NHL Comes Down Hard on Granato : Hockey: The Kings’ wing is suspended for 15 games for smashing Wilkinson on head. Ban is third longest in league history.

Tony Granato still can’t remember committing the offense. But he won’t soon forget the punishment.

The Kings’ wing was slapped with a 15-game suspension Wednesday, equaling the third-longest ban in NHL history, and fined $500, the maximum allowable, for smashing defenseman Neil Wilkinson of the Chicago Blackhawks over the head a week ago.

Because he had already sat out three games while awaiting his Tuesday hearing in New York, Granato will actually miss the next 12 games, meaning he’ll be out until the Kings’ March 15 date at the Forum against the Ottawa Senators.

“It happened, and I’m going to have to live with it,” said Granato, who was surprised at the severity of the sentence. “I went to New York and explained what I had thought had taken place and (Brian Burke, the league’s director of hockey operations) decided on what he thought was fair punishment.

“I told him the honest-to-God truth. I wasn’t in there pulling any punches. I’m sorry forwhat happened. I accept the responsibility. I’ve played this game a long time, 20 some-odd years, and I’ve never, ever tried to hurt anyone. I play as hard as I can, but to be associated with an incident like that is embarrassing.”

The incident occurred in the final period of last week’s game against Chicago at theForum. Granato and Wilkinson collided along the side boards, Granato going down with whatwas later diagnosed as a concussion.

When Wilkinson turned to skate away, Granato arose and brought his stick down with both hands squarely across Wilkinson’s helmet, a frightening blow that looked as if Granato were splitting a log.

Granato was sent to the locker room with a match penalty for deliberate injury of an opponent. Wilkinson went to the bench, but returned to the ice before the game was over.

Granato later said the whole confrontation was a total blank in his mind.

“I can’t believe what happened,” he said. “I had no recollection of what had taken place. I stand by the fact that I did not intend to hurt anyone. It was some sort of reflex, unconscious movement. When I saw it on tape, I was sick and disgusted.”

When told of Granato’s suspension, Wilkinson refused to get involved any further.

“I’m not happy or mad at the league’s decision,” the Black-hawk defenseman said. “I’m neutral.”

Dale Hunter of the Washington Capitals was suspended for 21 games for hitting the New York Islanders’ Pierre Turgeon from behind in last season’s play-offs.

Tom Lysiak of the Blackhawks was suspended for 20 games in 1983 for tripping linesman Ron Foyt.

Wilf Paiement of the then-Colorado Rockies and Dave Brown of the Philadelphia Flyers were each suspended for 15 games in 1987 for stick-related penalties.

“I thought 21 games--Dale Hunter--when I first saw the tape,” Burke said of the Granato case.

“The Kings did a good job in knocking it down. . . . I admire Tony very much. I’ve known him even before he turned pro. But the conduct was reprehensible.”

Was Granato’s clean record in the past a factor in the final decision?

“It was,” Burke said. “(The Kings) made a very professional presentation. They went to great lengths. He’s a great kid. His lack of a prior record was considered.”

Burke stressed, however, that the NHL will only go so far in terms of leniency when it comes to violence on the ice.

“The league will not change its policy on this,” he said. “My fervent hope is that Tony Granato is the last player I suspend this season.”

Because of back problems, Granato has appeared in only 42 of the team’s 56 games, getting six goals, a total of 17 points and 130 penalty minutes.

Still with his loss and the trading of both Tomas Sandstrom and Shawn McEachern Wednesday, the Kings are shorthanded at forward, so Brian McReynolds and Keith Redmond will be brought up from the Phoenix Roadrunners.

When Granato finally returns, there will be only 16 regular-season games left.

“Maybe I can come back,” he said, “and still be the player I think I can be.”

Times staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this story.