NEW YORK — Anaheim Ducks player Trevor Zegras has been handed a three-game suspension without pay for delivering a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety revealed the suspension on Monday, attributing it to “interference” occasioned by a “late, high hit.” The incident occurred late in the second period of the matchup between the two teams on Sunday, though no penalty was initially called for the play.
According to a video explanation released by the league, “Players who are not in possession of the puck are never eligible to be checked. Contact is made outside the window where a check may be legally finished.” The NHL emphasized that the severity of the punishment stemmed from the “significant head contact on this play, combined with the force.”
Michael Rasmussen was forced to leave the game due to injury and did not return. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan disclosed that the 25-year-old player would not be available for their following game on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild, and that he would not be traveling with the team.
This marks the first suspension for Trevor Zegras since his entry into the league in 2021. The penalty for this infraction will cost Zegras $89,844 in lost salary.
