The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that they suspended Washington Capitals forward Nicolas Aube Kubel for three games due to a headshot on a hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Cal Foote on Friday night.
He will sit out Sunday’s rematch with the Lightning as well as Tuesday night’s game at the Florida Panthers and Thursday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues.
Aube Kubel or NAK for short will be eligible to return on Saturday November 19 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
The incident happened at 1:52 of the second period as NAK hit Foote with the head with his shoulder laying the impact on Foote’s face which made his nose bleed. Foote left the game and didn’t return.
Aube Kubel was given a match penalty for an illegal check to the head. As a result, he got ejected. DoPS said in their video that the play warranted a suspension because the main point of contact was the head and the hit was entirely avoidable.
Here’s exactly what DoPS said in the video:
"“Aube-Kubel finishes a high, hard check that makes the head the main part of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable. It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this play. First, the head is the main point of contact as Aube-Kubel’s shoulder makes direct contact with Foote’s head and it’s the head that absorbs a majority of the force of the check. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. Aube-Kubel chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Foote’s body, missing his core and hitting his head. If Aube-Kubel wants to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that leads to a full-body check through the shoulder and core rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.”"
This is the first time NAK has been suspended during his career though he’s been fined twice, both in 2021. He will forfeit $16,216.23 to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.