BUFFALO, N.Y. – Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta is appealing a 10-game suspension the NHL issued for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson last week.
The appeal was filed Wednesday evening by the NHL Players' Association on the player's behalf. The league hasn't yet announced when the appeal will be heard.
If the suspension is upheld, Kaleta would have the option to take his case to neutral discipline arbitrator James Oldham.
Kaleta will have served four games of the suspension after sitting out Buffalo's home game against Vancouver on Thursday.
Kaleta stands to lose $152,439 in salary if he misses the entire 10 games.
In making its ruling Tuesday, the league's Department of Player Safety took into account that Kaleta had been suspended three previous times.
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