Cody McLeod offered in-person hearing to explain boarding incident

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Avalanche winger Cody McLeod has been offered an in-person hearing to explain his actions in the boarding incident that left Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall with a "mild concussion" and lacerations to his ear.

When the NHL office offers an in-person hearing, it means the player can receive a suspension of six or more games.

The NHL announced that the hearing will be on Monday. The NHL's supplemental discipline czar Brendan Shanahan already had a noon Friday hearing with St. Louis Blues forward Max Lapierre for his boarding incident against San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle.

Lapierre received five games.

The McLeod hit occurred in the first period of Detroit's 4-2 win that ended Colorado's season-starting unbeaten streak at six games. McLeod received a boarding major penalty and a game misconduct.

Kronwall was carried off the ice on a stretcher, but didn't go to the hospital. He will accompany the Red Wings to Phoenix on Saturday.

General manager Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press that Kronwall has "a mild concussion," and also suffered cuts to his right ear. Kronwall was to continue on the trip with his teammates, who next play Saturday at Phoenix.

"Tough situation for him, anytime you get hit like that, you're out cold," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "You're scared to say the least.

"These hits are things we've got to get out of the game."

Kronwall, who was awkwardly positioned when impact occurred, spent several minutes on the ice being tended to by medical personnel before being removed on a stretcher.

"It was really scary hit, Kronner, he can't move for a few seconds," center Pavel Datsyuk said. "Everybody on the bench, like, can't breathe. But after they say he OK - not OK, but OK."