The ruling is in for Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle. After slashing Flyers winger Travis Konecny from the bench during their game Thursday, the Department of Player Safety announced (video link) that Guhle has received a one-game suspension.
The 22-year-old slashed Konecny in retaliation for a hit he threw on winger Juraj Slafkovsky seconds earlier in the dying seconds of the second period. However, any contact with a player on the ice from the bench is prohibited. In the ruling video, it’s noted that any contact that typically occurs from the bench can be handled with a penalty on the play or a fine. However, Guhle’s actions rose above that, resulting in the one-game ban.
It’s the first supplementary discipline of any kind for Guhle who will forfeit just under $4.5K in salary based on his $863.3K AAV. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He will now miss their game against Carolina on Saturday which should allow Johnathan Kovacevic to return to the lineup. Guhle will be eligible to return for Montreal’s contest versus Florida on Tuesday.
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