Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson received a two-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety following a boarding major and game misconduct during a 6-5 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2026, leaving Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke with an upper-body injury.
Department of Player Safety Hands Down Suspension and Salary Forfeiture
The National Hockey League handed Ottawa Senators forward Hayden Hodgson a two-game suspension following a disciplinary hearing held on Friday, October 30, 2026. The supplemental discipline stems from an incident that occurred at 11:15 of the second period during the Senators’ game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, where Hodgson received a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.
According to the league’s decision video, Hodgson closed in from behind and delivered a high hit that made contact with Brandt Clarke’s head while driving him hard into the boards. The Department of Player Safety noted that Hodgson tracked Clarke from behind while skating at a speed of 21 mph.
Ottawa’s Hayden Hodgson has been suspended for two games for boarding Los Angeles’ Brandt Clarke. https://t.co/52aLh0Ozos
— https://x.com/NHLPlayerSafety/status/2116325730774929460
This is boarding. Hodgson tracks Clarke from behind while skating at a speed to adjust to Clarke or minimize the contact.
During the telephone hearing, Hodgson defended his actions to league officials by stating he was attempting to deliver a clean shoulder-to-shoulder check on this play. However, the ruling emphasized that the onus remains on the hitter to ensure an opponent is not defenseless.
Brandt Clarke is on the ice as the @LAKings prepare for practice. Very encouraging after the hit he took last night.
— https://x.com/DooleyLAK/status/2116243037047390558
As a result of the ruling, Hodgson will forfeit $8,763 in salary under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with the funds directed to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He will miss Ottawa’s games against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, becoming eligible to return Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Brandt Clarke Sustains Upper-Body Injury During Game
Brandt Clarke did not return to the game following the collision, with the Los Angeles Kings later announcing that the 23-year-old defenseman suffered an upper-body injury. Before his exit, Clarke logged 11:37 of ice time and recorded an assist on the power play.
Despite the severity of the hit, Clarke was back on the ice skating during Friday’s practice preparation, providing an encouraging sign for a Los Angeles team navigating a 4-6-2 start.
The injury arrives while the Kings are already managing multiple roster absences upfront, including Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello. For Ottawa, the suspension compounds forward depth challenges triggered by recent injuries to Andre Burakovsky and Warren Foegele, prompting the Senators to recall wingers Xavier Bourgault and Philip Tomasino from Belleville of the American Hockey League.
Hayden Hodgson just got a 5 minute major for boarding Brandt Clarke here: pic.twitter.com/MBDM9Ww9u3
— https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/2116010037739216908
Fans Criticize Supplemental Discipline as Too Lenient
The two-game penalty immediately sparked heavy criticism from hockey fans across social media platforms, with many arguing that the sanction failed to match the severity of the hit. Commenters questioned whether the league’s supplemental discipline adequately protects players, with Jordan Schulting calling for at least 10 games.
The reaction was immediate, with several fans arguing that two games did not match the severity of the hit. Jordan Schulting wrote that it should be at least ten games for such a brutal hit. Kevin Pick questioned the department’s work by calling it a joke, while Dwayne F also voiced frustration over the two-game penalty.
Hodgson carries a history of supplemental discipline. He was previously fined $2,018—the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement—in October 2025 for boarding Montreal’s Alex Newhook during a preseason game. In addition, he accumulated 20 games worth of suspensions for elbowing and other infractions across five seasons in the American Hockey League.
More on Hayden Hodgson
NEWS: #GoSensGo F Hayden Hodgson has been suspended two (2) games for boarding #GoKingsGo D Brandt Clarke. pic.twitter.com/2mDdjvaqgo
— https://x.com/puckreportnhl/status/2116326178847871216
NHL Player Safety announces Hayden Hodgson has been suspended for two games for this hit on Brandt Clarke. pic.twitter.com/L8YmBLLi8s
— https://x.com/TSN_Sports/status/2116328402034561295
