Avalanche’s Kadri offered in-person hearing following illegal check

(NEW YORK) — Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri was offered an in-person hearing by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety after an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Falk during the third period of Wednesday’s game.

Colorado’s Nazem Kadri has been offered an in-person hearing via Zoom for an Illegal Check to the Head on St. Louis’ Justin Faulk. Date and time TBD.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 20, 2021

A player is offered an in-person hearing when he could be suspended for six or more games.
The play happened 6:26 into the third period. Falk shot the puck and Kadri hit Falk appearing to make direct contact to Falk’s head with his shoulder. After reviewing the play, the referees assessed Kadri a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

“That’s a very dangerous hit. It’s gotta be a suspension,” said Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly after the game. “He’s a repeat offender. It’s completely uncalled for. That’s awful to see.”

Kadri has been suspended five times in his career, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

The Department of Player Safety factors in repeat offender status into its discipline. Here’s Nazem Kadri’s history of fines/suspensions pic.twitter.com/klhzE35S7Z

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) April 14, 2019

His last suspension was during the 2019 playoffs when he was on the  Toronto Maple Leafs. He was suspended for the final five games of the series against Boston following a high cross-check to Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk.

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