Jonathan Drouin Suspended After Heated Clash With Former Leaf Connor Dewar
Photo credit: NHL.com
New York Islanders forward Jonathan Drouin has been suspended one game for his cross-check to the face of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar.
It was a heated affair between Metropolitan Division rivals the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins as veteran forward Jonathan Drouin decided to enact some vicious punishment to Pittsburgh's Connor Dewar.
The incident occurred with only 15 seconds to go in the game, and frustrations clearly boiled over on Drouin's side with what he ended up doing.
What Happened Between Drouin and Dewar
Drouin essentially shoved his stick into Dewar's face and then forced him down to the ground which showed a clear intent on Drouin's part to dish out some extra punishment.
That decision warranted a Player Safety hearing via phone; which can lead to a five-game suspension.
Well the Player Safety Department has come to the conclusion that Drouin indeed acted maliciously and deserved a one-game suspension.
The news was broken by NHL Insider Chris Johnston and confirmed shortly thereafter by the NHL Player Safety Department themselves:
It is curious though, as the league just handed out a four-game ban to Scott Sabourin; why is only one-game warranted for Drouin in this case?
Drouin signed a two-year, $8-million deal with the Islanders this past offseason and is coming off 37-point season with Colorado in 2024-25 (11 goals, 26 assists).
For his career, Drouin has 375 points in 608 career games (108 goals, 267 assists) since being drafted 3rd overall in 2013. He's not reached the heights of his junior numbers but has carved out a solid NHL career.
Dewar, the focus of the attack, was re-signed by Pittsburgh this summer after being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline in order open up some extra cap space.
Drouin will also feel a hit in his wallet, as he will also be fined $20,833.33 which will go towards the Player Emergency Assistance fund, and it's more insult to injury for him to get a double dose of punishment.
It's certainly not the start that Drouin wanted to give his new team, and his absence no doubt will make the already middling New York Islanders lineup look even weaker.
