The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that comprises 32 teams, including 25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is widely regarded as the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. You might love hockey for its rich history, skillful players, or the adrenaline-pumping fights. Over the years, many players have faced suspensions for various reasons. Do you want to know the most recent NHL suspensions and the longest ones in history? Here’s a list of players with the most NHL suspensions.
6 Most Notable NHL Player Suspensions Ever
1. Brad Marchand – 8 Suspensions | 28 Games Missed
Boston Bruins’ forward Brad Marchand is infamous for toeing the line between gritty play and misconduct. While he’s a top-tier scorer, he’s also earned a reputation as a “pest” — and that’s reflected in his 8 suspensions and 5 fines.
Who holds the record for the most individual suspensions in NHL history?
- A. Chris Simon
- B. Brad Marchand
- C. Matt Cooke
- D. Chris Pronger
Notable Incidents
- 2011: 2 games for elbowing R.J. Umberger.
- 2012: 5 games for a low-bridge hit on Sami Salo, resulting in a concussion.
- 2015 & 2021: Suspended twice for slew-footing (Derick Brassard and Oliver Ekman-Larsson).
- 2018: 5-game suspension for elbowing Marcus Johansson.
- 2022: 6 games for roughing and high-sticking goalie Tristan Jarry.
Marchand holds the record for the most individual suspensions in NHL history — a controversial title.
2. Chris Simon – 8 Suspensions | 65 Games Missed
A powerful enforcer on the ice, Chris Simon racked up 65 suspended games — many of them due to extremely violent conduct.
Major Incidents
- 1997: 3-game ban for using a racial slur against Mike Grier.
- 2007: 25 games for a vicious two-handed stick swing to Ryan Hollweg’s face.
- 2007: 30-game suspension for stomping on Jarkko Ruutu’s leg with his skate — one of the longest suspensions in modern NHL history.
Additional suspensions for cross-checking, elbowing, and kneeing between 2000–2004.
Simon’s history reflects a career where penalties often overshadowed performance.
3. Chris Pronger – 8 Suspensions | 22+ Games Missed
Chris Pronger, a Hall of Famer and elite defenseman, is one of the rare players suspended during the Stanley Cup Finals.
Key Suspensions
- 2007 Playoffs: Two separate 1-game bans — one for a hit on Tomas Holmström, the other for elbowing Dean McAmmond.
- 2008: 8-game suspension for stomping Ryan Kesler’s leg with his skate — drawing comparisons to Simon’s notorious stomp.
Prior suspensions included high-sticking Jeremy Roenick (1998).
Though respected for his skill, Pronger’s career also includes a surprising number of serious suspensions.
4. Tom Wilson – 6 Suspensions | 36 Games Missed
Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson is known for walking the fine line between physicality and recklessness. With 6 suspensions and multiple fines, he’s one of the most controversial figures in modern NHL.
Biggest Offenses
- 2017: 4 games for boarding Sammy Blais (preseason).
- 2018: 20-game suspension (reduced to 14) for illegal head hit on Oskar Sundqvist — costing him $1.2 million.
- 2021: 7 games for Brandon Carlo (resulted in a concussion).
- 2024: 6-game ban for high-sticking Noah Gregor.
His frequent repeat-offender status continues to spark debate among fans and analysts alike.
5. Matt Cooke – 6 Suspensions | 34 Games Missed
Matt Cooke built a reputation as a skilled agitator — but one whose hits often went too far. Despite multiple apologies, he continued to be suspended for dangerous plays.
Key Incidents
- 2008–2009: 2 separate 2-game suspensions for illegal head checks.
- 2011: 10-game ban plus a full playoff round for elbowing Ryan McDonagh — a turning point in league concussion awareness.
- 2014: 7-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit on Tyson Barrie in the playoffs.
Even after pledging to change his style, Cooke’s pattern of reckless hits persisted.
6. Raffi Torres – 5 Suspensions | 74 Games Missed
Raffi Torres stands out for his extremely long suspensions, including one of the longest in NHL history.
Major Offenses
- 2011: 4 games for head hit on Jordan Eberle.
- 2012: 25-game suspension (reduced to 21) for a head hit on Marian Hossa during playoffs.
- 2013: Suspended for illegal check to the head of Jarret Stoll.
- 2015: A record 41-game ban for head contact against Jakob Silfverberg — costing him $440,000 in salary.
Torres’ hit-heavy, aggressive style earned him the label of “headhunter,” and eventually, prematurely ended his NHL career.
