The Malik Report

Paul here posting for George who is out and about…

via Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall will not face any disciplinary action from the NHL following his hit on Ryan Kesler during the third period of Wednesday’s game, general manager Ken Holland said. NHL vice president of safety Brendan Shanahan reviewed the play and didn’t think there was anything malicious about the hit. “They looked at, they look at everything, but (Shanahan) said there’s no suspension, no fine,’’ Holland said. Kesler said his main problem was that Kronwall didn’t “answer the bell’’ by dropping his gloves and fighting him.

Update from George: The Free Press’s Helene St. James confirms:

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall won’t face any disciplinary action for a hit on Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler. Wings general manager Ken Holland confirmed this morning Kronwall won’t be suspended nor fined. Kesler got upset after being nailed along the boards during the third period of Wednesday’s 4-2 Canucks victory, but he said after the game that the hit “wasn’t that bad.” He was just mad Kronwall wouldn’t fight when invited to do so. Kesler, a Livonia native, is just the latest of Kronwall’s targets to sound off after a bone-crushing hit. Teemu Selanne has done the same, as did Brian Campbell after seeing then-Chicago teammate Martin Havlat get laid out in a playoff game. Ironically, Kronwall is one of the most genuinely nice people off the ice. “Laid-back. Quiet. Very respectful,” goalie Jimmy Howard said today when asked to describe his teammate’s personality. “He’s so shifty as a defenseman. You see him backing off, but yet he’s so quick, and next thing you know, he’s right there in your face. That’s just one of his strong attributes that he has—he’s such a great skater to be able to show that he’s backing off and then as soon as you get the pass, he’s right there. I had no problem with the hit.”

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