The NHL’s department of player safety set the tone for 2015-16 in pre-season when it handed repeat headshot offender Raffi Torres a massive 41-game suspension.
The flip of the calendar brought a trio of big bans outside of the safety department’s realm.
Arizona’s Jarred Tinordi and Anaheim’s Shawn Horcoff were both banned 20 games for taking a performance-enhancing substance, and Calgary’s Dennis Wideman was suspended 10 games (reduced from 20) for cross-checking an official.
Combined, the 65 offending NHLers have forfeited more than $2.7 million due to reckless plays and off-ice decisions. Thirteen fines have been handed out for diving, more than the 10 dished out in 2014-15. And four players have been forced to miss playoff action.
Keep it here for an ongoing rundown of player safety’s 2015-16 supplementary discipline.
NHL’s Supplementary Discipline
Total suspensions: 39
Total fines: 26
Total man-games lost: 176
Total player salary lost: $2,747,105.27
Kris Letang
Date: May 3
Number of games: 1 (playoffs)
Infraction: Interference on Washington’s Marcus Johansson
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor for interference
That’s what he said: “It’s a body check.” — Penguins coach Mike Sullivan
Full story: Penguins star Kris Letang suspended for Game 4
Brooks Orpik
Date: May 1
Number of games: 3 (playoffs)
Infraction: Interference on Pittsburgh’s Olli Maatta
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor for interference
That’s what he said: “I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised based on who we’re playing and all that.” — Capitals coach Barry Trotz
Full story: Orpik suspended 3 games for hit on Penguins’ Maatta
Brayden Schenn
Date: April 26
Number of games: 3 (to be served in 2016-17)
Infraction: Charging Washington’s T.J. Oshie
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I would have been fine whether they talked to him or not.” — T.J. Oshie
Full story: Flyers’ Schenn suspended 3 games for hit on Oshie
Andrew Shaw
Date: April 20
Number of games: 1 (playoffs)
Infraction: Making use of a homophobic slur
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “That’s not the type of guy I am.” — Shaw
Full story: Andrew Shaw suspended 1 game for homophobic slur
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Date: April 19
Number of games: 1 (playoffs)
Infraction: Illegal check from behind to Washington’s Dmitry Orlov
Penalized on the play? Yes, a major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “This was as close as I have seen to somebody possibly breaking his neck.” — Jeremy Roenick
Full story: Bellemare suspended one game fro Orlov hit
Nazem Kadri
Date: April 4
Number of games: 4
Infraction: Cross-checking Detroit’s Luke Glendening
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for cross-checking
That’s what he said: “My cross-check kind of rode up on his shoulder a little bit and, yeah, that’s a penalty for sure.” — Kadri
Full story: NHL suspends Kadri for rest of season
Duncan Keith
Date: April 1
Number of games: 6
Infraction: High-sticking Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle
Penalized on the play? Yes, a match penalty for high-sticking
That’s what he said: “I’m a competitive person, but I don’t think that’s something that I can’t stop.” — Keith
Full story: NHL suspends Keith six games
Jake Virtanen
Date: March 30
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Interference against San Jose’s Roman Polak
Penalized on the play? Yes, a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “It was shoulder to shoulder. It’s tough, I didn’t mean to hurt him.” — Virtanen
Full story: Canucks’ Virtanen suspended for Polak hit
Jared Boll
Date: March 24
Number of games: 4
Infraction: Interference against Philadelphia’s Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Penalized on the play? Yes, a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “This league here, these are good hits and it’s gotten so conservative as far as the body checking in our game.” —John Tortorella, Blue Jackets coach
Full story: Blue Jackets’ Boll suspended four games
Chris VandeVelde
Date: March 18
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Elbowing Jonathan Toews
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for elbowing
That’s what he said: “[Toews] was the first to say I’m an honest player.” — VandeVelde
Full story: ‘Honest’ VandeVelde suspended for elbowing Jonathan Toews
Dalton Prout
Date: March 15
Number of games: 1
Infraction: Punching unsuspecting opponent Nikita Kucherov
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for roughing and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “The league did a good job. I’m going to serve my punishment. It’s fair.” — Prout
Full story: Dalton Prout suspended for punching Nikita Kucherov
Gabriel Landeskog
Date: March 10
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Cross-checking Anaheim’s Simon Despres
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “It was just a really, really, really dumb play on my part.” — Landeskog
Full story: Avalanche captain Landeskog suspended three games
Darnell Nurse
Date: March 10
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Playing the aggressor in a fight
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for instigating and a major penalty for fighting
That’s what he said: “I like to go out and stick up for my teammates. It was probably a little overboard.” — Nurse
Full story: Suspended Nurse explains ‘overboard’ attack on Polak
Jarred Tinordi
Date: March 9
Number of games: 20
Infraction: Violating terms of the Performance Enhancing Substances Program
That’s what he said: “I did not knowingly take a banned substance.” — Tinordi
Full story: Jarred Tinordi responds to 20-game NHL suspension
Max Domi
Date: March 4
Number of games: 1 (automatic)
