NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reduced Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza‘s suspension from six to four games following an appeal.
Spezza was suspended for kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk on Dec. 5.
Spezza is now eligible to return on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
“As to the length of Mr. Spezza’s suspension, and as I have noted in prior opinions, the CBA does not prescribe a formulaic basis for the determination of the appropriate level of supplementary discipline,” Bettman said in his ruling. “Each case is unique and must be decided on the basis of its own particular facts and circumstances.”
Spezza hadn’t been suspended or fined before this incident.
Pionk was diagnosed with a concussion after the play, but missed only three games (two of which he would have missed regardless because of suspension).
“In the unusual circumstances presented here, I believe that the conduct at issue was a serious, but isolated, aberration from Mr. Spezza’s consistent style of play over nearly two decades and that a four-game suspension is sufficient to ensure that the conduct will not be repeated,” Bettman said.
The incident occurred during a chaotic game between the two teams, when Spezza’s knee hit Pionk in the head while the Jets defender was diving to chase a puck.
Spezza was seemingly retaliating against Pionk, who shortly before had injured Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin with a knee-on-knee hit. Pionk was suspended two games for the hit on Sandin.
Pionk has expressed remorse for the hit on Sandin.
“Listen, I’m not out there to hurt anybody or have any sort of intent. It made me sick watching (Sandin) go off the ice, and he’s limping off the ice,” said Pionk, noting his concussion symptoms lasted for four days before he started light workouts and eventually got back on the ice.
“He’s a great young defenceman, I never want to cut his career short, even by a game. So there’s remorse there, and definitely not the intent on the hit. I understand that what I did wasn’t right, and I’ve accepted that. I’m just looking forward to getting back.”
