Lupul accepts suspension, questions NHL policy

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul admits that he deserves his suspension but appears to have doubts about the NHL’s disciplinary system.

 

 

Lupul was suspended two games without pay by the NHL’s department of player safety Thursday afternoon as punishment for his hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman.

Early in the third period of the Maple Leafs’ 4-2 win over the Lightning Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre, Lupul checked Hedman in the neutral zone after the 6’6 blue-liner played the puck; the principle point of contact was Hedman’s head.

Lupul was dealt a two-minute minor penalty on the play.

Hedman was shaken up on the play and taken to the dressing room but later returned to the game.

Based on his average annual salary, Lupul must forfeit $45,945.94. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

A day after Lupul’s hit, New York Rangers forward Rick Nash delivered a questionable hit on Florida Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky but avoided a hearing by the NHL — which garnered negative attention when compared against Lupul.

Nash left his feet and elbowed the Florida forward, who was positioned stationary in the slot. Approaching from Kopecky’s back, Nash delivered his check blindside from behind.

Kopecky’s helmet flew off and he hit the ice face-first. He got to his feet on his own and finished the game sitting on the bench.

While it initially looks like a hit to the head, the principle point of contact was to the back of his shoulders.

Later Thursday night, Lupul posted the following on Twitter.

 

On Friday, the NHL’s department of player safety posted a video explaining why Nash was not given any supplementary discipline:

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