Colorado Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri offered hearing, faces possible suspension for illegal hit on Justin Faulk

The NHL Division of Participant Security has supplied Colorado Avalanche ahead Nazem Kadri an in-person listening to for his unlawful verify to the top of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk.

By providing a listening to, the Division of Participant Security has the power to droop Kadri for greater than 5 video games. “In-person” hearings have been carried out over Zoom throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, however the participant has the power to waive it and do it over the cellphone.

The play occurred within the third interval of Wednesday’s Sport 2, a 6-3 Colorado victory that put the Avs up 2-0 within the first-round collection. After Faulk took a shot, Kadri hit the defenseman by main along with his shoulder — and appeared to hit him sq. within the head.

The referees reviewed the play and assessed a five-minute main and match penalty for an unlawful verify to the top. Faulk didn’t return to the sport, and his teammates have been livid on the play.

“That’s a really harmful hit. It’s gotta be a suspension,” Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly mentioned. “He’s a repeat offender. It’s utterly uncalled for. That’s terrible to see.”

The Division of Participant Security considers a participant’s historical past solely after it determines if the play deserves a suspension. Kadri has a prolonged listing of transgressions; he has been suspended 5 occasions by the NHL since 2013 — together with twice within the playoffs with the Maple Leafs.

The Division of Participant Security components in repeat offender standing into its self-discipline. Right here’s Nazem Kadri’s historical past of fines/suspensions pic.twitter.com/klhzE35S7Z

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) April 14, 2019

In Kadri’s most up-to-date suspension, he sat out the ultimate 5 video games of the Maple Leafs’ 2019 first-round collection after a excessive cross-check on Bruins ahead Jake DeBrusk.

Toronto traded Kadri to Colorado that following offseason.

In accordance with the collective bargaining settlement, a participant is taken into account a repeat offender “for 18 months following his most up-to-date incident that resulted in a suspension.” However the 18-month clause solely refers to repeat offender standing when factoring in how a lot cash the participant loses. All historical past might be related and thought of for the aim of figuring out suspension size.

“The man can’t management himself,” Blues middle Brayden Schenn mentioned. “Within the playoffs, he’s a repeat offender. Dangerous hits, greasy hits — he had a man in a weak place and he picked nothing however the head.”

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski contributed to this report.