Flames winger could face NHL suspension after controversial hit in debut

Brennan Othmann's tenure with the Calgary Flames got off to a rocky start Sunday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Just two days after signing a one year deal with Calgary, the winger was ejected from a preseason matchup with the Seattle Kraken before his team even hit five minutes of game time.

Othmann had already drawn an interference penalty on his very first shift.

On his second, he came in high on Kraken defenseman Ville Ottavainen, and officials didn't hesitate.

He was hit with a five minute major for elbowing and an automatic game misconduct, ending his night almost as soon as it started.

A closer breakdown of the hit points to the contact starting at Ottavainen's shoulder before Othmann's elbow snapped back and caught him a second time on the follow through.

That second contact point is likely what pushed the call from a minor to a major in the officials' eyes.

Before heading to the dressing room, Othmann dropped the gloves and squared off with Seattle's John Hayden, a fitting cap to an eventful five minutes on the ice.

Othmann spent last season bouncing between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate before landing in Calgary looking for a clean slate and a real shot at an NHL roster spot.

Instead, his first outing in Flames colors is already drawing the wrong kind of attention.

Calgary went on to drop the game 4-2, with Aydar Suniev scoring twice in relief of Othmann's early exit.

Head coach Ryan Huska still found something positive to point to, noting the impact Othmann made in his limited shifts before the ejection.

For a player fighting for a job, it's the kind of preseason moment that can cut both ways heading into final roster decisions.

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