Ryan Garbutt Suspended for 5 Games For Hit to Dustin Penner

As we reported previously, Dallas Stars left wing Ryan Garbutt was offered an in-person hearing with the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety for a questionable hit made against Anaheim Ducks left wing Dustin Penner. According to NHL.com, Garbutt has had said hearing and as a result has been suspended for 5 games without pay for charging Penner.

The incident occurred on Sunday, October 20^th when the Stars faced off with the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

In this particular incident, Garbutt is just out of the penalty box as Penner attempts to bring the puck to center ice, just releasing a shot, when he is charged by Garbutt, who leaves his feet in what looked like an intentional effort to strike Penner in the head with an elbow.

Here is a look at what looks like a very deliberate hit on Penner.

According to the NHL.com report, Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Garbutt will forfeit $14,743.60. The money from this goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Penner has not played since the incident, and has since been placed on Injured Reserve by the Ducks.

Here is a look at the official explanation from the NHL Department of Player Safety regarding Garbutt’s hit on Penner.

I don’t know what it is this season, but it seems like this has become the year of the suspension for questionable hits. One of the first of these incidents was when St. Louis Blues center

was

suspended for 5 games

for his boarding incident with San Jose Sharks defenseman

.

Not far behind that was a hit from Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod on Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. McLeod found himself suspended for 5 games for boarding Kronwall.

Hopefully, the players will realize that play like this is simply unacceptable before someone has their career ended by something that could have been entirely preventable.

What do you think needs to be done to send a message to the players that this is simply unacceptable? Do you think the 5 games is a fitting punishment? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think.