Jamie Benn Suspension: Could Dallas Stars captain be penalized further for hit on Brandon Carlo? 

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was involved in a dangerous collision with Boston Bruins blueliner Brandon Carlo during Thursday night’s matchup at American Airlines Center.

With the Stars leading 2-0 midway through the first period, Jamie Benn leveled Carlo when chasing the puck on an icing call. Carlo was visibly shaken but appeared to be all right.

Here’s a look at the hit:

The replay shows Carlo’s head smashing into the boards on a hit from behind. Benn got a minor penalty for boarding in addition to a fighting major after Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov retaliated against Benn for the hit.

Here’s a look at the hit from a different angle and the subsequent altercation between Zadorov and Benn:

While it’s unclear if Brandon Carlo has sustained an injury at this point. However, the bigger issue is the blown call on the ice. Specifically, the non-call about the penalty issued on the play.

Originally, Benn had gotten a major penalty for boarding. However, the officials changed the call to a minor penalty. NESN analyst Andy Brickley was shocked by the call:

“It’s hard to understand anymore in this league.”

The comment underscored the lack of consistency in calling these types of dangerous plays. Many analysts and fans believe Jamie Benn’s hit should not only have been a major penalty, but a suspension as well.

NHL could suspend Jamie Benn for hit on Brandon Carlo

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety (DoPS) will likely look into the incident. When looking at the replay, it’s clear that Benn hits Carlo from behind.

The biggest issue here is the league must decide if there was clear ill-intention on Benn’s part. If that’s the case, the league could subsequently suspend him. Typically, two games tend to be the outcome for this sort of situation.

Furthermore, the league may also want to make an example of Jamie Benn and issue a heavier suspension. While that could be the case, history doesn’t necessarily favor such situations. Most of the time, players get hit with a $5,000 fine and a tongue-lashing.

Ultimately, the DoPS may wait a bit longer before deciding on disciplinary action in this case. The league may wait to see if Brandon Carlo was seriously injured by the play. If Carlo ends up with a concussion or some other type of injury, the league may choose to crack down on the incident further.

What do you think of the penalty call on Jamie Benn for his hit on Brandon Carlo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.