Paul Bissonnette’s 10-Game Suspension for Leaving Bench to Join Altercation Reduced to Three Regular-Season Games

Paul Bissonnette was slapped with a 10-game suspension for leaving the bench to join an altercation during the Coyotes-Kings preseason game, but, on Saturday, the NHL reduced his suspension to three regular-season games.

The Coyotes forward was originally handed the 10-game suspension after he was assessed a game misconduct on Sept. 13 against Los Angeles. L.A.’s Jordan Nolan leveled Rostislav Klesla with an open-ice hit that seemingly prompted Bissonnette to leave the bench to go after Nolan.

Bissonnette maintained that he was coming onto the ice to substitute for Max Domi, and the league announced that although there was no conclusive evidence, there was video proof that supported Bissonnette’s claim that he was coming on for a legal line change.

Bissonnette will be eligible to return to the ice Oct. 10 against the Red Wings.

Photo via Twitter/@phoenixcoyotes