2018–19 NHL suspensions and fines

The following is a list of all suspensions and fines enforced in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 2018–19 NHL season. It lists which players or coaches of what team have been punished for which offense and the amount of punishment they have received.

Based on each player's average annual salary, divided by number of days in the season (186) for non-repeat offenders and games (82) for repeat offenders, salary will be forfeited for the term of their suspension. Players' money forfeited due to suspension or fine goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund, while money forfeited by coaches, staff or organizations as a whole go to the NHL Foundation.[1]

Suspensions

† - suspension covered at least one 2018 NHL preseason game
‡ - suspension covered at least one 2019 postseason game
# - Suspension was later reduced upon further review/successful appeal; information presented in italics
 R  - Player was considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (player had been suspended in the 18 months prior to this suspension)

Date of incident Offender Team(s) Offense(s) Date of action Length Salary forfeited1
September 2, 2018 Nate Schmidt Vegas Golden Knights Violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.[2] September 2, 2018 27 games†
(7 preseason + 20 regular) 		$466,532.262,3,4
September 7, 2018 Austin Watson Nashville Predators Unacceptable off-ice conduct.[3] September 12, 2018
October 12, 2018[4] 		33 games†#
(6 preseason + 27 regular)
24 games5†
(6 preseason + 18 regular) 		$354,838.712,3
$248,387.102,3
September 19, 2018 Max Domi Montreal Canadiens Roughing Aaron Ekblad.[5] September 20, 2018 5 games†
(5 preseason) 		N/A2
September 25, 2018 Robert Bortuzzo St. Louis Blues Elbowing Michal Kempny.[6] September 27, 2018 3 games†
(2 preseason + 1 regular) 		$6,182.802
September 30, 2018 Tom WilsonR Washington Capitals Illegal check to the head of Oskar Sundqvist.[7] October 3, 2018
November 13, 2018[8] 		20 games#
14 games6 		$1,260,162.60
$882,113.71
October 13, 2018 Mike Matheson Florida Panthers Interference and unsportsmanlike conduct against Elias Pettersson.[9] October 15, 2018 2 games $52,419.35
October 23, 2018 Mark Borowiecki Ottawa Senators Elbowing Urho Vaakanainen.[10] October 24, 2018 1 game $6,451.61
October 28, 2018 Mark BorowieckiR Ottawa Senators Illegal check to the head of Cody Eakin.[11] October 29, 2018 3 games $43,902.44
November 2, 2018 Brendan Lemieux Winnipeg Jets Illegal check to the head of Vincent Trocheck.[12] November 5, 2018 2 games $9,023.30
November 15, 2018 Josh Archibald Arizona Coyotes Illegal check to the head of Ryan Hartman.[13] November 17, 2018 2 games $7,258.06
December 2, 2018 Tyler Bertuzzi Detroit Red Wings Roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct against Matt Calvert.[14] December 3, 2018 2 games $15,053.76
December 6, 2018 Mark Giordano Calgary Flames Kneeing Mikko Koivu.[15] December 7, 2018 2 games $72,580.64
December 6, 2018 Ryan Lomberg Calgary Flames Automatic suspension for instigating in the final five minutes of regulation and leaving the bench on a legal line change for the purpose of starting a fight with Matt Dumba.[16][17] December 7, 2018 2 games $7,634.41
December 8, 2018 Zach Hyman Toronto Maple Leafs Interference against Charlie McAvoy.[18] December 9, 2018 2 games $24,193.55
December 18, 2018 Jujhar Khaira Edmonton Oilers Cross-checking Vince Dunn.[19] December 19, 2018 2 games $7,258.06
December 22, 2018 Erik Karlsson San Jose Sharks Illegal check to the head of Austin Wagner.[20] December 23, 2018 2 games $69,892.47
December 27, 2018 David BackesR Boston Bruins Illegal check to the head of Blake Coleman.[21] December 28, 2018 3 games $219,512.20
January 15, 2019 Paul Byron Montreal Canadiens Charging MacKenzie Weegar.[22] January 16, 2019 3 games $18,817.21
January 17, 2019 Ryan Johansen Nashville Predators High-sticking Mark Scheifele.[23] January 18, 2019 2 games $86,021.51
January 26, 2019 Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals Automatic suspension for missing NHL All-Star Game.[24] January 2, 2019 1 game N/A
January 26, 2019 Carey Price Montreal Canadiens Automatic suspension for missing NHL All-Star Game.[25] January 7, 2019 1 game N/A
January 29, 2019 Austin Watson Nashville Predators Suspended indefinitely for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.[26] January 29, 2019 21 games $289,784.953,7
February 11, 2019 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins High-sticking Michael Raffl.[27] February 12, 2019 1 game $51,075.27
February 19, 2019 Radko GudasR Philadelphia Flyers High-sticking Nikita Kucherov.[28] February 20, 2019 2 games $81,707.32
February 21, 2019 Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers Illegal check to the head of Nick Leddy.[29] February 22, 2019 2 games $134,408.60
March 1, 2019 Kurtis Gabriel New Jersey Devils Boarding Nolan Patrick.[30] March 2, 2019 1 game $3,494.62
March 1, 2019 Adam Lowry Winnipeg Jets High-sticking Filip Forsberg.[31] March 2, 2019 2 games $31,362.00
March 9, 2019 Jakub Voracek Philadelphia Flyers Interference against Johnny Boychuk.[32] March 10, 2019 2 games8 $88,709.68
March 9, 2019 Jack Eichel Buffalo Sabres Illegal check to the head of Carl Soderberg.[33] March 10, 2019 2 games $107,526.88
March 20, 2019 Jean-Gabriel Pageau Ottawa Senators Boarding Ashton Sautner.[34] March 21, 2019 1 game $16,666.67
March 21, 2019 Yanni Gourde Tampa Bay Lightning Illegal check to the head of Jordan Staal.[35] March 22, 2019 2 games $10,752.69
April 12, 2019 Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning Boarding Markus Nutivaara.[36] April 13, 2019 1 game‡
(1 postseason) 		N/A2
April 13, 2019 Nazem KadriR Toronto Maple Leafs Cross-checking Jake DeBrusk.[37] April 15, 2019 5 games‡
(5 postseason)9 		N/A2
April 14, 2019 Joe Thornton San Jose Sharks Illegal check to the head of Tomas Nosek.[38] April 15, 2019 1 game‡
(1 postseason) 		N/A2
May 6, 2019 Charlie McAvoy Boston Bruins Illegal check to the head of Josh Anderson.[39] May 7, 2019 1 game‡
(1 postseason) 		N/A2
May 29, 2019 Oskar Sundqvist St. Louis Blues Boarding Matt Grzelcyk.[40] May 30, 2019 1 game‡
(1 postseason) 		N/A2
June 6, 2019 Ivan Barbashev St. Louis Blues Illegal check to the head of Marcus Johansson.[41] June 7, 2019 1 game‡
(1 postseason) 		N/A2
Player totals: 154 games†‡
(20 preseason + 124 regular + 10 postseason) 		$3,051,465.07

