Red Wings’ David Perron suspended six games for cross-checking Senators’ Artem Zub

One of the key veterans in the Motor City will be missing some time.

On Monday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Detroit Red Wings’ forward David Perron has been suspended for six games for cross-checking Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub.

The incident happened during the Wings and Sens’ matchup on Saturday night in Detroit. In the third period, Ottawa’s Mathieu Joseph and Parker Kelly each made contact up on high on the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin, sending the captain awkwardly down to the ice, where he laid motionless for a few moments.

Then, Perron looked over to see Zub standing over his teammate. Thinking the Zub was at fault, Perron charged after the Russian-born defender, cross-checking him in the head, taking him down to the ice as well.

Perron received a match penalty on the play, while Joseph and Kelly were handed minor penalties for roughing.

According to the DoPS’ video explaining the suspension, it is noted that the Red Wings claimed that Perron’s action was not directly to Zub’s head, something the league disagreed with.

He will forfeit $148,437.48, with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

If Perron were to choose to appeal, it would first go to Commissioner Gary Bettman before going to an independent arbitrator.

This is the first time Perron has ever been suspended during his 1,081-game NHL career. As a member of the St. Louis Blues, Perron was fined $5,000 after cross-checking Nazem Kadri, then with the Colorado Avalanche, during Game 4 of the opening round of the 2022 playoffs.

The Red Wings (14-8-4), who just happened to be playing the Blues on Wednesday night, have some tough games while Perron’s out of the lineup. Along with their Tuesday night clash with the Dallas Stars, they host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, before paying a visit to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Detroit is currently tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division with 32 points, seven back of the first-place Boston Bruins.