Joel Edmundson may have handed Peter Laviolette and the Los Angeles Kings a massive problem after a chaotic scene against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The veteran defenseman is facing questions about a possible 10-game suspension after appearing to leave the Kings' bench during an altercation involving teammate Brandt Clarke.
The incident unfolded Saturday night in Vegas, where tensions between the Kings and Golden Knights spilled over near the boards and both benches.
Footage circulating on social media shows Clarke involved in a heated confrontation with Vegas players before Edmundson appears to enter the situation from the bench area.
His apparent decision to step in and defend his teammate could now carry a much bigger consequence than anything that happened during the confrontation itself.
Under NHL Rule 70.10, a player who leaves the bench during an altercation, or to start one, faces an automatic 10-game suspension if the league determines the rule was violated.
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That's where things become particularly concerning for Los Angeles. The question isn't whether Edmundson was trying to protect Clarke. It's whether he entered the ice illegally to participate in the confrontation.
Joel Edmundson faces 1 game suspension
The video shows players gathering along the boards, with Clarke surrounded by Vegas jerseys as officials attempt to separate the players.
Edmundson's involvement has quickly attracted attention because the NHL treats players leaving the bench during altercations differently from those already participating in the play.
If officials determine Edmundson left the bench specifically to join the confrontation, the mandatory suspension provision would put his availability in serious jeopardy.
For Laviolette, losing an experienced defenseman for 10 games would force an immediate adjustment on the blue line, especially this early in the season.
There is still an important distinction: no official suspension has been confirmed, and the league must establish the circumstances surrounding Edmundson's entry onto the ice.
But the footage has raised a legitimate disciplinary question, and the Kings could soon find themselves dealing with a significant absence because of one heated moment in Vegas.
Should Joel Edmundson receive an automatic 10-game suspension if he left the bench to defend Brandt Clarke?
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