Notes

1.^ All figures are in US dollars.
2.^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ As players are not paid salary in the preseason or postseason, no fines are generated for games lost due to suspension during those periods.
3.^ ^ Fines generated for games lost due to suspension for off-ice conduct are calculated uniquely and irrespective of repeat offender status.
4.^ Suspension accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health.
5.^ Watson's original suspension was for 27 games, plus the remaining 6 games of the preseason. The suspension was appealed by Watson on September 20, 2018.[42] On October 12, 2018, NHL/NHLPA Neutral Discipline Arbitrator, Shyam Das, overruled the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's 27 regular season game suspension down to 18 regular season games. The NHL and NHLPA agreed to use Das as a neutral discipline arbitrator on an ad hoc basis as regular arbitrator George Nicolau was unavailable.[4]
6.^ Suspension was appealed by Wilson on October 5, 2018.[43] On October 25, 2018, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced he had heard the appeal and was upholding the original 20 game suspension levied to Wilson.[44] The NHLPA then appealed to neutral arbitrator on behalf of Wilson, on October 26.[45] On November 13, 2018, NHL/NHLPA Neutral Discipline Arbitrator, Shyam Das, overruled the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's 20 regular season game suspension down to 14 regular season games. The NHL and NHLPA agreed to use Das as a neutral discipline arbitrator on an ad hoc basis as regular arbitrator George Nicolau was unavailable. Though Wilson had already missed 16 of his originally assessed 20 games before Das' decision was made, his suspension will stand as 14 games in the NHL records and his salary was refunded for the 2 games he missed.[8]
7.^ Indefinite suspension accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health - Stage 2. Suspension completed only upon being cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators. Watson was reinstated by the NHL/NHPLA on March 18, 2019, after 49 days and 21 games missed. As part of his reinstatement, Watson was entered into the follow-up care phase of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.[46]
8.^ Suspension was appealed by Voracek on March 11, 2019; Voracek applied for an expedited appeal, due to the short nature of the suspension.[47] On March 13, 2019, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced he had heard the appeal and was upholding the original 2 game suspension levied to Voracek.[48] As Voracek's suspension was fewer than 6 games, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Commissioner's decision was final and binding and not subject to review, and the NHLPA was not allowed to appeal to a neutral arbitrator on Voracek's behalf.
9.^ Nazem Kadri was suspended for the remainder of the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. At the time of the suspension, the number of games for the suspension could have ranged from 3 to 5 games.[37]

Fines

Players can be fined up to 50% of one day's salary, up to a maximum of $10,000.00 for their first offense, and $15,000.00 for any subsequent offenses (player had been fined in the 12 months prior to this fine).[1] Coaches, non-playing personnel, and teams are not restricted to such maximums.

