One of the NHL’s heavy hitters is facing some supplementary discipline.
On Saturday, the NHL Department of Player Safety revealed that New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba will have a hearing for his hit on Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The incident happened late in the second period of Friday night’s game. According to a release from the NHL, Trouba caught Dorofeyev with an elbow while fighting for position after a faceoff. There was no penalty called on the play.
On the Golden Knights’ radio broadcast, Dorofeyev went down the tunnel following Jonathan Marchessault’s second goal of the game early in the third period.
The hearing will take place over the phone, which means the maximum penalty Trouba can receive is a five-game suspension.
Trouba does have a history of receiving discipline. Back in 2017, he was handed a two-game suspension for a hit on Mark Stone. In late November of this season, he was fined $5,000 for high sticking Boston Bruins forward Trent Frederic, though that decision was not well received.
Trouba has earned the reputation of a player that pushes the envelope with his physical play, especially come playoff time. While some applaud the Rangers’ captain’s aggressiveness, some wonder if he goes too far at times.
With this hearing, it might lead to Trouba toning things down in order to stay in the lineup in the future.
In 48 games this season, Trouba has scored three goals and 16 assists. In 727 career games, the Rochester, Michigan native has registered 73 goals and 233 assists, including 12 points in 57 playoff games.
After the 5-2 loss to Vegas, the Rangers (29-16-3) remain atop the Metropolitan Division, two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, but are eight points back of the Boston Bruins for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
They are set to visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
More must-reads: