Breaking: Zach Hyman receives multi-game suspension for hit on Charlie McAvoy.

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety has just handed down another suspension.

According to an official report from the league offices they have now issued a 2 game suspension to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman for a late hit that he delivered to Boston Bruins star defenseman Charlie McAvoy on Saturday night. It's a very interesting suspension from the league given some of the rather egregious hits from last night that have been ignored by them, most notably the hit to Los Angeles King Kyle Clifford from Las Vegas Golden Knights veteran Pierre Edouard Bellemare. That being said the league clearly felt that this hit rose to the level of supplemental discipline and I have to believe that the fact that McAvoy is both a start level player, as well as one in his first game back from a concussion that forced a 20 game absence,played a factor in determining the length of the suspension.

The NHL as suspended Hyman for "interference" and went out of their way illustrate that the hit from Hyman came far too long after McAvoy had released the puck from his stick. In fact in the video angle provided by the National Hockey League you can clearly see that Hyman has not yet fully committed to his body check even after the puck has left McAvoy's stick, making this a predatory and dangerous hit. 

Additionally the league would go on to describe this hit as one that was predatory in nature from Hyman, citing this as the main reason for the hit rising to the level of a 2 game suspension. According to the league's official explanation McAvoy was an unsuspecting player in a vulnerable position and although hitting such a player is not in and of itself a violation of the rules, when it comes as late as this one did it puts the health and safety of the opposing player at risk. 

The league correctly pointed out that McAvoy never saw the hit coming, that Hyman delivered it with considerable force, and that McAvoy never had a chance to brace himself from an impact he should not have been expecting that long after a pass was made. 

For the full break down check out the video below.

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