Calgary's ice-time leader will forfeit nearly $95,000 in salary
Calgary's ice-time leader will forfeit nearly $95,000 in salary
Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson has been handed a four-game suspension for his high check on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine in the final seconds of Friday’s game.
Just before the final buzzer sounded on the Blue Jackets 3-1 home-ice victory, Andersson caught Laine with a crushing hit in the neutral zone. He appeared to elevate into the check and made impact with Laine’s head
Andersson will forfeit $94,791.68 in salary, which goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
“Andersson launches upward into Laine, elevating unnecessarily and making significant contact to Laine’s head with his elbow,” said the league in the explanation of the punishment.
The key points for the suspension, according to the league, was that Andersson charged at Laine and caused injury. Andersson was assessed a major for elbowing, which came with an automatic game misconduct.
His only preview brush with the NHL Department of Players' Safety was just over two years ago for elbowing and head butting Kailer Yamamoto, then of the Edmonton Oilers.
With Andersson unavailable, defenseman Jordan Oesterle will likely be in the lineup when the Flames visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday to finish a five-game road swing. Andersson will also miss two home games — against the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues — as well as the Heritage Classic outdoor game in Edmonton.
Andersson, an alternate captain who leads the Flames in average ice time (23:39 per game), has collected one goal and two assists in the first five games of the season.
Calgary (2-2-1) has netted just one win in the first four games of the trip.
Laine did not travel with the Blue Jackets for Saturday night’s game with the Minnesota Wild, and is listed as out day-to-day.