Infraction: Instigating a fight during the final five minutes of play
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “When they go after our best player, that’s just how hockey works.” — Domi
Full story: Domi suspended for instigating fight
Zac Rinaldo
Date: March 1
Number of games: 5
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay’s Cedric Paquette
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor penalty for illegal check to the head
That’s what he said: “He’s put himself in questionable situations.” — Bruins GM Don Sweeney on Rinaldo
Full story: Rinaldo suspended five games for illegal check to head
Ryan Reaves
Date: Feb. 24
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Boarding San Jose’s Matt Tennyson
Penalized on the play? Yes, a boarding major and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “We respect the decision of the NHL on this matter.” — Doug Armstrong, Blues GM
Full story: Blues’ Reaves suspended 3 games for boarding
Leo Komarov
Date: Feb. 19
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of New York’s Ryan McDonagh
Penalized on the play? Yes, a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “My game is physical, and things like this happen. It’s hockey.” — Komarov
Full story: Maple Leafs’ Komarov suspended for McDonagh head shot
Drew Stafford
Date: Feb. 8
Number of games: 1
Infraction: High sticking Colorado’s Nick Holden
Penalized on the play? Yes, a double minor
That’s what he said: “I know he wasn’t trying to hit me in the face, but you can see he was trying to hit me in the body or something. Yeah, it was a wild swing.” — Holden
Full story: Jets’ Stafford suspended for high-sticking
Dennis Wideman
Date: Feb. 3
Number of games: 10 (reduced from 20, but he served 19)
Infraction: Physical abuse of an official
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I didn’t know where to go or how to get out of the way of him.” — Wideman
Full story: NHL suspends Dennis Wideman for 20 games
Jonathan Toews
Date: Jan. 31
Number of games: 1
Infraction: Skipping the All-Star Game
That’s what he said: “It’s disappointing… I’m not sure the rules of it or why that happens.” — Patrick Kane
Alex Ovechkin
Date: Jan. 24
Number of games: 1
Infraction: Skipping the All-Star Game
That’s what he said: “If we want to get to where we want to get to, we can’t do it without Alex Ovechkin being 100 per cent.” — Barry Trotz
Full story: Predators’ Neal, Capitals’ Kuznetsov added to All-Star roster
Shawn Horcoff
Date: Jan. 26
Number of games: 20
Infraction: Violating terms of the Performance Enhancing Substances Program
That’s what he said: “I regret the impact that this may have on my team and our fans.” — Horcoff
Full story: Ducks’ Horcoff suspended 20 games by NHL: ‘I am sorry’
Milan Lucic
Date: Jan. 24
Number of games: 1
Infraction: Sucker-punching Arizona’s Kevin Connauton
Penalized on the play? Yes, a minor for roughing and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “I think this is the fourth time [referee Brad Meier] kicked me out of a game. It’s always the same thing with him.” — Lucic
Full story: Milan Lucic suspended for punching Connauton
Bobby Farnham
Date: Jan. 13
Number of games: 4
Infraction: Interference against St. Louis’s Dmitrij Jaskin
Penalized on the play? Yes, an interference minor
That’s what he said: “It was a dirty hit on Jaskin.” — Ryan Reaves, Blues forward
Full story: Farnham suspended four games for hit on Blues’ Jaskin
Matt Hendricks
Date: Jan. 12
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Boarding Florida’s Aaron Ekblad
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I don’t hit dirty.” — Hendricks
Full story: Oilers’ Hendricks suspended for boarding Ekblad
Marcus Johansson
Date: Jan. 8
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Illegal check to the head on Islanders’ Thomas Hickey
Penalized on the play? Yes, minor for illegal check to the head
That’s what he said: “I didn’t think there was anything vicious.” — Barry Trotz, Capitals coach
Full story: Capitals’ Marcus Johansson suspended two games for head shot
Zach Sill
Date: Jan. 6
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Boarding Boston’s Adam McQuaid
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “When I saw the replay, that’s just a hockey play.” — Barry Trotz, Capitals coach
Full story: Sill suspended for hit on Bruins’ Adam McQuaid
Brad Marchand
Date: Dec. 30
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Clipping Ottawa’s Mark Borowiecki
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I don’t even want to give the guy the time of day.” — Borowiecki
Full story: Brad Marchand suspended, will miss Winter Classic
Max Talbot
Date: Dec. 21
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Interference with New Jersey’s Jiri Tlusty
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I didn’t really see it coming. I don’t know if it was clean or not. I don’t think it was.” — Tlusty
Full story: Max Talbot suspended for hit on Tlusty
Nate Thompson
Date: Dec. 14
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of Carolina’s Justin Faulk
Penalized on the play? Yes, an elbowing major and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “I wasn’t trying to hit his head. I’ve played with Faulker in the world championships with the U.S. He’s a great guy.” — Thompson
Full story: Ducks’ Thompson suspended: ‘I’m not a dirty player’
Radko Gudas
Date: Dec. 2
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of Ottawa’s Mika Zibanejad
Penalized on the play? No
That’s what he said: “I don’t necessarily agree with the league’s decision but I accept and respect it.” — Gudas
Full story: Gudas suspended for hit on Zibanejad
Brandon Dubinsky
Date: Nov. 28
Number of games: 1
Infraction: Cross-checking Sidney Crosby in the head
Penalized on the play? Yes. A cross-checking minor.
