more than a double minor."'
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet outlined the potential hit to Nyquist's wallet on twitter:
Nyquist will forfeit $26,388.89 per game of his suspension. Cost of a six-game ban would be $158,333.33; a 10-gamer = $263,888.89, etc.
—@reporterchrisWith files from The Associated Press