WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson was suspended six games Friday for his stick to the face of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor.
The NHL’s department of player safety gave Wilson a suspension tied for the longest of any player this season after a disciplinary hearing with him on Zoom.
The league offering that type of hearing instead of a phone call allowed senior vice-president of player safety George Parros to hand down a suspension of six or more games.
Wilson can appeal, first to commissioner Gary Bettman and then, if he and the NHL Players’ Association choose, to a neutral arbitrator.
He had a 20-game suspension for a blindside hit to to the head in 2018 reduced to 14 games by an arbitrator on appeal after he had already served 16.
In a video announcing the suspension, player safety said Wilson swung his stick in “extremely reckless fashion.”
Wilson’s actions on this play are fully under his own control, irresponsible and not related to any sort of legitimate hockey action,” the league said.
“He is accountable for the dangerous result of the play, which is a direct and forceful blow to an opponent’s head by a player with a substantial track record of supplemental discipline.”
