Suspension to Cost Gilmour Plenty, but He Won’t Miss Any Games

As expected, Toronto Maple Leaf center Doug Gilmour won’t miss any games for slashing the Kings’ Tomas Sandstrom, who suffered a broken left forearm that will put him out of the lineup for four to six weeks.

Friday, NHL President Gil Stein suspended Gilmour for eight days without pay, meaning he will lose $28,984 in salary. Also, he was fined $500. Under Stein’s new policy, Gilmour will be suspended on non-game and non-travel days.

The monetary amount is the largest this season--previously, the Edmonton Oilers’ Dave Manson lost $19,725 because of a suspension.

In the decision, Stein wrote: “There was no evidence to indicate Gilmour intended to injure Sandstrom, however, when a player deliberately slashes with sufficient force to break an opponent’s bone, he must be held accountable for the injury that results from his act.”

Said Kings’ Coach Barry Melrose: “I was surprised at the length but not surprised it’s for non-game days. The bottom line is Sandstrom’s not playing and Gilmour is.”

At Friday’s hearing in New York, Gilmour did acknowledge the slash was deliberate, which, strangely enough, didn’t seem to make sense. The league bought Gilmour’s argument: He intended to hit Sandstrom with a two-handed slash but not hurt him.