NHL Suspensions List 2024–25 Season (Updated as on July 2025)
| Player Name | Team | Suspension Length | Reason for Suspension | Date |
| Valeri Nichushkin | Colorado Avalanche | 26 games | Violated NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program | May 2024 |
| Matt Rempe | New York Rangers | 8 games | Elbowing – repeat offender | Dec 2024 |
| Ryan Jeannot | Los Angeles Kings | 3 games | Illegal head check | Nov 2024 |
| Ryan Reaves | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5 games | Illegal check to the head | Nov 2024 |
| Matt Stienburg | Colorado Avalanche | 2 games | Charging | Oct 2024 |
| Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | 3 games | Cross-checking | Jan 2025 |
| Tyler Myers | Vancouver Canucks | 3 games | Cross-checking | Jan 2025 |
| Trevor Zegras | Anaheim Ducks | 3 games | Interference | Feb 2025 |
| Aaron Ekblad | Florida Panthers | 20 games | Violated NHL’s PED policy | Mar 2025 |
| Ryan Hartman | Minnesota Wild | 10 games | Dangerous roughing | Feb 2025 |
Several players also received fines (up to $15,000) for unsportsmanlike conduct, slashing, and cross-checking during the 2024–25 season.
Players with the Most NHL Suspensions in the History
| S.No. | Player Name | Total Individual Suspensions | Total Games Suspended | Notable Incident (Team & Opponent Context) |
| 1 | Chris Simon | 8 | 65 | Stomping on Jarkko Ruutu, Cross-checking Ryan Hollweg |
| 2 | Raffi Torres | Multiple (9+) | 62 | Illegal check to the head of Jakob Silfverberg (Anaheim Ducks) while with San Jose Sharks (2015), and Marian Hossa (Chicago Blackhawks) while with Phoenix Coyotes (2012) |
| 3 | Grant Fuhr | 1 (major) | 59 | Violating NHL/NHLPA Substances Program (Edmonton Oilers, 1990) |
| 4 | Chris Simon | 8+ | 55 | Stomping on Jarkko Ruutu’s leg (Pittsburgh Penguins) (New York Islanders, 2007) and stick-swinging at Ryan Hollweg (New York Rangers) (New York Islanders, 2007) |
| 5 | Shane Pinto | 1 | 41 | Violating league gambling rules (“proxy betting”) (Ottawa Senators, 2023) |
| 6 | Tom Wilson | At least 6 | 36 | Illegal check to the head of Oskar Sundqvist (St. Louis Blues) (Washington Capitals, 2018), and boarding Brandon Carlo (Boston Bruins) (Washington Capitals, 2021) |
| 7 | Matt Cooke | 6 | 34 | Elbow to the head of Ryan McDonagh, Knee-on-knee hit on Tyson Barrie |
| 8 | Todd Bertuzzi | 1 | 33 | Attacking Steve Moore (Colorado Avalanche) from behind (Vancouver Canucks, 2004) |
| 9 | Auston Watson | 1 | 33 | Arrested for domestic assault (Nashville Predators, 2018) |
| 10 | Brad Marchand | 8 | 28 | Slew-footing Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Elbowing Marcus Johansson |
| 11 | Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | 26 | Violating NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program (Colorado Avalanche, 2024) |
| 12 | Chris Pronger | 8 | At least 24 | Stomping on Ryan Kesler, Elbowing Dean McAmmond |
| 13 | Jesse Boulerice | 1 | 25 | Cross-check to the face of Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) (Philadelphia Flyers, 2007) |
| 14 | Dale Hunter | At least 2 | 25 | Illegal hit on Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders) after a goal (Washington Capitals, 1993) |
| 15 | Marty McSorley | 1 | 23 | Striking Donald Brashear (Vancouver Canucks) on the head with his stick (Boston Bruins, 2000) |
| 16 | Gord Dwyer | 1 | 23 | Altercation with linesman David Brisebois (Tampa Bay Lightning, 2007) |
| 17 | Aaron Ekblad | At least 2 | 22 | Violating NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program (Florida Panthers, 2025) |
| 18 | Brad May | 1 | 20 | Stick infraction (baseball swing to the head) on Steve Heinze (Columbus Blue Jackets) (Phoenix Coyotes, 2000) |
| 19 | Tom Lysiak | 1 | 20 | Jabbed stick behind linesman Ron Foyt’s knee (Chicago Blackhawks, 1983) |
| 20 | Steve Downie | 1 | 20 | Dangerous hit to the head of Dean McAmmond (Ottawa Senators) (Philadelphia Flyers, 2007) |
| 21 | Aaron Downey | 1 | 20 | Leaving the bench to engage Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche) in an altercation (Dallas Stars, 2001) |
| 22 | Dennis Wideman | 1 | 20 | Abuse of officials (Calgary Flames, 2016) |
| 23 | Maurice Richard | 1 | 15 | Knocked down linesman Cliff Thompson during an altercation (Montreal Canadiens, 1955) |
| 24 | Wilf Paiement | 1 | 15 | Vicious slash to the face of Denis Polonich (Detroit Red Wings) (Colorado Rockies, 1978) |
| 25 | Dave Brown | 1 | 15 | Cross-checked Tomas Sandstrom (New York Rangers) in the face (Philadelphia Flyers, 1987) |
| 26 | Tony Granato | 1 | 15 | Slashing Neil Wilkinson (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Los Angeles Kings, 1994) |
| 27 | Shawn Thornton | 1 | 15 | Attacked Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh Penguins) (Boston Bruins, 2013) |
| 28 | Matt Rempe | At least 2 | 12 | Boarding and elbowing Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars) (New York Rangers, 2024) |
Note: Slava Voynov’s indefinite suspension (Los Angeles Kings, 2014) for domestic assault, initially equivalent to 82+ games, represents a severe disciplinary action for off-ice conduct, though it is not included in the numerical ranking due to its non-finite nature.
