NEW YORK -- Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton has been suspended, without pay, for eight games for charging Carolina Hurricanes forward Alexei Ponikarovsky during NHL Game #404 in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 7, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.
Having previously been suspended within the past 18 months, Sutton is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He therefore will forfeit salary based on the number of games (82) rather than the number of days (185) in the regular season. Sutton will forfeit $207,317.04. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
The incident occurred at 10:27 of the third period. Sutton was assessed a minor penalty for boarding.
Sutton was suspended for five games on Nov. 1 for an illegal hit to the head of Colorado forward Gabriel Landeskog.
Sutton has missed the Dec. 9 game vs. Colorado and will miss games tonight at Calgary, Dec. 15 at Phoenix, Dec. 17 at San Jose, Dec. 19 vs. Detroit, Dec. 22 vs. Minnesota, Dec. 26 at Vancouver and Dec. 29 at Minnesota. He will be eligible to return Dec. 31 at the New York Islanders.