Ed Jovanovski suspended for blow to the head: Andrew Ebbett concussion: Nathan Smith recalled from Houston

From NHL.com:

TORONTO -- Phoenix Coyotes' defenseman Ed Jovanovski has been suspended for two games, without pay, for an incident in NHL game #436 against the Minnesota Wild, December 7, the National Hockey League announced today. 

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Jovanovski will forfeit $67,357.52. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

At 9:34 of the third period, Jovanovski delivered a forearm to the head area of Minnesota's Andrew Ebbett. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Jovanovski will miss Thursday's game at Los Angeles and Dec. 12 against San Jose. He will be eligible to return Dec. 14 at Detroit.

So wait, let me get this straight. A "star" player was suspended for TWO games after hitting a non-star player in the face? All this despite the fact that it is not publicly known if Ebbett is going to miss any time?

I. Am. Amazed.

Congrats to Colin Campbell for getting one right. A blind nut finds a squirrel every once and a while right? (Yes, that was on purpose.)

-Buddha

In case you didn't see the hit

EDIT (nathaneide): Andrew Ebbett has been diagnosed with a concussion. He is the fourth Wild player to be out with either a concussion or post-concussion symptoms this season. Ebbett's loss hurts the Wild as he has three goals and a shootout goal in his seven games in a Wild sweater.

Nathan Smith has been recalled from Houston to fill Ebbett's slot and will join the team in Colorado.

EDIT #2 (nathaneide) This is a fantastic post over at Silver Seven Sens (SB Nation's Ottawa Senators blog)

Size is not an excuse for a high hit - Silver Seven Sens
The problem with this argument is that Jovanovski didn't hit a player that was taller. He hit a small player, and could see that he was hitting a small player. This argument is akin to getting undressed in front of a coworker and, during your wrongful dismissal claim, trying to argue, "Come on! If she was a man it'd be okay!" You can't argue that something is fine in other circumstances, you have to take the circumstances as you find them. Jovanovski found himself defending a short player, and he has to handle that situation accordingly. He's not less blameworthy, nor is he exonerated, simply because he's a big player.