Vancouver Canucks defenceman Alexander Edler has been suspended for two games following his hearing with the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety today.
The 34-year-old blueliner received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on Sunday when he was caught delivering a knee-on-knee hit to Toronto Maple Leafs player, Zach Hyman. Edler was ejected from the game with 9:44 remaining in the second period and did not return.
Vancouver’s Alexander Edler has been suspended for two games for Kneeing Toronto’s Zach Hyman. https://t.co/zDysYWzulP
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 19, 2021
“It was a pretty dirty hit,” said Maple Leafs’ winger, William Nylander.
Hyman left the game with an injury and did not return to the ice, leaving Edler to now serve his time in a suit and tie in the team’s press box for the next two games. Although Edler hasn’t had any recent run-ins with league authority, he’s been suspended on two previous occasions in the NHL.
Both NHL suspensions happened eight years ago. In 2013, Edler received a three-game suspension for his hit to the head of San Jose Sharks forward, Tomas Hertl. He later was the recipient of a two-game suspension for charging Phoenix goaltender, Mike Smith.
At the IIHF world championship that same year, Edler was banned for four games because of a similar knee-on-knee hit directed at Eric Staal, talk about a tough year of discipline for Vancouver’s longest-running defenceman.
Edler will miss the second of back-to-backs against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, as well as the first of four straight matchups against the last-place Ottawa Senators. Olli Juolevi is likely to take his place on the left side if he’s feeling healthy enough to return. If not, prospect Jack Rathbone could make his NHL debut.
Let us know your thoughts on his latest suspension below and be sure to return to The Canuck Way for any more news surrounding the Vancouver Canucks.