Repeat offender Patrick Kaleta was dealt a five-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Monday after hitting New York Rangers forward Brad Richards from behind during the Rangers’ 3-2 shootout victory Sunday.
Because Kaleta’s hearing with the league was conducted over the phone and not in-person, the maximum number of games for which he could have been suspended was five.
The 26-year-old Kaleta received a five-minute major for checking from behind plus a game misconduct for hitting Richards at the 3:28 mark of the third period (watch above).
Kaleta has yet to register a point this season but has amassed 46 penalty minutes in 18 games.
Richards spent time down on the ice and immediately threw off his gloves. After being tended to by a trainer, the Rangers centreman skated off on his own power and did return to the game. Still hurting from the check, Richards did not practise with the Rangers Monday morning.
“That’s not even a head shot. That’s stupidity,” Richards, 32, told ESPN’s Katie Strang. “If we’re all gonna look at each other’s numbers and ram each other from behind head-first into the boards it’s gonna be a tough game to play.
“That’s not hockey. I don’t know what game he plays, actually.”
Richards’ coach, John Tortorella, described Kaleta’s check as “disgusting” and “ridiculous.”
“It’s probably one of the most dangerous hits I’ve seen,” Tortorella told reporters after the game.
Kaleta, whose most recent suspension was a four-game ban for head-butting Jakub Voracek in November 2011, addressed the check Monday in Carolina.
His comments were tweeted out prior to the hearing:
Patrick Kaleta declines specifics on boarding with hearing pending. Asked if he had message for Brad Richards, long pause:”I’m good for now”
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) March 4, 2013
Sabres Patrick Kaleta says he feels like “a bag of garbage” for putting team in short-handed situation that led to two Rangers goals.
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) March 4, 2013
Sabres Patrick Kaleta on boarding Brad Richards: “I just play hard, and I was on the penalty kill trying to do my job.”
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) March 4, 2013
