TORONTO — The NHL suspended Flames forward Tom Kostopoulos six games Sunday for his head shot on Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart.
Stuart was injured during the third period of Detroit’s 5-4 shootout victory at Calgary on Friday night. He’s expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.
Kostopoulos and acting Flames general manager Jay Feaster released a statement maintaining the team’s position that the hit was legal and thus the suspension unwarranted.
“I’m extremely disappointed in the league’s ruling as I believe I have not done anything illegal,” Kostopoulos said. “I’m sorry that Brad was hurt on the play and I hope he returns to play soon, but it was never my intention to injure him, and I definitely did not target the head.”
Frolov out for season.
Rangers forward Alex Frolov’s first season in New York is over because of a significant injury to his right knee.
The Rangers said the 28-year-old left winger has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a second degree sprain of the medial collateral ligament and a medial meniscus tear in his right knee that will require season-ending surgery. An MRI revealed the damage that occurred in the third period New York’s 2-1 win at St. Louis on Saturday night.
Commodore demoted.
The Blue Jackets sent unhappy defenseman Mike Commodore to their top minor-league team while trying to unload him and his big salary ($3.75 million). The Associated Press
