The NHL announced on Monday that they’ve suspended forward Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators for five games for punching Dallas Stars defenceman Stephane Robidas in the face.
Robidas suffered a concussion from the punch.
“In reviewing this incident, Stephane Robidas appeared to be initiating a confrontation by approaching Jordin Tootoo,” NHL senior executive vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement. “While a player is entitled to defend himself, Mr. Tootoo’s forceful blow to Robidas’ head was an overly aggressive and inappropriate response.
“The fact that Mr. Tootoo’s actions resulted in an injury to his opponent also was a factor in this decision.”
“Jordin was put in a very difficult situation with Robidas confronting him,” Poile said the Predators GM in a telephone conference. “I don’t know what he was supposed to do. All he could see was a player coming at him with his arms up and certainly looking like he’s ready to enter into some form of confrontation. I think Jordin did what I think everybody would do, and he reacted and threw a punch.”
Source/Credit: TSN.ca
