Mikko Rantanen hit with automatic one-game suspension under little-known NHL rule
Photo credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images
The NHL has decided to discipline Mikko Rantanen after incurring two separate game misconducts, and suspended him one game for his actions.
Mikko Rantanen felt the wrath of the NHL Player Safety Department on Sunday as the league has decided to suspend the Dallas Stars forward for one game given his actions over the last week.
First, he was assessed a match penalty for his hit on the New York Islanders' Alexander Romanov, then proceeded to board Calgary forward Matt Coronato, receiving another game misconduct.
What NHL rule 23.6 actually says about automatic suspensions
This violates the NHL rules regarding multiple infractions over a short period of time:
In regular season League games, any player who incurs two (2) game misconduct penalties in the Physical Infractions category, before playing 41 consecutive League games without such penalty, shall be suspended automatically for the next League game for his team.
Rantanen has 28 points in 22 games this season for Dallas; he signed an eight-year, $96-million extension this past offseason.
It's not typical to see players get multiple infractions like this in such a short span, and especially not players like Rantanen. Though he does have an aggressive streak at times, there's been no real maliciousness on his part.
But it's a rule that clearly is put in place to stop players from running wild, and though it's only a one game suspension, it still puts Dallas at a disadvantage against Edmonton on Tuesday.
The NHL has been a bit busy this year handing out suspensions, giving a couple out against Tampa Bay during their fracas with Florida in the preseason, and Jonathan Drouin got a game for his cross-check.
Rantanen becomes the latest victim of the Player Safety Department, however it was deserved and if he keeps up these types of infractions then one game is not going to satiate fans or the NHL.
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