ANAHEIM – A split-second moment of anger officially became very costly for the usually mild-mannered Antoine Vermette.
Vermette will not be with the Ducks for the next 10 games as the NHL on Thursday levied its expected suspension of the veteran forward for the intentional use of his stick against linesman Shandor Alphonso.
An automatic suspension is levied in cases of player abuse on an official and Vermette’s act of striking Alphonso on 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 and 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 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’scontest 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 not about the incident but the loss of a valuable player not known to display a foul temper or have any issue with officials. Vermette, who has eight goals and 14 assists in his first season with the Ducks, previously never had a major penalty.
“He’s obviously a critical part of our team,” defenseman Cam Fowler said. “Does a lot of the little things well. He’ll be missed. But we have more than enough depth and players that can step in and fill a big role while he’s gone.”
The Ducks prepared for Vermette’s absence by recalling winger Corey Tropp from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Tropp figures to make his debut with the team after being called up on Jan. 20 but returned to the Gulls without playing a game.
More significant is the possibility of Jakob Silfverberg moving from his customary right wing spot to the left side of Ryan Getzlaf and Ondrej Kase getting bumped up to fill out that line. Ducks coach Randy Carlyle would rather leave Rickard Rakell at center and keep the team deep through the middle.
Silfverberg, who’s among the Ducks’ leaders with 17 goals and 36 points, said he last played regularly on left wing when he played with Brynas of the Swedish Hockey League before coming to North America.
“I think I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Silfverberg said. “We talked about it a little bit and I said a lot of times you get mixed up anyway so it’s not like you’re completely clueless. You often end up a lot on the left side during games as it is for now.
“Hopefully I’ll feel comfortable with it. I practiced today and it felt pretty good actually. I feel like I’m more of a threat when I’m skating with the puck up the ice. I can cut to the middle or just protect the puck better going on the wall.”
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.
But Horcoff was largely a fourth-line center while Vermette has played all season within the Ducks’ top nine forwards and has been highly valuable as the NHL’s top faceoff artist to use in all situations.
“I guess you look at it and you never really know until you live it,” Carlyle said. “The proof will be in the pudding, as they all say. It’s always a results-oriented business. The record will speak for itself.”
Sami Vatanen is about ready to return to the lineup after missing the last five games because of a knee injury and Carlyle has to decide whether to put the defenseman back onto the blue line for Friday’s game against Florida and whom to pull out.
Four others – Fowler, Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm and Kevin Bieksa – are fixtures. Youngsters Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour have been playing recently. The Ducks also have the option of sending either Theodore or Montour back to San Diego without needing waivers.
“Those are never easy decisions when you’re making those kind of calls,” Carlyle said. “That’s what happens. It’s just better that you’re able to have capable people at your disposal.”
Contact the writer: estephens@scng.com
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