Fines for players/coaches fined for diving/embellishment are structured uniquely and are only handed out after non-publicized warnings are given to the player/coach for their first offense. For more details on diving/embellishment fines:

Diving/embellishment specifications
Incident Number1 Player Fine2 Coach Fine2
1 Warning (N/A) Warning (N/A)
2 $2,000 N/A
3 $3,000 N/A
4 $4,000 N/A
5 $5,000 $2,000
6 $5,000 $3,000
7 $5,000 $4,000
8+ $5,000 $5,000
  1. For coach incident totals, each citation issued to a player on his club counts toward his total.
  2. All figures are in US dollars.

Fines listed in italics indicate that was the maximum allowed fine.

Date of incident Offender Team Offense Date of action Amount1
October 25, 2018 Kyle Clifford Los Angeles Kings Kneeing Jordan Greenway.[49] October 26, 2018 $4,301.08
November 6, 2018 Milan Lucic Edmonton Oilers Roughing Mathieu Joseph.[50] November 7, 2018 $10,000.00
November 14, 2018 Josh Morrissey Winnipeg Jets Unsportsmanlike conduct against T.J. Oshie.[51] November 15, 2018 $8,467.74
November 14, 2018 Mikko Rantanen Colorado Avalanche Diving/Embellishment (second citation)2.[52] November 21, 2018 $2,000.00
November 15, 2018 Matt Cullen Pittsburgh Penguins Tripping J.T. Miller.[53] November 16, 2018 $1,000.00
November 23, 2018 Antoine Roussel Vancouver Canucks Biting Marc-Edouard Vlasic.[54] November 24, 2018 $5,000.00
December 6, 2018 Bill Peters
(head coach) 		Calgary Flames Automatic fine for Ryan Lomberg instigating in the final five minutes of regulation.[16] December 7, 2018 $10,000.00
December 18, 2018 Vince Dunn St. Louis Blues Cross-checking Jujhar Khaira.[55] December 19, 2018 $1,942.20
December 27, 2018 Dustin Byfuglien Winnipeg Jets Slashing Johnny Gaudreau.[56] December 28, 2018 $2,500.00
December 28, 2018 Phillip Danault Montreal Canadiens Dangerous trip against Aaron Ekblad.[57] December 29, 2018 $5,000.00
January 12, 2019 Mikhail Sergachev Tampa Bay Lightning Cross-checking Johan Larsson.[58] January 13, 2019 $2,403.67
February 1, 2019 Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning Dangerous trip against Scott Mayfield.[59] February 2, 2019 $5,000.00
February 1, 2019 Zack Smith Ottawa Senators Elbowing Marcus Pettersson.[60] February 2, 2019 $5,000.00
February 7, 2019 James van Riemsdyk Philadelphia Flyers High-sticking Alec Martinez.[61] February 8, 2019 $5,000.00
February 19, 2019 Robert Hagg Philadelphia Flyers Interference against Cedric Paquette.[62] February 20, 2019 $3,091.40
February 24, 2019 Ben Chiarot Winnipeg Jets Cross-checking Nick Cousins.[63] February 25, 2019 $3,763.44
March 1, 2019 Jaden Schwartz St. Louis Blues Cross-checking Dougie Hamilton.[64] March 2, 2019 $5,000.00
March 8, 2019 Nick Ritchie Anaheim Ducks Cross-checking Christian Folin.[65] March 9, 2019 $4,121.86
March 13, 2019 Chris Kreider New York Rangers Elbowing Elias Pettersson.[66] March 14, 2019 $5,000.00
March 16, 2019 Timo Meier San Jose Sharks Diving/Embellishment (second citation)3.[67] March 21, 2019 $2,000.00
March 30, 2019 Joe Thornton San Jose Sharks High-sticking Ryan Reaves.[68] March 31, 2019 $2,500.00
March 30, 2019 Ryan Reaves Vegas Golden Knights High-sticking Joe Thornton.[69] March 31, 2019 $2,500.00
March 30, 2019 Colin Miller Vegas Golden Knights Diving/Embellishment (second citation)4.[70] April 4, 2019 $2,000.00
April 5, 2019 Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim Ducks Roughing Adrian Kempe.[71] April 7, 2019 $2,500.00
Total: $100,091.39

