Devils Timo Meier Suspended by NHL Department of Player Safety, Full Disclosure

It will be an early Thanksgiving for Timo Meier. The New Jersey Devils forward received a one-game suspension from the Department of Player Safety for illegally cross-checking the face of Nashville Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, Meier will serve a fine of $45,833.33. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Fund.

The incident occurred during the third period of Monday night’s tilt, where the Devils defeated the Predators 5-2.

L’Heureux after Predators goaltender Scott Wedgewood covers the puck took exception Meier’s presence was in close proximity to Nashville’s goalie, trying to push the Devils forward. In retaliation, Meier accidentally cross-checked L’Heureux’s face, which forced him to leave the third period and not return.

Meier received a five-minute major penalty for cross-checking and game misconduct and was ejected from the remainder of the contest. The Devils forward had one point on five shots in 13:37 of ice time. He also received a 17-minute penalty, including a mistake he made early in the second period.

The statement made by the Department of Player Safety regarding Meier’s suspension is as follows:

“On Monday night in New Jersey, Devils forward Timo Meier was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for forcibly cross-checking Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux in the face when play was stopped. As seen in the video, the puck was frozen by the Predators goalie for the whistle as L’Heureux cleared Meier from in front of the net. After the push, Meier cross-checks L’Heureux’s chest in response. Then, after this initial cross-check, Meier pulls his stick back again with both hands and delivers a second two-handed blow with his stick making direct contact with L’Heureux’s head, causing him to fall to the ice. This is cross-checking.

“It is important to note that Meier remained in control of this play at all times and attempted a second cross-check on his opponent after the whistle. This is not a situation where two players engage each other with their sticks up. This means the blow moves up the player’s body before making contact with his head.” Players are responsible for their sticks at all times and are not excused from their actions because a blow strikes an opponent in an unintended part or with unintentional force, which directly contacts the opponent’s head with sufficient force to merit additional discipline. It remains a high cross check after. To sum it up, this is a cross check. Meier was fined once in his 565 game NHL career. The Department of Player Safety suspended Timo Meier for one game.”

A video of the Meier cross-check could look like this: found here.

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