Mark Stone

Jacob Trouba may face suspension for hit to the head of Mark Stone

Published Feb. 21, 2017 7:22 a.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety this week following a hit he delivered to Senators forward Mark Stone on Sunday. There's a good chance that hearing may land the young defenseman a suspension.

After carrying the puck into the offensive zone and dishing a pass, Stone got drilled with a high, open-ice hit from Trouba as he came across the middle. The replays show that the principle point of contact was Stone's head. Here's a look at the moment of impact:

The call on the ice was a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head. There may not have been a person on the planet more displeased with that ruling than Senators coach Guy Boucher, who clearly felt that Trouba delivered an elbow to Stone's head and deserved more than just a minor penalty.

It's tough to distinguish whether it's the elbow or shoulder that delivers the blow, but it's a headshot on a player in a vulnerable position. With the league attempting to crack down on contact to the head, that likely won't bode well for Trouba in his hearing.

Also not working in Trouba's favor is the fact that Stone was clearly shaken up as a result of the play. The 24-year-old Ottawa forward, who has a concussion history, didn't return to the game. If it's announced that he'll miss additional time, it could be the nail in the coffin for Trouba.

It's worth noting that the Jets were on the opposite end of a similar hit late last week when Evgeni Malkin drilled Blake Wheeler with a high hit during their game in Pittsburgh. Malkin managed to escape that incident without supplemental discipline.

Update: Trouba has been suspended two games by the league's Department of Player Safety.

https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/833793473560113154

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