[UPDATE] Red Wings Defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, Will Face A Possible Suspension For Big Hit On Kucherov

Update: According to Hockeyfeed, the NHL has ruled that Niklas Kronwall’s hit on Kucherov was an illegal hit. As a result of this ruling, Kronwall will be required to sit out for the final game, No. 7, of the play-off series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall will have to attend a hearing this afternoon in front of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, to determine if the hit he made on Nikita Kucherov during Monday night’s game was illegal. If the board determines that Kronwall’s hit was illegal, he could be suspended for the Wings’ Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night.

The NHL announced this morning that a hearing would take place, citing concerns of charging or an illegal hit to the head. The hearing does not necessarily equal an automatic suspension for Kronwall, if he is found to have made a clean hit, he could just be assessed a fine.

The massive hit that everyone is talking about today took place late into the second period. Kronwall lead into the hit on Kucherov with his arm out in front of him, and it looked like a clean hit initially, but then Kronwall’s arm moved up and knocked off Kucherov’s helmet before he fell to the ice. Both feet never left the ice, and even though it was a hard hit, the officials didn’t seem to think it was a penalty. Kucherov skated to the bench, but returned to the ice a few shifts later to finish out the game.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told the media that he didn’t even see the hit that Kronwall is now being criticized for, which is surprising to some, considering how he had been previously complaining about the Red Wings style of play, and how the referees never seem to call penalties on them.

“It was on that part of the ice that I didn’t see. The refs didn’t call a penalty, so it must’ve been OK.”

Kucherov seemed to be able to get himself back together rather quickly since he finished the game, so it was quite obvious that there was no injury, which may bode well for Kronwall at the hearing. Kucherov told the press the following.

“It’s a hit. He made a hit. I’m not going to cry now. It’s an intense game, and those things happen. It’s just hits. It’s just a part of the game.”

Niklas Kronwall is known for his hard hits around the league, but he has never faced suspension before. The defenseman seems to be taking it all in stride, saying “I thought it was a clean hit at the time. Usually, with the impact, (it) kind of carries you up.”

The NHL is not known for its consistency in handing out punishments for illegal hits. During the 2012 play-offs against the Nashville Predators, Shea Weber hit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterburg so hard into the board that his helmet actually cracked. Weber was not suspended or fined for the hit.

The fate of Kronwall lies in the hands of the Department of Player Safety, but many Red Wings fans are hoping to see number 55 take the ice with the rest of his team, for what no doubt will be an intense game on Wednesday night against the Lightning.

[Photo courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images]