Wings not very happy with league decision.
AMPA, Fla. – Niklas Kronwall had always managed to walk a fine line by avoiding disciplinary action while punishing opponents with crunching open-ice hits.
His latest act of "Kronwalling," however, crossed that line, in the NHL's estimation.
And it couldn't have come at a worse time for the Detroit Red Wings. They will be without their best defensemen in their most important game of the season – Wednesday's Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.
The league on Tuesday suspended Kronwall for one game for what it called "charging" against the Lightning's Nikita Kucherov at 18:55 of the second period during Tampa Bay's 5-2 victory in Game 6 Monday.
The Red Wings organization is upset that the league banned Kronwall for this incident after overlooking many infractions in the past, including several against Detroit players.
"I disagree with the decision," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We got a big Game 7. We got to find a way to get a win with the players we have."
In explaining the suspension, the NHL's department of player safety said Kronwall launched into a hit that resulted in significant head contact, driving his forearm into Kucherov's face after the forward released a pass.
"What causes this infraction to rise to the level of supplemental discipline is the force to which the hit was delivered and the significant head contact that resulted from Kronwall launching into it," the NHL said in its explanation video.
The league said Kucherov was eligible to be hit, which might have including some unavoidable head contact, but added, "rather than staying low and delivering a full-body check through Kucherov's core, Kronwall elevates unacceptably with his skates off the ice prior to contact. It is important to note that this hit differs from countless other hits delivered by Kronwall at this same location on the ice and under certain circumstances."
It is Kronwall's first career suspension.
Prior to learning of the suspension, coach Mike Babcock said he didn't know why the league was even holding a hearing.
"I thought it was a good hit," Babcock said. "(Kucherov) was leaning back, trying to get out of the way. Kronner's foot was on the ice when he made contact, elbow tucked in on the side. It went through him."
Babcock believes it was no worse than some of the hits the Lightning have delivered.
"If you go through the series, in Game 2 (Ryan) Callahan did the same to (Danny) DeKeyser. (Ondrej) Palat got (Luke) Glendening exactly the same way (on Monday)."
The Red Wings were upset that Nashville defenseman Shea Weber avoided a suspension in the 2012 playoffs when he drove Henrik Zetterberg's head into the glass. Former league director of player safety Brendan Shanahan only fined Weber.
In 2013, Justin Abdelkader received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Anaheim's Toni Lydman in Game 3 of the first round.
Dallas' Jamie Benn wasn't suspended after punching Zetterberg in the head earlier this season, causing him to miss four games with concussion-like symptoms.
Zetterberg said he's seen Kronwall's hit many times and in slow-motion.
"I think when the contact is made his feet are on the ground," Zetterberg said. "His follow through, I think, hits his head, but he has his arms down. His elbow is down when the contact is made.
"He's been doing these hits all of his career, and not been suspended once."
Zetterberg added, "I've seen a lot worse in playoffs."
Abdelkader said, "I saw it in real time, I thought it was OK."
Kronwall is the team leader in average ice time (23:35), playing in all situations. He had appeared in 98 consecutive playoff games dating back to 2007, when he missed the entire postseason due to a fractured sacrum.
"It's a huge loss," Abdelkader said, before learning of the ban. "He's our leader on defense and a leader in the locker room. It would be a big loss. Guys are capable of stepping in. Keep our fingers crossed and see what happens."
Rookie Alexey Marchenko or Jakub Kindl will replace Kronwall in the lineup.
Babcock said it wasn't a malicious play.
"When the hit's there, you make the hit," Babcock said. "I don't think anybody's trying to hurt anybody anytime. I think you're trying to be hard. The playoffs are hard. All you've got to do is look at this series and you look at what goes on out there and I have to be honest with you, I'm surprised that this (review) is going on."