Billy Coutu, a Canadian ice hockey defenseman In the National Hockey League(NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, the Hamilton Tigers, and the Boston Bruins started a bench-clearing brawl and physically assaulted referee Jerry Laflamme and tried to tackle referee Billy Bell. This incident right during Stanley cup Finals in 1927 banned him from playing NHL for life. It is the longest suspension in NHL history to date. Though his suspension was lifted 5 years later, he never played an NFL match after the suspension.
For more NHL suspension news, you can follow the official website for the Department of Player Safety to know the latest update and today’s list updated by the NHL player safety committee members.
Frequently Asked Questions about NHL Suspensions
Who defines the NHL suspension rules?
The NHL suspension rules are defined by the National Hockey League (NHL) in collaboration with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The NHL Department of Player Safety, established in 2011, is specifically responsible for interpreting these rules and issuing suspensions or fines based on the severity, intent, and history of each incident. They also provide video explanations for major rulings to maintain transparency.
What actions can lead to an NHL suspension?
Players can be suspended for dangerous hits (elbowing, boarding, checking to the head), abuse of officials, substance violations, gambling infractions, and unsportsmanlike behavior.
How is a repeat offender defined in the NHL?
A player is considered a repeat offender if they were suspended in the past 18 months. This status influences suspension length and fine amounts.
Are NHL suspensions without pay?
Yes. Players do not receive salary for the games they miss due to suspension. This lost salary goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Can a player appeal an NHL suspension?
Yes. Players can appeal to the NHL Commissioner. If denied, they may further appeal to a neutral arbitrator under the NHL/NHLPA agreement.
Do NHL suspensions apply to preseason and playoffs too?
Yes. Suspensions apply across preseason, regular season, and playoffs. If a suspension is not fully served in the regular season, it carries into the playoffs or next season.
What’s the difference between a fine and a suspension in the NHL?
A fine is a monetary penalty (up to $5,000 for players, $10,000 for coaches) for minor offenses. A suspension removes a player from game action for one or more matches for more serious violations.
Can NHL suspensions be reduced?
Yes, but it’s rare. A player can appeal and have their suspension reduced by an arbitrator — as seen in Tom Wilson’s 2018 20-game suspension (cut to 14 games).
How are drug or PED violations handled in the NHL?
Violations of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program or Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Program result in automatic suspensions, mandatory counseling, and public disclosure in most cases.
What is the longest suspension in NHL history?
It was handed to Raffi Torres in 2015 — a 41-game ban for an illegal head hit on Jakob Silfverberg. It was the most severe non-lifetime suspension ever issued by the NHL.
Who has the most suspensions in NHL history?
Brad Marchand holds the record for the most individual NHL suspensions — 8 times, missing a total of 28 games throughout his career.
Which player faced the most highly fined suspension in NHL history?
Tom Wilson’s 2018 suspension cost him over $1.2 million in salary, making it one of the most highly fined NHL suspensions ever. The original 20-game ban (later reduced to 14) was for an illegal check to the head during a preseason game.
Are there any NHL steroid suspensions?
Yes. While NHL steroid suspensions are rare compared to other leagues, players like Sean Hill (2007) and Zenon Konopka (2014) have been suspended for violating the NHL’s Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Has the NHL suspended players for drug use?
Yes. NHL drug suspensions occur under the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. While most are kept private, public cases like Carter Ashton (2014) for Clenbuterol and Jarred Tinordi (2016) for PEDs show the league’s stance on banned substances.
What’s the difference between a drug and PED suspension in the NHL?
Drug suspensions often relate to recreational or narcotic use and fall under behavioral health programs, while PED (performance-enhancing drug) suspensions are strictly enforced under the NHL’s anti-doping policy with mandatory bans and fines.
Who are the most fined players in NHL history?
Players like Chris Simon, Brad Marchand, and Tom Wilson have not only faced long NHL suspensions but also accumulated heavy fines due to repeat offenses and serious misconduct.
Can NHL suspensions carry over to the playoffs?
Yes. Suspensions issued near the end of the regular season can carry over into the NHL playoffs. For instance, Matt Cooke’s 2011 suspension lasted through the remainder of the season and the first playoff round.
Has anyone been suspended in the Stanley Cup Finals?
Yes. Chris Pronger was suspended twice during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including once during the Finals for a violent elbow — a rare and serious disciplinary action.
How are NHL suspension lengths determined?
Suspension lengths are influenced by the severity of the infraction, intent, injury caused, and repeat offender status. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety also considers whether the offense occurred during preseason, regular season, or playoffs.