The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Friday that Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson will serve a two-game suspension for charging and boarding Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke. The disciplinary hearing concluded after Hodgson was ejected from Thursday night’s game in Los Angeles for driving Clarke’s head into the boards from several strides away. The 30-year-old received a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct, marking a significant escalation in his recent disciplinary record.
NHL Player Safety issues ruling after Hodgson drives Clarke’s head into glass in LA
Clarke, who did not return to the ice following the incident, participated in practice on Friday, suggesting he avoided a serious injury despite the severity of the hit. Hodgson’s suspension carries a financial penalty of $8,763 in forfeited salary. He will miss the Senators’ upcoming road games against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, with eligibility to return for Wednesday’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.
This suspension adds to a pattern of on-ice infractions for Hodgson, who was fined the maximum allowable amount of $2,018 in October 2025 for boarding Montreal’s Alex Newhook in a preseason contest. The 30-year-old, currently in his 24th NHL game, also carries a history of 20 games worth of suspensions in the American Hockey League over the past five seasons for offenses including elbowing. The ruling underscores the league’s zero-tolerance policy for head hits, particularly those resulting in ejections and significant disciplinary hearings.
Source: Yahoo Sports
