The Chicago Blackhawks will be without one of their star defencemen for the opening game of the 2016-17 campaign.
Defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson has been suspended for the rest of the preseason and the first game of the regular season for his hit on St. Louis Blues forward Ty Rattie. He will also forfeit $22,777.78 of his salary as a result of the suspension. Hjalmarsson had an over-the-phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Monday.
CHI’s Niklas Hjalmarsson suspended for remainder of the preseason and 1 regular season game for charging Ty Rattie. https://t.co/XU8wAB5YuF
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 3, 2016
Nicklas Hjalmarsson Suspended for Hit on Ty Rattie
The Department of Player Safety deemed that Hjalmarsson “launches up and into [Rattie’s] head, making significant contact with Rattie’s head.” Rattie was shaken up on the play, but Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said that he was fine following the game.
Hjalmarsson, 29, was suspended only once previously in his 674-game NHL career. He missed two games in 2010 after boarding Jason Pominville from behind.
The suspension is also significant because the Blackhawks begin the 2016-17 season on October 12th against the Blues in the United Center. Fellow Chicago blue liner Duncan Keith is unsure if he will suit up on opening night while recovering from a knee injury.
Main Photo:
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 05: Niklas Hjalmarsson #4 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops Anthony Duclair #10 of the Arizona Coyotes from advancing the puck at the United Center on April 5, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
