Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to have hearing for illegal check to the head

Seattle Kraken defenceman Jamie Oleksiak will have a hearing today with the NHL Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head on Washington Capitals rookie defenceman Alexander Alexeyev.

The incident took place in the second period when Alexeyev was playing the puck being the Kraken’s net, and Oleksiak caught him up high with a thunderous hit. Oleksiak was handed a 5-minute major match penalty. Alexeyev on the other hand, would not return to the lineup due to an upper-body injury.

Oleksiak, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 256 pounds is in his second season with the Kraken after being selected by them in the NHL Expansion Draft. In the summer of 2021, Oleksiak and the Kraken agreed on a five-year $23 million extension with an average annual value of approximately $4.6 million. Last season, Oleksiak recorded 17 points (1G, 16A) in 72 games, along with 182 hits and 54 penalty minutes. So far this season, Oleksiak has 7 points (4G, 3A) through 22 games. This is not Oleksiak’s first time in trouble with the NHL Department of Player Safety either. In 2016, he was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Chirs VandeVelde, he forfeited $10,208.33 for the two-game suspension.

Alexeyev, 23, was drafted 31st overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. The rookie has played five games with the Capitals so far this season, resulting in one assist. The Capitals are currently dealing with their own issues on the blueline, Dimitry Orlov remains out of the lineup with a lower-body injury suffered on Nov. 5th and Martin Fehervary suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 3rd against the Calgary Flames.