First suspension of the year handed out to Vegas forward Brett Howden

Last night was the opening night of the season for the NHL, and it already brought the first suspension given out this year. In a game between the defending champion Golden Knights and Kraken, Vegas forward Brett Howden delivered an illegal check to the head of Seattle's Brandon Tanev.

The Department of Player Safety announced earlier today that Howden would have a hearing immediately, and shortly after, news broke that Howden has been suspended for two games.


The DOPS assessed the play to be an illegal check to the head, and taking into account Howden's lack of history, suspended him for two games.


The check was clearly illegal, as Howden drove his shoulder making primary contact with Tanev's head, causing him to be shaken up and fall awkwardly to the ice. Hopefully, Tanev has a quick return, and the NHL takes supplementary discipline more seriously and consistently this season.