Rumor: Ferland will NOT be suspended for spearing a player on the Wild's bench.

There was an incident roughly midway through the 3rd period of Sunday night's late game between the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild that many thought would lead to a suspension, it seems as though that may not be the case however. 

First, the incident. There were 10 minutes left on the clock in the third period when Vancouver Canucks forward Micheal Ferland, who was all over the Minnesota Wild in this contest, appeared to deliver a spear to a player that was sitting on the Wild's bench at the time. Upon watching the video replay there is no question that Ferland delivers a spear to a player that appears to be Wild forward Jordan Greenway, but the video also revealed more than just the infraction on the part of Ferland. 

The video also showed that the spear from Ferland had not merely been a cheap shot on the part of the Canucks forward, but rather had been an act of retaliation after a member of the Minnesota Wild had grabbed onto his stick and refused to let go. Although it is difficult to tell exactly whose hand it was that grabbed the stick, it once again looks like Jordan Greenway was the man involved on the Wild bench. That will change how many people will perceive what would have otherwise just been a dangerous cheap shot on the part of Ferland, and it sounds like the National Hockey League itself may agree. 

Although TSN's Dustin Nielson suggested on Sunday that this would be a "Suspension for sure" for Ferland, it sounds like the gritty Canucks forward will skate away with a much less severe penalty on this one. On Monday morning TSN insider Darren Dreger responded to the comments from his colleague and suggested that a fine would be the more likely outcome, probably due in large part to the fact that Greenway had appeared to provoke the reaction from Ferland with some cheap tactics of his own. 

I certainly do not blame the Wild for going after Ferland in this manner, especially not with a comfortable two goal lead in the third period, as the Canucks forward was very physical during the game including a rough and bloody fight with Wild forward Marcus Foligno. At the end of the day it was merely gamesmanship on the part of Greenway.

Here's a look at the spear:

Update: Now officially a fine of $5,000.

Update: Luke Kunin was the man holding the stick, I got that wrong, and has been fined as well.