On Friday, the NHL suspended Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot for 3 games for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser.
The incident occurred during the Kings' 4-2 loss to the Canucks on Thursday night. Jeannot delivered a high, open-ice hit that made direct contact with Boeser's head. Boeser was forced to leave the game after the hit.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Jeannot's suspension on Friday after holding a hearing over the phone earlier in the day.
Social media lit up with reactions from angry hockey fans who thought Jeannot deserved a harsher punishment.
One fan tweeted, "Should have been 5”
Another fan wrote,
"Take him out of the fkn league, not his first offence! this ain’t how we hockey"
Here are some other reactions from fans who wanted a longer suspension:
"Not enough. Can we have this clown banned from our team?" one fan wrote on X.
"The irrelevant meathead should have gotten more if it was 97 it would have been" a user commented.
However, there were a few fans who thought the three-game ban was fair.
"It is, he's not a repeat offender, first time getting suspended, it's the right amount, I'm shocked it was for 3 and not just a fine" another user wrote.
"Honestly I think 3 games is valid- that’s said I think ppl are pissed off bc he was smiling and smirking after the hit. So it just shows no remorse or care about the fact he hit another players head…I think that’s where the emotion is coming from" another user wrote.
For now, Jeannot will sit out three games and will be available for the Nov. 16 matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.
League's explanation on Tanner Jeannot’s 3-game suspension
The league's Department of Player Safety issued a video explaining the reasoning behind the suspension. They determined that Tanner Jeannot took an improper angle on the hit.
“It is Jeannot who is in control of this hit, and he chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Boeser, missing his core and making his head the main point of contact.” The league said.
The league stressed that as the hitter, Tanner Jeannot is responsible for the angle and point of contact. He had sufficient time to recognize Boeser's vulnerable position and make a full body check. However, Jeannot made an illegal and dangerous hit, warranting supplemental discipline under NHL rules.