Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil to have Player Safety hearing for hit on Seattle’s Vince Dunn

The evening ended early for Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil on Monday, as he was ejected from Monday’s game between the Flames and Seattle Kraken after receiving a checking-from-behind major penalty for a hit on Kraken blueliner Vince Dunn.

The league announced Tuesday morning that Pospisil will have a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Wednesday.

Pospisil’s penalty came at 13:41 of the third period, and he had previously walloped Adam Larsson in the first period and gotten into a skirmish with Tye Kartye in the second period.

Pospisil, 24, is in his first year in the NHL after biding his time – and dealing with some injuries – at the AHL level for four seasons. After being called up on Nov. 3, he’s been a wrecking ball for the Flames and a fixture on a very effective line with Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary. In 45 NHL games, Pospisil has 15 points (and 72 penalty minutes) this season.

But the thing about wrecking balls is sometimes they wreck things. Pospisil’s been a thorn in the side of opposing teams dating back to the pre-season, but it’s also earned him some penalties. He was ejected from a September exhibition game for a match penalty on a hit on Winnipeg’s Cole Perfetti. He was also ejected from a February game in Boston for a cross-checking major penalty on Brad Marchand.

The Flames are the only NHL club to have multiple players suspended this season. Rasmus Andersson was suspended four games in October for a charging penalty on Patrik Laine. Andrew Mangiapane was suspended one game for cross-checking Jared McCann in November.

With the Flames travelling to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Pospisil’s hearing will be on Wednesday. The Flames face the Lightning on Thursday. The 2024 trade deadline is Friday.