Bruins’ Nathan Horton out; Canucks’ Aaron Rome banned for 4 games

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Updated: June 8, 2011 2:14AM

BOSTON — Nathan Horton is out for the rest of the Stanley Cup finals and, as a result, so is Vancouver Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome.

The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday that Horton suffered a severe concussion when hit by Rome early in Game 3. The NHL, which has taken heat for its inconsistent and unpredictable rulings, then handed Rome a four-game suspension, the longest in finals history.

NHL vice president of hockey operations Mike Murphy said Rule 48, which penalizes blindside hits to the head, had nothing to do with his ruling. The severity of Horton’s injury and the lateness of the hit were the main factors.

‘‘[It was] lateness combined with the injury,’’ he said. ‘‘. . . This is just an interference penalty, an interference hit. If it was immediate after he released the puck, it would have been a legal hit.’’

Rome can relate to Horton, having endured a bad hit by the San Jose Sharks’ Jamie McGinn in the conference finals.

‘‘I try to play this game honestly and with integrity,’’ Rome said in a statement. ‘‘As someone who has experienced this type of injury, I am well aware of its serious nature and have no desire for another player to experience it.’’

Murphy also said he wants to see an end to all the finger-biting taunts.

‘‘We’ve addressed it with the teams,’’ Murphy said. ‘‘I will be speaking with both general managers and coaches about the crap that we’re seeing, the garbage that is going on.’’

‘Chevy’ to Winnipeg

Blackhawks assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is expected to be named Winnipeg’s general manager today.

Cheveldayoff has spent the last two seasons with the Hawks after being the chief architect of four title-winning teams with the Wolves. He was offered the job over the weekend. The Hawks declined to comment Tuesday.