Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson has been fined $2,486.56 for an inappropriate gesture directed toward Toronto’s Nazem Kadri.
Late in Thursday’s game, referee Steve Kozari called Kadri for boarding Anaheim’s Josh Manson, giving the Ducks a late power play in a tie game.
On his way back to the Anaheim bench, Manson responded to the hit with a throat-slashing gesture. He was immediately given a game misconduct and ejected from the game.
The NHL rulebook includes the following provision under Section 75 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
75.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Game misconduct penalties shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:
(ii) Any player who uses obscene gestures on the ice or anywhere in the rink before, during or after the game. The Referee shall report the circumstances to the Commissioner of the League for further disciplinary action.
While a throat-slash may not appear to be what one would typically consider as obscene gesture, the NHL seems to have taken a hard stance on punishing those types of threatening gestures.
Earlier this season the league disciplined a player for a similar gesture. That player was Leafs forward Nazem Kadri — he same one whose boarding penalty sparked the response from Manson. While Kadri did not receive a penalty during the game, he was fined $5,000.
Manson’s fine is the maximum allowable under the CBA based on his salary.
(stick-tap to @DucksNPucks for the video)
