Calgary's Tom Kostopoulos Suspended Six Games For Brad Stuart Headshot

Calgary's Tom Kostopoulos Suspended Six Games For Brad Stuart Headshot

Tom Kostopoulos blindsided Brad Stuart with a high hit on Friday and will forfeit his next six games to serve a suspension. Colin Campbell came down hard on the Flames forward, as his check broke Stuart's jaw and he is expected to miss four to six weeks recovering.

Detroit won 5-4 after a shootout, but that is beside the point. For those of you who may have missed the play, it can be seen below.

Campbell got it right for a change, as all of the elements were present to warrant a suspension: a late hit, receiver is in a vulnerable position and the head was targeted. Kostopoulos gave his opinion on the sequence, stressing disbelief at the punishment.

"I'm extremely disappointed in the League's ruling as I believe I have not done anything illegal," he said. "I'm sorry that Brad was hurt on the play and I hope he returns to play soon, but it was never my intention to injure him and I definitely did not target the head."

While this is a step in the proper direction for the league's intent to eliminate head shots, it will be meaningless if strict punishments continue to be a rarity.