Ducks center Antoine Vermette is expected to have a hearing Thursday about his suspension for abuse of an official.
Vermette appealed the 10-game suspension given to him for the incident of Feb.14, when he slapped his stick against a linesman after a faceoff against the Minnesota Wild. Vermette will meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who can uphold, increase or decrease the suspension. The matter could then go before an independent arbitrator. The Thursday date was reported by Sportsnet.
Vermette was given an automatic 10-game suspension, under the no-intent-to- injure category and already will have served four games of the suspension.