Vermette's 10-game suspension upheld by NHL
Anaheim Ducks forward Antoine Vermette will serve the entirety of his 10-game suspension, the NHL announced Saturday.
Vermette was handed the suspension for abuse of an official on Feb. 16, after slashing linesman Shandor Alphonso during the Ducks' game against the Minnesota Wild.
The 34-year-old opted to appeal his ban, hoping to have it shortened. Many expected the league to acquiesce to this request, with some reports pinning the eventual reduced total at five games.
According to the league, he met with commissioner Gary Bettman in New York on Thursday, but the hearing didn't sway the league.
Vermette has missed four games for Anaheim, meaning he'll remain barred from returning until the team's game against the Washington Capitals on March 12.
The veteran pivot will forfeit $97,222.22 in salary while serving his suspension, with that money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
HEADLINES
- Stearns backs Mendoza amid Mets' skid: He's 'doing a very good job'
- NHL postmortems: What went wrong for all 16 non-playoff teams
- Hellebuyck attributes Jets' regression to complacency: 'Something's gotta happen'
- NHLPA poll: Crosby most likely to become head coach, Nylander most fashionable
- Cubs hit 3 HRs, hand Mets 9th straight loss