NEW YORK -- Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Clarkson has been automatically suspended for 10 regular-season games, without pay, as a result of being assessed a game misconduct penalty for leaving the bench on an illegal line change to join an altercation during NHL preseason game No. 61 against th eBuffalo Sabres on Sunday, Sept. 22, in Toronto.

At 10:01 of the third period, Clarkson was assessed a game misconduct penalty under Rule 70.6, which states: "A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the player who was the first or second player to leave the players' or penalty bench during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation, from either or both teams."