On Friday evening, the NHLPA officially requested an appeal hearing for Antoine Vermette, who was automatically suspended 10 games Thursday for abuse of an official.
If you missed the incident, Vermette slashed a linesman Tuesday after the official dropped the puck for a faceoff while Vermette wasn't ready. He was immediately given a game misconduct.
The NHL's Rule 40 stipulates an automatic 10-game suspension for Vermette's Category II actions, in "which physical force is applied (to an official) without intent to injure."
As ESPN's Pierre LeBrun noted on Twitter, there is precedent for this kind of suspension being reduced:
@DownGoesBrown Mike Peca had his Category 2 abuse of official 10-gamer reduced to five games by Bettman in 2008.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) February 17, 2017
No date has been announced for the appeal, but any decision to reduce the suspension will be made by commissioner Gary Bettman.
We ask you: What's a fair punishment for Vermette?
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