NHL Player Safety announces discipline for Oskar Sundqvist.

The National Hockey League has announced its ruling regarding an incident that occurred during the Saturday night matchup between the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks. It was an incident in which St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist delivered a rather ugly looking hit up high on Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, although this was was never going to be cut and dry.

The play occurred at roughly the midway point of the second frame when Gibson headed out of his net to handle a dump into the Anaheim Ducks zone by the Blues, getting there well ahead of any Blues player that was on the chase. Gibson then played the puck off of his stick but was apparently not quick enough for Sundqvist who then leveled the Ducks goaltender with what was a pretty big hit that seemed to catch Gibson up high. In fact Sundqvist left off of his feet and into the hit, which certainly made things look all that much uglier in real time. 

In spite of how bad the hit had looked in real time I do believe that there was a very strong case to be made that Sundqvist was in no way trying to deliver a body check to Gibson on the play. Obviously the NHL officials on the ice, as well as the two players involved in this incident, do not have the benefit of doing things in slow motion but we and the Department of Player Safety did get the chance to review them in that manner. Everything about Sundqvist's body language on the play indicated to me me that he was actually trying to sandwich himself along the boards on this play in an effort to avoid contact with Gibson, and I also believe that he was doing the same thing when he leaped into the air. It seems the NHL's Department of Player Safety also saw things in a similar manner as Sundqvist will be getting off with a rather light punishment. 

The NHL's Department of Player Safety released the following statement after a hearing for Sundqvist on Sunday.

"St. Louis’ Oskar Sundqvist has been fined $7,392.47, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Charging Anaheim’s John Gibson."

Do you agree with the ruling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.