Oleksiak: Here's the Department of Player Safety decision!

Earlier today, we reported the news that Dallas Stars' Jamie Oleksiak would have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. In this article, we noted the similarities between Oleksiak's hit and Tanner Pearson pre-season's hit on Brandon Davidson which got him a 2-game suspension.

We don't want to brag, but the Department of Player Safety indeed ruled a 2-game suspension for the Stars's defenseman.

"Oleksiak delivers a high hard hit to the head of VandeVelde, knocking him to the ice. This is an illegal check to the head. It's important to know that VandeVelde is elligible to be checked on this play, provided it is done in a legal manner. However, rather than taking an angle of approach that results in a legal full-body check, Oleksiak takes an angle of approach that picks VandeVelde's head, making it the main point of contact. It is also important to note that VandeVelde does not change the position of his head just prior to or simultaniously with contact"

The NHL Department of player safety also took into account the fact that VandeVelde wasn't injured on the play and that Oleksiak has never been fined during his career.