TORONTO --
New York Islanders forward
Trevor Gillies has been suspended for 10 games and will forfeit $60,975.60 in salary for delivering a blow to the head of
Cal Clutterbuck of the
Minnesota Wild in NHL game #954, March 2, the National Hockey League announced today.
The incident occurred at 2:23 of the second period and Gillies was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind.
“By targeting his opponent's head, three shifts into his first game back from a suspension for a very similar action, Mr. Gillies has forfeited his privilege of playing in the League for 10 games,” said NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations
Colin Campbell. “While it is fortunate there was no injury on the play, there can be no justification for a player delivering a dangerous check to an opponent in this manner".
Gillies, who was suspended for nine games on Feb. 11, is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (186). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Gillies will miss the Islanders’ next 10 games and be eligible to return March 26 against Philadelphia.