NHL upholds Nazem Kadri's eight-game suspension

Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

NHL upholds Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri's eight-game suspension

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/31/21

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri's eight-game suspension, the league announced Monday.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the eight-game suspension that was assessed to @Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri. https://t.co/exiedImtOd pic.twitter.com/oADcAMQRUk
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 31, 2021

Kadri was given the eight-game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety on May 21 after an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of Colorado's first-round playoff series.

Nazem Kadri receives a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Justin Faulk. pic.twitter.com/RVZkVsqNMz
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2021

When the discipline was announced, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he was surprised Kadri received an eight-game suspension because he thought the "general rule of thumb" was that players got a little less of a suspension in the playoffs.

Kadri's discipline this year marks the third time he has been suspended during the playoffs in his career. When playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was suspended three games for boarding Boston Bruins forward Tommy Wingels in Game 1 of the 2018 first round. He was also suspended for the remainder of the first round in 2019 for cross-checking Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk in Game 2.

Kadri was traded to the Avalanche in 2019. He notched 11 goals and 21 assists in 56 regular-season games this year and has one assist in two playoff games.

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