Predators’ Zachary L’Heureux suspended three games for slew-footing Wild’s Jared Spurgeon

On Thursday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Nashville Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux has been suspended three games for slew-footing Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon.

The incident happened during the game between the Predators and Wild on New Year’s Eve. Just minutes into the second period, Spurgeon and L’Heureux were chasing a loose puck in the Minnesota zone. The rookie winger used his left to sweep Spurgeon’s out from underneath him.

Spurgeon left the game and was later ruled out with a lower-body injury. He was seen leaving the arena on crutches while wearing a leg brace. The Wild went on to win the game, 5-3.

This is the first time in L’Heureux’s NHL career that he has faced supplemental discipline. However, this is not the first time he has been suspended in his career. The 21-year-old has had some shenanigans in lower levels of hockey. L’Heureux was suspended nine times in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, including a 10-game suspension during the 2022-23 season after jamming his stick through the glass to hit a fan.

Since L’Heureux was called up to the NHL in October, he has appeared in 33 games for Nashville, scoring four goals and five assists for nine points and 32 penalty minutes.

Last year, during his rookie season with the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, the Montreal native was suspended twice but still managed to lead the team in points.

For Spurgeon, another potentially long-term lower-body injury would add to a laundry list of ailments that have plagued him over the past few years. Along with missing seven games this season, the defenseman was held to just 16 games during the 2023-24 campaign. Spurgeon has only played a complete 82-game season once in his 15-year NHL career.

The Wild are scheduled to face the Washington Capitals on Thursday night and will have a rematch with the Preds on Jan. 18.