Follow @RickS7



Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL pending his hearing Monday in New York with Department of Player Safety director Brendan Shanahan for his hit against Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall in Thursday's game at the Pepsi Center.

McLeod was offered the opportunity for an in-person hearing as required by provisions of the collective bargaining agreement for any suspension that could exceed five games. He will sit out Saturday's game in Buffalo and probably won't be able to play Monday in Pittsburgh.

McLeod was assessed a five-minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct for his hit on Kronwall, who was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher. The Red Wings announced that Kronwall sustained a concussion and cuts to his right ear.

Kronwall told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he was taking some responsibility because he lowered his head and was in a vulnerable position while attempting to retrieve the puck along the boards in the Red Wings end. But McLeod was skating at full speed and the No. 55 on the back of Kronwall's jersey was clearly visible.



Kronwall's head hit the top of the dasher boards. His helmet flew off, he fell on his side and lay on his back before being wheeled off on a stretcher. The Red Wings reported during the game that Kronwall was treated in the locker room and wasn't transported to a hospital.

"He seemed fine," Jonathan Ericsson, Kronwall's defense partner, told Detroit reporters. "It was scary. He was out. He didn't know what happened. You could see he was just out of it for a little bit. But we found out pretty early he was fine and was going to recover."

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Kronwall's playing status was "day-to-day," but he obviously won't be playing Saturday when Detroit plays Phoenix. Brendan Smith is expected to play in his place.

I have no idea how long McLeod's suspension will be, but Shanahan on Friday handed St. Louis' Maxim Lapierre a five-game suspension for his hit against San Jose's Dan Boyle on Tuesday.

Lapierre was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for checking Boyle from behind. He will lose $28, 205.15 in salary, with the money going to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.

Boyle was checked face-first into the top of the boards and knocked unconscious. He was prone on the ice for several minutes before being lifted onto a stretcher. He was hospitalized overnight in St. Louis and returned to San Jose on Wednesday for further medical evaluation.



Previously, Vancouver's Alex Edler was suspended for three games for a hit against San Jose's Tomas Hertl that wasn't penalized at the time of the incident.

*****

The Avalanche didn't practice Friday and took a charter flight to Buffalo in the afternoon.

McLeod is being characterized as a "goon" in some quarters, but many of his penalty minutes have come from fights against other so-called enforcers. He's one of the team's best penalty killers and wears an "A" as an assistant captain. McLeod scored eight goals last season, five in the final seven games when he was given more ice time because of injuries to other forwards. He had a career-high 15 goals in 2008-09.

Marc-Andre Cliche is available to take McLeod's spot on the fourth line, and it's possible Brad Malone will be recalled from the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League.

Join the Discussion: » 9 Comments » Post New Comment

» One-year deal for Johansson

» One more postseason disappointment

» Bednar cleared to coach tonight; MacKinnon Hart finalist

» Cale Makar a Norris Trophy finalist

» Jost: Do or die Game 5 tonight; Kadri suspension upheld