NHL
Bruins Forward Suspended After Illegal Check to the Head
During a game against the New Jersey Devils this past Thursday, Veteran Boston Bruins forward David Backes was penalized for an illegal hit to the head. The following day he paid a steeper price. Backes was suspended for three games by the NHL’s Department of Player Saftey (DPS).
Backes checked New Jersey Devils forward Black Coleman at 17:57 of the third period during their Dec. 27 game. Backes drove his left shoulder into Blake Coleman’s head, moments after the forward shot the puck down ice from the slot in New Jersey’s end of the ice.
This suspension is his second three-game sit-down in the last nine months. Consequently, Backes is considered a repeat offender under the teams of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Based on his average annual salary, Backes will be forced to forfeit $219,512.19 towards the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. This is more than three percent of his $6 million salary.
It is likely that Backes will be on the sideline, without uniform, on Tuesday at Notre Dame during the Winter Classic against the Blackhawks. In theory, out of the next three opponents that the Bruins will be playing, the Blackhawks are their weakest opponents meaning that it will be the easiest/best game for Backes to miss. From a team perspective that is.
David Backes has the right to appeal this decision but such appeals are rare. Previously, Tom Wilson from the Capitals was given a 20-game suspension. Yet, his sentence was ultimately reduced to 14 games. Neutral arbitrator Shyam Das was the one who cut the suspension back by 30%. It is likely that Backes will not appeal his suspension, as three games is already a relatively short suspension. Instead, Backes will just accept his fate.
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Photo Courtesy of Aaron Dawson
