Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Clarkson on 10-game ban: Sometimes I act with heart, not head

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 in preseason action

TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 22 - David Clarkson skates in from the left to join a scrap involving all the players on the ice, David Clarkson may have left the bench to join the melee in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 in preseason action at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, September 22, 2013. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Toronto Star via Getty Images

Despite previous reports to the contrary, Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson will not appeal his suspension, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston.

He’s being punished for violating Rule 70.10, which hands players an automatic 10-game ban if they leave their bench illegally during a fight or to start an altercation.

The 29-year-old do just that on Sunday after Buffalo Sabres forward John Scott’s attempt to fight Phil Kessel led to a line brawl, as you can see below:

“I sometimes make decisions with my heart, not my head,” Clarkson said.

As a result, the Maple Leafs will be without their big free agent signing until Oct. 25. That also puts the Maple Leafs in an even rougher salary cap situation.

Clarkson apologized at least three times for not talking to the media since the incident.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 25, 2013

Follow @RyanDadoun