The NHL's department of player safety has come out swinging this year as they have already handed out two four-game suspensions. One to Calgary's Rasmus Andersson, who appealed and lost his case and now another to Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who is also appealing the decision.
Apparently, many in the league's front office were surprised to find out that the Bruins defenseman would be appealing his suspension. The suspension came when McAvoy illegally checked Panther's defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the head.
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported that the league believed it was a relatively simple case. He also reported that McAvoy is looking for the league to reduce the suspension by at least one game, but points out that Gary Bettman could actually extend the suspension if he thinks it would be appropriate. Perhaps we could see that happen as a deterrent to players appealing in the future.
That being said, the league upheld Rasmus Andersson's four-game suspension last week and the league office has already stated this case seemed to be rather simple so it would be quite surprising to see the term change as a result of this appeal.
