ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Antoine Vermette will not be with the Ducks for the next 10 games after the NHL on Thursday made official its suspension of the veteran forward for the use of his stick against an official.
An automatic suspension is levied in cases of player abuse on an official, and Vermette's act of hitting linesman Shandor Alphonso with his stick Tuesday night in Minnesota fell into a Category II violation without intent of injure.
It is the first time in his 13-year career that Vermette, 34, has been disciplined by the league. He stands to lose $97,222.22 in salary, which would go to the NHL Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. If he serves the full 10-game ban, Vermette would be eligible to return March 12 against Washington.
Vermette, who has eight goals and 14 assists in his first season with the Ducks, is filing an appeal to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. According to NHL rules, an in-person meeting with Bettman can take place before the second game _ which would be Sunday's contest against the Kings _ but it isn't clear when it will be arranged.
Bettman can uphold the suspension, increase the number of games within the category of violation or change the act to a lower category. Vermette, who won't comment until the appeal process is completed, is certainly seeking to have the length reduced.
Vermette was ejected 7:33 into the third period of the Ducks' 1-0 win over Minnesota after giving a slash to the back of Alphonso's leg following a faceoff in which the linesman dropped the puck as the forward came up out of stance.
Before the suspension was handed down, the Ducks talked in general terms about the impending loss of a valuable player. To fill the roster opening, the team recalled Corey Tropp from San Diego of the American Hockey League.
Asked if Vermette's act was out of character for a player not known for a bad temper, Ducks winger Jakob Silfverberg said, "Yeah, definitely. He's a very nice guy. But I don't think there's much for me to say about that. You just have to ask him. That's just the way it is."
The Ducks are dealing with a significant suspension for the second consecutive season. Shawn Horcoff received a 20-game suspension last year for failing a random test for banned substances. Horcoff, who did not appeal it, is now retired.
