If the New York Rangers want to use Daniel Carcillo, they’ll have the option to do so before the Stanley Cup Final is over. The 29-year-old forward had been serving an automatic 10-game suspension for physically abusing an official on May 22, but after an appeal his punishment has been reduced to six games.
That will allow him to return for Game 4 of the Rangers’ series versus the Los Angeles Kings.
Per the Department of Player Safety:
Carcillo had originally been assessed a suspension under Rule 40.3 for deliberately applying physical force to an official. A violation of that particular Rule requires a minimum suspension of “not less than ten (10) games.”
After considering Carcillo’s appeal during a hearing at the NHL’s New York office on Friday, May 30, the Commissioner ruled that Carcillo’s actions were more appropriately deemed a violation of Rule 40.4 for deliberately applying “physical force to an official for the sole purpose of getting free of such official during or immediately following an altercation.” The Commissioner determined that as appropriately re-classified under Rule 40.4, and under the totality of the circumstances, a suspension of six (6) games was the proper penalty.
It’s worth noting that Rule 40.4 comes with a minimum suspension of three games compared to Rule 40.3’s 10.
The NHL added that making sure that the players abusing officials is in no way tolerated is critical to maintaining the “integrity of the game.”
To read Gary Bettman’s complete ruling, click here for the PDF.
If you missed the original incident, you can see it below:
Related:
Vigneault worried about Carcillo’s future following suspension