NEW YORK – Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras has been handed a three-game suspension without pay following a headshot on Detroit’s Michael Rasmussen.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety issued the suspension on Monday, citing it as interference after conducting a disciplinary hearing with Zegras. The hit was described as “late” and “high.” The incident occurred late in the second period during the matchup between the two teams on Sunday, yet no penalty was awarded at the time.
In a video explaining the decision, the league emphasized that “players who are not in possession of the puck are never eligible to be checked.” It elaborated that the contact was initiated outside of the permissible timeframe for completing a legal check. The critical factors leading to the suspension involved the severe contact to the head and the force employed during the hit.
Following the collision, Michael Rasmussen was injured and could not return to the game. Red Wings’ coach Todd McLellan announced earlier on Monday that the 25-year-old player would not be available for their upcoming game against the Minnesota Wild, confirming that Rasmussen would not accompany the team on their trip.
This marks Trevor Zegras’ first suspension since he began his career in the NHL in 2021. The suspension will result in a financial penalty for Zegras, costing him $89,844 in salary.
