Jan Hejda Suspended Two Games for Elbow to Head

[VodkaFish]

TORONTO – Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda has been suspended for two games and will forfeit $21,505.38 for delivering an elbow to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger in NHL game #1161, the National Hockey League announced today.

The incident occurred at 1:05 of the second period. Hejda was assessed a minor for elbowing on the play.

His fine is based on his average annual salary and is calculated under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Hejda will miss the Blue Jackets' next two games – April 3 against St. Louis and April 5 at Dallas. He is eligible to return April 8 at Nashville.

[thruby]

so he got a minor AND a suspension, but Bertuzzi got a misconduct and no suspension?

i didn't get to see it because i was at work, was it bad? i can't even think of a time when Hejda was in hot water with the league before.

[shaud19]

It's not on youtube or NHL.com so I imagine this is a overreaction once again.

[RayzorEdge]

Originally Posted by thruby

so he got a minor AND a suspension, but Bertuzzi got a misconduct and no suspension?

i didn't get to see it because i was at work, was it bad? i can't even think of a time when Hejda was in hot water with the league before.

Hejda was going for the hit on Kruger and he got the elbow up at the last second right in the chin. It wasn't vicious, but it was a blatant elbow. Kruger didn't even miss a shift. If Hejda had gotten a major, he probably doesn't get anything else. I think it's a bit of an overreaction.

[J_Shelley45]

This totally defies the flow chart other than he is not a Red WIng. THe elbow was accidental and soley a result of change of direction by the puck carrier and a height difference. Nowhere near as bad as Bert or Heatley or anything else this year.

[slavv]

I'm in favor of the suspensions regarding the head contact stuff and blind-sided hits, but i didn't think this was really worthy of a suspension. It was definitely an elbowing or roughing infraction, but nothing too serious...

[GCBC00]

Safe to say the 'new NHL' is obviously doing a better job of sending thier message. Saw the hit and definitely thought there may be some punishment, maybe a fine but definitely didn't expect two games. Seems thier (the NHL is getting a lil' bit more consistent), I guess. Who knows? Just glad Kruger was OK and is good to go.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

it was an elbow and a hit to the head, but not two games worth.