Gillies banned for 10

Gillies, who has only just returned from serving a nine-game suspension for a similar offense, landed himself in more trouble with officials after he slammed Minnesota Wild's Cal Clutterbuck into the boards in a game on Wednesday.

Under the terms of the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, Gillies was treated as a repeat offender so his punishment included a $60,975 fine -- or almost a fifth of his $500,000 salary -- that goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

"By targeting his opponent's head, three shifts into his first game back from a suspension for a very similar action, Mr. Gillies has forfeited his privilege of playing in the league for 10 games," NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement.

"While it is fortunate there was no injury on the play, there can be no justification for a player delivering a dangerous check to an opponent in this manner."

Gillies has one goal and 124 penalty minutes in 33 games this season.