Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has been suspended five games for elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin in the head, theNational Hockey League (NHL) said on Friday

The former Norris Trophy winner as league's top defenseman had a hearing with the Department of Player safety on Friday to discuss the hit on Vancouver's second-leading scorer during a game in Chicago on Wednesday.

"Regardless of Keith's assertion that the intent on this play was to impede Sedin's progress as opposed to a retaliation for an earlier hit, Keith's hit was still dangerous, reckless and caused injury," league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahansaid in a video on the NHL's website.

Sedin, who has 67 points in 72 games this season for the Northwest division-leading Canucks, remained in the game right after but eventually for the dressing room and did not return.

Keith, who has never been banned in over seven NHL seasons, will miss five of his team's final seven regular season games.