In today's Canucks vs Red Wings game, Vancouver defenseman Nikita Zadorov got kicked out of the game for an illegal check to the head on Detroit forward Lucas Raymond.
Raymond was skating up the ice and Zadorov made direct head contact with the hit , which brought made Raymond fall down. Zadorov was then given a five minute major and a game misconduct.
After the game, it was announced that Zadorov will have a phone hearing with NHL Player Safety this evening, not even waiting for tomorrow.
Since it's a phone hearing and not in-person, he will receive a five games or less suspension, while an in-person hearing could've given him many more.
I'm a little surprised the NHL moved so quickly on this, it's the right call, but they don't always do the right thing.
It's also worth noting this is one of the quickest announcements for a hearing in recent memory. Just hours after it happens a hearing is announced. The Department of player Safety obviously have taken major issue with the hit.
