NHL hands out harsh suspension for vicious hit to the head.

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety has handed down a large suspension.

Anaheim Duck Nate Thompson will be banned for three games, the league announced on Monday, as a result of his brutal hit on Carolina Hurricane Justin Faulk. Suspensions of this length are generally handed out when another player misses time due to injury, however the NHL has ruled that Thompson's history as well as the severity of this hit warranted three games.

You can see a complete break down of their decision making process you can see the video released by the NHL's Department of Player Safety below.

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