That’s what he said: “I’m not surprised. If I was going to get one of those shots, it would probably be from him.” — Crosby
Full story: Dubinsky suspended for cross-check on Crosby
Gabriel Landeskog
Date: Nov. 13
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of Brad Marchand
Penalized on the play? Yes. A match penalty.
That’s what he said: “I’m sure he didn’t mean it. I don’t think he’s a dirty player. It’s hockey.” — Marchand
Full story: Landeskog suspended, Marchand fined after altercation
Mark Stone
Date: Nov. 2
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Illegal check to the head of Landon Ferraro
Penalized on the play? Yes. A two-minute minor.
That’s what he said: “He has no history of illegal hits and we feel he was in pursuit of the puck and fighting for his ice when the contact occurred.” — Ottawa GM Bryan Murray
Full story: Senators’ Mark Stone suspended two games
Jason Demers
Date: Oct. 23
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Elbowing Nick Bonino
Penalized on the play? Yes. Five minutes and a game misconduct
That’s what he said: “I hope he’s all right. I wasn’t intending to hit him in the head or anything like that.” — Demers
Full story: Stars’ Demers suspended for elbowing Nick Bonino
Tyson Barrie
Date: Oct. 17
Number of games: 3
Infraction: Charging Simon Despres
Penalized on the play? No
Full story: Tyson Barrie suspended three games for hit on Simon Despres
Nikita Nesterov
Date: Oct. 16
Number of games: 2
Infraction: Hitting Curtis McKenzie from behind
Penalized on the play? Yes. Five minutes and a match penalty.
That’s what he said: “[McKenzie] is in excruciating pain… We couldn’t even get him off the table to get him out of here.” — Lindy Ruff
Full story: Nesterov suspended two games for bad hit
Raffi Torres
Date: Oct. 5
Number of games: 41
Infraction: Hit to the head of Jakub Silfverberg
Penalized on the play? Yes. Match penalty.
That’s what he said: “I played with the guy [in Vancouver]. He needs to learn how to hit. That has no part in our game anymore.” — Ryan Kesler
Full story: Sharks’ Torres suspended 41 games for hit on Silfverberg
Only Worth a Fine
Tom Wilson
Date: April 29
The damage: $2,403.67
Infraction: Kneeing Pittsburgh’s Conor Sheary
Andrew Shaw
Date: April 20
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Directing an inappropriate gesture at the on-ice officials
Nazem Kadri
Date: April 1
The damage: $3,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Nazem Kadri
Date: April 1
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Martin Hanzal
Date: April 1
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Nail Yakupov
Date: April 1
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Jason Chimera
Date: March 31
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Butt-ending
Josh Manson
Date: March 25
The damage: $2,486.56
Infraction: Inappropriate gesture toward Nazem Kadri
Tuomo Ruutu
Date: March 9
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Slew-footing
Joseph Blandisi
Date: March 3
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Devante Smith-Pelly
Date: March 3
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Nazem Kadri
Date: Feb. 11
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Inappropriate gesture toward Mark Giordano
Alex Burmistrov
Date: Feb. 4
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Jordin Tootoo
Date: Jan. 14
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Tyler Myers
Date: Jan. 13
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Cross-checking
Bobby Farnham
Date: Jan. 7
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Nikolaj Ehlers
Date: Jan. 7
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Jannik Hansen
Date: Dec. 31
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Zack Smith
Date: Dec. 17
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Brandon Prust
Date: Dec. 6
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Spearing
Brad Marchand
Date: Nov. 13
The damage: $5,000
Infraction: Roughing
Teemu Pulkkinen
Date: Nov. 13
The damage: $2,000
Infraction: Diving/embellishment
Ryan Reaves
Date: Nov. 4
The damage: $3,024.19
Infraction: Roughing Los Angeles’s Anze Kopitar
Alexander Burmistrov
Date: Oct. 26
The damage: $4,166.67
Infraction: Elbowing Minnesota’s Jared Spurgeon
Stephen Gionta
Date: Oct. 23
The damage: $2,284.95
Infraction: Spearing Ottawa’s Mark Borowiecki
Jordin Tootoo
Date: Oct. 15
The damage: $2,217.74
Infraction: A dangerous trip of Nashville’s Seth Jones