Notes

1.^ All figures are in US dollars.
2.^ Rantanen was issued his first citation following an incident on October 16, 2018.[52]
3.^ Meier was issued his first citation following an incident on February 5, 2019.[67]
4.^ Miller was issued his first citation following an incident on November 23, 2018.[67]

Further reading

  • 2018–19 NHL Official Rules (PDF), NHL, October 3, 2018
  • NHL Department of Player Safety Education Videos, NHL, May 27, 2014, archived from the original on March 19, 2014
  • Glasner, Daniel (March 24, 2014), Goal: Transparent NHL Player Discipline. Assist: Labour Law, Canadian Lawyer, archived from the original on March 25, 2014, retrieved September 2, 2018

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Department of Player Safety FAQs, nhl.com, August 31, 2015
  2. ^ NHL Suspends Schmidt for First 20 Regular-Season Games, nhl.com, September 2, 2018
  3. ^ Watson of Predators Suspended 27 Games by NHL, nhl.com, September 12, 2018
  4. ^ a b Watson of Predators Has Suspension Reduced to 18 Games, nhl.com, October 12, 2018
  5. ^ Domi Suspended Remainder of Preseason for Action in Canadiens Game, nhl.com, September 20, 2018
  6. ^ Bortuzzo of Blues Suspended One Regular-Season Game, Rest of Preseason, nhl.com, September 27, 2018
  7. ^ Wilson Suspended 20 Games for Actions in Capitals Game, nhl.com, October 3, 2018
  8. ^ a b Wilson Suspension Reduced to 14 Games, Returns for Capitals, nhl.com, November 13, 2018
  9. ^ Matheson Suspended Two Games for Actions in Panthers Game, nhl.com, October 15, 2018
  10. ^ Borowiecki Suspended One Game for Actions in Senators Game, nhl.com, October 24, 2018
  11. ^ Borowiecki Suspended Three Games for Actions in Senators Game, nhl.com, October 29, 2018
  12. ^ Lemieux Suspended Two Games for Actions in Jets Game, nhl.com, November 5, 2018
  13. ^ Archibald Suspended Two Games for Actions in Coyotes Game, nhl.com, November 17, 2018
  14. ^ Bertuzzi Suspended Two Games for Actions in Red Wings Game, nhl.com, December 3, 2018
  15. ^ Giordano Suspended Two Games for Actions in Flames Game, nhl.com, December 7, 2018
  16. ^ a b Lomberg to Have Hearing for Actions in Flames Game against Wild, nhl.com, December 7, 2018
  17. ^ Lomberg Suspended One Game for Actions in Flames Game, nhl.com, December 7, 2018
  18. ^ Hyman Suspended Two Games for Actions in Maple Leafs Game, nhl.com, December 9, 2018
  19. ^ Khaira Suspended Two Games for Actions in Oilers Game against Blues, nhl.com, December 19, 2018
  20. ^ Karlsson Suspended Two Games for Actions in Sharks Game against Kings, nhl.com, December 23, 2018
  21. ^ Backes Suspended Three Games for Actions in Bruins Game against Devils, nhl.com, December 28, 2018
  22. ^ Byron Suspended Three Games for Actions in Canadiens Game, nhl.com, January 16, 2019
  23. ^ Johansen Suspended Two Games for Actions in Predators Game, nhl.com, January 18, 2019
  24. ^ Capitals' Alex Ovechkin to Skip NHL All-Star Game, sportsnet.ca, January 2, 2019
  25. ^ Montreal Canadiens Goalie Carey Price to Skip NHL All-Star Game Due to Injury, Global News, January 7, 2019
  26. ^ Watson Placed in Stage Two of Substance Abuse/Behavioral Health Program, nhl.com, January 29, 2019
  27. ^ Malkin Suspended One Game for Actions in Penguins Game against Flyers, nhl.com, February 12, 2019
  28. ^ Gudas Suspended Two Games for Actions in Flyers Game against Lightning, nhl.com, February 20, 2019
  29. ^ McDavid Suspended Two Games for Actions in Oilers Game against Islanders, nhl.com, February 22, 2019
  30. ^ Gabriel Suspended One Game for Actions in Devils Game against Flyers, nhl.com, March 2, 2019
  31. ^ Lowry Suspended Two Games for Actions in Jets game against Predators, nhl.com, March 2, 2019
  32. ^ Voracek Suspended Two Games for actions in Flyers Game against Islanders, nhl.com, March 10, 2019
