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Headbutt rebut: Shanahan suspends Kaleta for four games

Buffalo Sabres v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Five

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 22: Patrick Kaleta #36 of the Buffalo Sabres controls the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan has suspended Buffalo Sabres F Patrick Kaleta four games for headbutting Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek.

Here’s the video explanation:

Another solid breakdown from Shanny, complete with footage of two more flying Kaleta headbutts: One on Travis Zajac from Oct. 2010 and another on Tobias Enstrom from Feb. 2011.

Firstly, congrats to Kaleta for coining the phrase “serial flying headbutter”. The only other individual known for repeat offenses of this nature is E. Honda from Street Fighter (and his signature finishing move, “The Sumo Headbutt”.) Some elite company there.

Secondly, a question: At what point does someone decide to become a human projectile? That’s a pretty serious conversation you’ve got to have with yourself. “Look head, I’m gonna launch you into unsuspecting opponents. And I’m going to do it often. In fact, it’s going to be our thing.” Bizarre.

Another bizarre aspect of the incident is that Kaleta wasn’t even penalized on the play. This may be because there’s no penalty for “being insane”, but it’s more likely the officials 1) didn’t see it or 2) saw it, but couldn’t believe it actually happened. I’m going with the latter.

As for the fallout: Kaleta will miss games Nov. 4 vs. Calgary, Nov. 5 at Ottawa, Nov. 8 vs. Winnipeg and Nov. 11 vs. Ottawa. He will be eligible to return Nov. 12 at Boston, but not before he forks over $19,621.64 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.