The Calgary Flames will be without one of their best defencemen for the next four games. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Rasmus Andersson for four games – including the 2023 Heritage Classic – for his hit on Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine on Thursday night.

Andersson received a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing for his hit at the buzzer of the third period of Thursday’s game on Laine. His suspension will span Sunday’s game in Detroit, Tuesday’s home game with the New York Rangers, Thursday’s home game with the St. Louis Blues, and next Sunday’s Heritage Classic in Edmonton. Andersson will next be available to play in Calgary’s Nov. 1 home game against the Dallas Stars.

In their decision, Player Safety cited both the game situation – the end of an out-of-reach game – and Andersson elevating through the hit on Laine, who was notably in a low position during Andersson’s entire approach. Andersson’s lack of a discipline history was acknowledged, but a suspension was still handed out. (The suspension can be appealed to commissioner Gary Bettman, with notice required to be given within the next 48 hours.)

Andersson’s suspension leaves the Flames with six defencemen available for their next four games: Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, MacKenzie Weegar, Dennis Gilbert and Jordan Oesterle. They don’t have the cap space to call up an extra defender unless they place Kevin Rooney on the long-term injury reserve.