Wednesday night’s game between the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres was a battle. The two teams combined for 42 penalty minutes, third most in a game so far this season. That in itself isn’t a huge number, but the total wasn’t padded by matching fighting majors or ten-minute misconducts. No, each of those 42 minutes were hard-earned, coming entirely through minor penalties. Roughing calls led the way with eight, following by tripping (three) and high-sticking (two).
Only one of those calls, though, was deemed to have deserved more.
Anaheim forward Nick Ritchie has been fined $4,121.89 for roughing Buffalo Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka.
The call came during a stoppage in play with 4:03 remaining in the second period. Sobotka hit Ritchie along the boards earlier in the shift. After the whistle, Ritchie went looking for revenge. He went after Sobotka in the slot, grabbing him up high and wrestling him to the ice.
Referee Ian Walsh immediately called Ritchie for roughing. The resultant scrum resulted in a second roughing penalty to Ritchie as well as a matching call to Buffalo goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Ritchie’s fine is the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for a first offense within a 12-month period, based on Ritchie’s annual salary of just under $1.5MM, per CapFriendly.
From the CBA, section 18.7:
A fine may be in an amount up to fifty percent (50%) of the Player’s Paragraph 1 NHL Salary and Bonuses, but not including Performance Bonuses, divided by the number of days in the Regular Season, but in no event shall it exceed $10,000 for the first fine and $15,000 for any subsequent fine imposed in any rolling twelve (12) month calendar period.
Player Salary and Bonuses forfeited due to a fine will be calculated based on a Player’s Averaged Amount.
For fines of $5,000 or less the League shall, within seventy-two (72) hours of the completion of the game in which the incident took place, provide: (i) notice of the fine, (ii) an explanation of the fine, and (iii) written reports of on-ice officials and Officiating Managers (if any) to the fined Player, his Club and the NHLPA.
Fines in excess of $5,000 are subject to the telephonic hearing procedures afforded to Players subject to suspension of five (5) games or less.
Keep track of all disciplinary action:
Scouting the Refs Suspension/Fine Tracker 2019-20
