Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri has been suspended for the remainder of the season, the NHL’s department of player safety announced Monday.
Kadri received four games for cross-checking Luke Glendening in the second period of Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Kadri, who insisted he didn’t intend to target Glendening’s head, was assessed a minor penalty and Glendening wasn’t injured on the play.
“My cross-check kind of rode up on his shoulder a little bit and, yeah, that’s a penalty for sure,” Kadri told reporters after the game.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Kadri is considered a repeat offender. This suspension means he forfeits $200,000 based on his average annual salary.
It is the third time Kadri has been suspended in his NHL career. He got three games in 2013 for running over former Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and last April was suspended four games for a hit to the head on Matt Fraser.
The incident with Glendening is the second time in a handful of days that Kadri has been disciplined by the NHL. The 25-year-old was fined $5,000 Friday for diving/embellishment.
When asked about his reputation as a diver, Kadri said: “I’m not really too concerned about it to be honest. It’s not going to change the way I play.”
Kadri leads the Maple Leafs with 45 points in 76 games. His 73 penalty minutes also leads the team.
