Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri will reportedly avoid supplementary discipline for his blindside hit on Daniel Sedin on Saturday night, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.
It was without question a malicious hit, and it had quite a violent consequence as Sedin's helmet was jarred loose before his head hit the ice. But while Kadri delivered the contact from the blindside, he came through the body of Sedin, who still had the puck.
The NHL's Damian Echevarrieta explained the Department of Player Safety's rationale soon after on Twitter.
Blind side hits are NOT illegal in itself. If the head isn't the MAIN point of contact, it doesn't matter if it's North/South or East/West. pic.twitter.com/edzNqfnf2M
— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) November 6, 2016
Kadri received a five-minute charging penalty, as well as a fighting major after being challenged by Jannik Hansen. The incident sparked a series of fights, spears, and general misconduct between the two teams, which combined for more than 150 minutes in penalties.
He's been suspended three times previously by the Department of Player Safety.
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