Canucks F Zack Kassian faces telephone hearing for hit on Brenden Dillon

Vancouver Canucks forward Zack Kassian will face a disciplinary hearing, the NHL has announced, for a dangerous hit from behind on Dallas Stars defenseman Brenden Dillon on Thursday night. The hearing will be conducted over the telephone according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, meaning the penalty levied cannot exceed five games.

Kassian is a repeat offender as he was suspended for eight games (including five regular season games) for a preseason incident involving Oilers forward Sam Gagner.

Addressing the hit after the contest, Stars head coach Lindy Ruff  implied that Kassian should've pulled up on a player who was in a vulnerable position:

“I was relieved to get him back.  It was definitely a shot from behind.  Those are tough hits and the best retribution is make the other team play on the power play.  He didn’t come from a long way but Dillon was in a bad position when he got hit.”

Vancouver's head coach John Tortorella appeared to agree with Ruff's assessment: