Jets’ Brenden Dillon made a controversial statement following suspension against pittsburgh…
NEW YORK — Brenden Dillon, a defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets, has been suspended for three games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety due to an illegal check to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari. The announcement came on Wednesday following a disciplinary hearing.
The incident occurred when Dillon struck Acciari in the head with his left shoulder four minutes into the second period of Tuesday night’s game in Pittsburgh. Dillon received a match penalty and was ejected from the game, while Acciari exited due to injury and did not return.
Coach Mike Sullivan commented on Acciari’s condition after his team’s 3-0 win, stating, “He’s doing OK but being evaluated right now. Our major concern is Noel and his health.”
Dillon will forfeit $60,938 in salary and will be absent from upcoming games against Philadelphia, as well as home games against Pittsburgh and San Jose. This marks his second career suspension, with his previous one being a one-game suspension for slashing in 2017 while he was with the Sharks.
In a video explaining the duration of the suspension, the league stated that the head contact could have been avoided. Despite Acciari’s 5-foot-10 height and forward-leaning posture, the league concluded that he did not alter the position of his head in the moments leading up to the hit from Dillon, who stands at 6-foot-4.
The league emphasized that Dillon chose an angle of approach that intersected the front of Acciari’s body, bypassing his core and targeting his head. It was noted that if Dillon intended to deliver the hit, he should have chosen an angle that targeted Acciari’s shoulder and core rather than making the head the primary point of contact.
