“Sure was an elbow,” Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman said yesterday about Aron Ekblad‘s infraction on the former’s teammate Brandon Hagel. In the second period of Game 4 between the in-state rivals, the Panthers’ defenseman hit Hagel in the face with his elbow. The incident stirred the pot, especially since the refs didn’t call a penalty afterward. But you reap what you sow, and destiny has caught up with the Cats’ blue line star.
While the match officials turning a blind eye to Ekblad’s massive blow to Brandon received a lot of flak from the hockey community, it looks like the NHL’s Department of Player Safety had something to say on the matter. The Miami team walked away victorious from last night’s game, they will have to suit up for the next game without Ekblad. But will the 29-year-old Panthers star also have to pay financially for his action on top of serving his sentence?
The NHL’s official rulebook notes that repeat offenders have to pay a hefty fine. If two considerable slip-ups occur by a player within a span of 18 months, players could be liable to pay up to $15,000 in fines. However, it looks like Aaron Ekblad has been let off easy. The official NHL website revealed on April 29 via a video upload that the NHL’s DOPS has handed the Canadian defenseman a two-match suspension for his elbow hit on Hagel, who left yesterday’s game after the blow and did not return to action afterward.
However, lucky for Ekblad, he won’t have to pay any fines for his deed.
The story is developing…
The post Was Aaron Ekblad Fined After Suspension? Florida Panthers Star Faces Another Suspension After Brutal Brandon Hagel Hit appeared first on EssentiallySports.
