The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron for six games following a hearing Monday for "exacting retribution" with a cross-check to an opponent's head.
Perron, 35, on Sunday was offered an in-person hearing, indicating the NHL was considering a suspension of six games or longer. The hearing instead was held via Zoom.
The six-game ban is the longest an NHL player has received for on-ice conduct this season. He can choose to appeal.
During Saturday night's game against Ottawa, Perron's teammate, Detroit captain Dylan Larkin, was injured and laid face down on the ice, leading to a stoppage in play. Perron and Senators forward Artem Zub were tangled up and Zub accidentally landed on Larkin. Perron began skating away, then turned back to Zub, took several strides and forcefully struck Zub's head with his stick.
Perron was given a match penalty and left the game before the first period's end, but a Department of Player Safety official said Perron's infraction rose to the level of severe supplemental discipline.
"This is not a hockey play," the official said in an explanation video. "This is an intentional strike with a stick made with the purpose of exacting retribution on an opponent.
"Perron takes several strides toward Zub and with sufficient time to choose to engage Zub in a different manner - or at the very least ensure that this cross-check is delivered directly to the body - comes up excessively high with his stick and delivers a shot to Zub's head with force."
The league said the Red Wings argued that it was not a direct blow to the head, but the league dismissed that argument, saying "at most" the stick glanced off Zub's shoulder but still reached the head.
Perron, a 17-year NHL veteran, had only received league discipline once in his 1,081-game career, a fine for a retributive hit.
Unless he appeals, he will miss Detroit's game Monday night at the Dallas Stars along with games against the St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets. He will be eligible to return Dec. 22 when the Red Wings host a return game against the Flyers.
Perron, 35, has seven goals and six assists in 26 games this year.
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