Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Robert Hagg is facing discipline in Sweden after a late-game incident that the league’s disciplinary committee labeled a “sucker punch.”
Hagg, who now plays for Brynas, received a three-game suspension and a fine of 20,500 Swedish Kronor, about $2,000, for punching Olivier Nadeau of Vaxjo in the back of the head during a goalmouth scuffle in Saturday’s game.
The committee’s report was blunt about the situation: “Nadeau cannot defend himself,” it stated, while also describing the contact as a “sucker punch.” Nadeau went down to the ice after Hagg struck him with a clenched fist.
Hagg said he did not intend to hurt Nadeau. Speaking to Swedish website Aftonbladet, he explained, “I put my hand up against his back to push him with an open hand, but it slides up towards his neck,” Hagg said, according to Swedish website Aftonbladet.
He was not penalized on the play.
In handing down the suspension, the disciplinary committee said it considered two main factors: the risk of injury to Nadeau and its belief that Hagg delivered a deliberate blow to the neck against a player who could not defend himself.
“The committee finds it established that Robert Hagg was guilty of Fighting,” the report said. “The offense should result in a suspension.
“The length of the suspension is determined to be a period of time that is deemed to correspond to three matches. He must also pay a fine in the amount stated in the decision.”
Hagg spent one season with the Red Wings after signing as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. During the 2022-23 campaign, he appeared in 38 games and finished with 2-5-7 totals and a minus-five rating.
Detroit signed Hagg after another free-agent addition, Mark Pysyk, went down with a season-ending Achilles injury during summer training.
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