The NHL has handed out its fair share of suspensions over the years, but let’s be honest—not all of them packed the punch they should have. Whether it was a dirty hit, a reckless slash, or just plain chaotic behavior, some players got off with what felt like little more than a slap on the wrist.
From moments that made fans scream at their TVs to incidents that left everyone wondering what the league was thinking, these suspensions simply didn’t cut it. Here are 20 NHL punishments that should’ve been way more severe.
20. Duncan Keith’s Flying Elbow
Keith’s unexpected elbow came out of nowhere and knocked his opponent senseless. The suspension he got was more of a timeout than a real punishment.
19. Milan Lucic’s Sucker Punch
Lucic threw hands like he was auditioning for a UFC card. The league let him off way too easily for such blatant nonsense.
18. Raffi Torres’ Repeat Offense
At some point, you’d think repeat offenders would get harsher penalties. But Torres kept getting away with mayhem like it was no big deal.
17. Tom Wilson’s Greatest Hits
Wilson has a personal highlight reel of suspendable plays, yet somehow always finds himself back on the ice quickly. The NHL’s wrist slaps only encouraged the chaos.
16. Chris Pronger’s Stomping Incident
Pronger literally stomped on a player’s leg with his skate. That sounds like something worthy of a season ban, not a short vacation.
15. Todd Bertuzzi’s Infamous Attack
Bertuzzi’s hit from behind was horrifying and career-altering—for someone else. The suspension felt mild considering the severity of the aftermath.
14. Brad Marchand’s Sneaky Antics
From licking opponents to slew-footing them, Marchand built a brand on borderline behavior. The league never seemed truly serious about stopping it.
13. Evander Kane’s Elbow Drama
Kane delivered a hit that looked more like a WWE finisher than a hockey move. A longer suspension might’ve helped him reconsider his form.
12. Scott Hartnell’s Boarding Blunder
Hartnell’s hit into the boards was ugly and reckless. Somehow, the punishment didn’t match the recklessness.
11. Matt Cooke’s Knee-on-Knee Hits
Cooke was a walking danger sign for years. But the league acted like each dirty play was his first offense.
10. Max Domi’s Cheap Shot
Domi wound up and clocked a guy like it was a bar fight. The NHL shrugged and moved on like nothing major had happened.
9. James Neal’s Head Shot
Neal aimed high and hit hard, targeting the head with no hesitation. He should’ve sat out for much longer.
8. Alexander Ovechkin’s Spear
Even stars shouldn’t be immune to discipline. Ovi’s spear was blatant and deserved a longer benching than what he got.
7. Zac Rinaldo’s Serial Infractions
Rinaldo had a habit of ignoring basic decency on the ice. His suspensions never seemed to match the chaos he created.
6. Antoine Roussel’s Rough Stuff
Roussel mixed it up often, and not in a good way. His antics constantly pushed the limit, yet the NHL rarely responded appropriately.
5. Chris Simon’s Two-Handed Swing
Simon took a full baseball swing at another player’s ankle. That’s not a hockey play—that’s a reason to ban someone for a year.
4. Sean Avery’s Obnoxious Behavior
Avery made headlines for all the wrong reasons, both on and off the ice. The league was far too lenient with a guy who never learned.
3. Nazem Kadri’s Playoff Repeat Offenses
Kadri had a habit of losing control during playoff time, and the stakes made it even worse. The NHL let him off easy way too often.
Read More: Ranking the 10 Most Unfair Suspensions in NFL History
2. Marty McSorley’s Stick Assault
McSorley’s brutal stick swing was more assault than sport. A longer suspension—or permanent one—would’ve sent a stronger message.
Read More: 7 NHL Players Fans Loved to Boo
1. Claude Lemieux’s Dirty Legacy
Lemieux was the king of playing dirty and escaping real punishment. His hit on Kris Draper alone should’ve warranted a season-long exile.
Read More: The 20 Most Brutally Dirty Players in NHL History
