He's just being the politically correct buttboy of Buttman's "new" "improved" Pink Team style of hockey.
Seriously, when I played my goal was to literally kill people - put them through the fucking boards. What was I to do, slap them on the ass after I screeched to a halt instead of clobbering them? Of course I don't want someone going off on a stretcher but...
But I was very much average in size (5'11" and a half - about 180 or so). I always tried to kill the goons though since they were so much bigger than me. Of course though, I'm from the East Side, America's Capital of hockey where we play hard-nosed stick.
"Old Time hockey - Eddie Shore."
Yeah, but there is serious discipline required to play. When I played, I was average to small size, too - 6'1" and 195 pounds. I put the hurt on people when I could, but, this is not a clean hit. The puck was away from the player. He absolutely left his feet to get his shoulder into the guys face. That's just indisputable. You've played, watch his body language. He was going in for the kill.
And that's just bullshit. He was going in for the kill, but he is a professional athlete. He should have realised the puck was away from the player, and pulled out so that only minor or no contact happened. That is discipline, that is good hockey. Following through on a hit when the play has moved on is just bad playing.
That said, 25 games is ridiculous. People above are entirely right - he's being made an example. Well, poor job on that! Want to set a good example? Get some fucking consistency in the punitive measures handed down, and get your refs all on the same page.