Jordan Nolan’s Likely Suspension for Boarding Darren Helm

It looks like the Kings are going to lose another player.  This time it’s not due to injury or off-ice activities.  It’s due to on-ice activities.

Friday night the Los Angeles Kings lost to the Detroit Red Wings 5-2.  It looks like the game cost them more than two points.  It also cost them the services of Jordan Nolan.

Early into the third period Nolan made a dangerous hit on Red Wings forward Darren Helm.

The hit caused an immediate scrum, with Red Wings defensemen Jonathan Ericsson going right after Nolan.  Ericsson along with every other Red Wing on the ice went to the aide of their teammate.  Even Darren Helm jumped in, going after Nolan.

Nolan tries to cut in and hit Helm on his side, but instead misreads the play and blasts him in the back.  It may have been a hit on purpose due to frustration on the Kings part, as they were being badly beaten 4-1 at that point in the game.

Either way Nolan will have a meeting with Stephane Quintal, the head of NHL’s player safety.

Nolan has had two previous incidents which required meetings, so he is considered a repeat offender.  In March of 2013, Nolan was fined $1,436.94 for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks star Henrik Sedin.  In April of 2014, Nolan was suspended one game for sucker-punching Jesse Joensuu of the Edmonton Oilers.

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The hearing will take place today, Sunday November 2nd so it’s expected that King will at least miss the Kings game in Carolina against the Hurricanes later this afternoon.

Things to consider: Helm was not injured on the play.  Nolan is considered a repeat offender.  Helm was hit hard from behind, in a defenseless position.  There was no contact made to Helm’s head.  The score of the game at the time of the hit was not particularly close.  There was a two-minute penalty assessed on Nolan for the hit.

Considering the precedent the NHL has set with these types of hits, Nolan is likely to be suspended three games.  The three game suspension should include Sunday’s contest.

Vancouver Canucks forward Alexander Burrows was just suspended three games for a high head-hit on Montreal Canadians defensemen Alexei Emelin yesterday.  Each situation is different, but the suspension is likely to be similar.

If Nolan is suspended it would put the Kings in a tight spot with a short bench.  Due to the injuries of Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik, and the indefinite suspension of Slava Voynov, the Kings are already short staffed.  Before Friday’s game against the Red Wings the Kings activated Trevor Lewis off of Injured Reserve to fill the bench with 18 skaters.

Oct 31, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Jordan Nolan (71) skates with the puck in the second period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports