The Calgary Flames will be without their biggest off-season acquisition to start the regular season. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Blake Coleman for two games – one pre-season and one regular season – for his hit on Winnipeg Jets forward Jansen Harkins on Wednesday night.
Calgary’s Blake Coleman has been suspended for one preseason game and one regular season game for Boarding Winnipeg’s Jansen Harkins. https://t.co/E9EsokYFd5
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 7, 2021
Coleman initially received a minor penalty for boarding for his hit in the second period of Wednesday’s game on Harkins. Coleman’s suspension will be served in Friday’s pre-season finale against Winnipeg and next Saturday’s season-opener in Edmonton.
In their decision, Player Safety cited Coleman’s control over the situation – Harkins fell because of Coleman initiating the initial contact – and that he chose to throw a hit on a player in a “vulnerable, defenseless position.” Coleman’s lack of a discipline history was acknowledged, but a suspension was handed out.
