NEW YORK – The NHL is suspending Paul Bissonnette for 10 regular-season games after the Coyotes forward left the bench to fight during a preseason game.
Bissonnette was given a game misconduct 12:09 into the first period Sunday night against the Kings when he came off the bench on an illegal line change to fight Jordan Nolan after Nolan hit Phoenix defenseman Rostislav Klesla.
Klesla was taken off the ice on a stretcher and was released from a hospital several hours later after being diagnosed with a concussion.
The automatic 10-game suspension, given to the first or second player to leave the bench to fight, was assessed Monday and will cost Bissonnette $37,820.51 in lost salary. The money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Bissonnette is eligible to return Oct. 24 at Los Angeles.
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