TORONTO — The NHL is coming down hard on James Wisniewski, handing the Anaheim Ducks defenceman an eight-game suspension for his hit on Chicago’s Brent Seabrook.
Wisniewski was assessed a charging penalty on Wednesday night after skating hard into the corner and hammering the Blackhawks defenceman, a former teammate.
Seabrook left the game and didn’t return.
The suspension comes with the NHL under pressure to make the game safer following a series of questionable hits.
Wisniewski will forfeit US$268,292.72 in salary and won’t be eligible to return to the Ducks lineup until April 3 at Los Angeles.