The NHL's Department of Player Safety has made its ruling on the infamous kick delivered by Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian to the chest of Tampa Bay Lightning blueliner Erik Cernak. Kassian will serve a seven-game suspension as a result of the incident.
Kassian may have gotten off easy here due to the fact that Cernak was not injured on the play, but considering how much worse it could have been had Cernak fell forward and caught a skate blade to the throat, Kassian should be counting his blessings that George Parros didn't hit him with a stiffer punishment.
Kassian has the option to appeal the decision to the league, but due to the dangerous nature of the play itself, it is highly unlikely that Gary Bettman would go any easier on the Oilers forward than the DoPS did.
Kassian will be eligible to play again on February 29th when the Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets.
Kassian will forfeit $166,463.41 in earnings while he sits out his seven games.
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