NHL roundup: Sabres' Kaleta gets 10-game ban
Buffalo Sabres right wing Patrick Kaleta, viewed as a repeat offender by the NHL, received a 10-game suspension from the league for a check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson on Thursday.
Kaleta had a hearing with the league's Department of Player Safety on Tuesday, after which the punishment was announced. He already sat out the first two games of the ban, which will cost him $152,439 in salary.
The first-period hit on Johnson did not result in a penalty during the game.
Kaleta will be eligible to return to the Sabres' lineup for a Nov. 2 home game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Buffalo began play Tuesday with the league's worst record, 0-6-1.
In March, Kaleta received a five-game suspension for boarding New York Rangers forward Brad Richards.
--Rick Nash was placed on injured reserve by the New York Rangers, who could benefit from a break in the schedule to give him two full weeks to recover from a concussion.
Nash missed the past two games and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, one week removed from a suspension-drawing elbow from San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart.
The move rules out Nash for Wednesday's game at Washington. The Rangers then don't take the ice again until Oct. 24.
--Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was clear in his word choice: Chris Pronger will never play again.
Holmgren made the comments to The Hockey News, discussing the defenseman's future in the NHL.
Pronger last played in 2011 and has battled post-concussion symptoms and an eye injury. Unfounded chatter last season connected the Flyers to Pronger, but Holmgren said again that the 39-year-old is on long-term injured reserve.
Because of the injury designation, Pronger's $11 million remaining salary cannot be bought out by the Flyers. If he retires, the salary-cap hit is spread over four seasons.
--The Pittsburgh Penguins moved forward James Neal to injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Neal was injured Oct. 3, opening night, against the New Jersey Devils.
The Penguins recalled forward Harry Zolnierczyk from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