  33. ^ Eichel Suspended Two Games for Actions in Sabres Game against Avalanche, nhl.com, March 10, 2019
  34. ^ Pageau Suspended One Game for Actions in Senators Game against Canucks, nhl.com, March 21, 2019
  35. ^ Gourde Suspended Two Games for Actions in Lightning Game, nhl.com, March 22, 2019
  36. ^ Kucherov Suspended One Game for Actions in Lightning Game, nhl.com, April 13, 2019
  37. ^ a b Kadri Suspended for Rest of First Round for Actions in Maple Leafs Game, nhl.com, April 15, 2019
  38. ^ Thornton Suspended One Game for Actions in Sharks Game, nhl.com, April 15, 2019
  39. ^ McAvoy Suspended One Game for Actions in Bruins Game vs. Blue Jackets, nhl.com, May 7, 2019
  40. ^ Gulitti, Tom (May 30, 2019), Sundqvist Suspended, out for Blues in Game 3 of Cup Final, nhl.com
  41. ^ Barbashev Suspended, out for Blues in Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final, nhl.com, June 7, 2019
  42. ^ Predators' Austin Watson: Appeal Hearing Date Set, cbssports.com, September 20, 2018
  43. ^ NHLPA Files Appeal of Wilson's 20-Game Suspension, sportsnet.ca, October 5, 2018
  44. ^ Wilson's 20-Game Suspension Upheld by Commissioner Bettman, nhl.com, October 25, 2018
  45. ^ NHLPA Files appeal on Behalf of Wilson, tsn.ca, October 26, 2018
  46. ^ Watson Reinstated by NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, nhlpa.com, March 18, 2019
  47. ^ Flyers' Jakub Voracek Appealing Two-Game Suspension, sportsnet.ca, March 11, 2019
  48. ^ Voracek Two-Game Suspension Upheld on Appeal to Commissioner Bettman, nhl.com, March 13, 2019
  49. ^ Clifford Fined for Actions in Kings-Wild Game, nhl.com, October 26, 2018
  50. ^ Lucic Fined for Actions in Oilers Game against Lightning, nhl.com, November 7, 2018
  51. ^ Morrissey Fined for Actions in Jets Game against Capitals, nhl.com, November 15, 2018
  52. ^ a b Rantanen Fined for Diving/Embellishment in Avalanche Game against Bruins, nhl.com, November 21, 2018
  53. ^ Cullen Fined for Actions in Penguins Game against Lightning, nhl.com, November 16, 2018
  54. ^ Roussel Fined for Biting Vlasic in Canucks Game against Sharks, nhl.com, November 24, 2018
  55. ^ Dunn Fined for Cross-Checking in Blues Game against Oilers, nhl.com, December 19, 2018
  56. ^ Byfuglien Fined for Actions in Jets Game against Flames, nhl.com, December 28, 2018
  57. ^ Danault Fined for Actions in Canadiens Game against Panthers, nhl.com, December 29, 2018
  58. ^ Sergachev Fined for Actions in Lightning Game against Sabres, nhl.com, January 13, 2019
  59. ^ Kucherov Fined for Actions in Lightning Game against Islanders, nhl.com, February 2, 2019
  60. ^ Smith Fined for Actions in Senators Game against Penguins, nhl.com, February 2, 2019
  61. ^ van Riemsdyk Fined $5,000 for Actions in Flyers Game against Kings, nhl.com, February 8, 2019
  62. ^ Hagg fined for actions in Flyers game against Lightning, nhl.com, February 20, 2019
  63. ^ Chiarot Fined for Actions in Jets Game against Coyotes, nhl.com, February 25, 2019
  64. ^ Schwartz Fined for Actions in Blues Game against Hurricanes, nhl.com, March 2, 2019
  65. ^ Ritchie Fined for Actions in Ducks Game against Canadiens, nhl.com, March 9, 2019
  66. ^ Kreider Fined for Elbowing in Rangers Game against Canucks, nhl.com, March 14, 2019
  67. ^ a b c Meier Fined for Diving/Embellishment in Sharks Game against Predators, nhl.com, March 21, 2019
  68. ^ Thornton Fined $2,500 for Actions in Sharks Game against Golden Knights, nhl.com, March 31, 2019
  69. ^ Reaves Fined for Actions in Golden Knights Game against Sharks, nhl.com, March 31, 2019
  70. ^ Miller Fined for Diving/Embellishment in Golden Knights Game vs. Sharks, nhl.com, April 4, 2019
  71. ^ Getzlaf Fined for Actions in Ducks Game against Kings, nhl.com, April 7, 2019