After Nylander’s middle finger, NHL issues another ridiculous punishment

Earlier this week, Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander grabbed headlines when he was fined $5,000, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for giving the middle finger to broadcast cameras from the press box during Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Now, Washington Capitals’ Brandon Duhaime is the latest to draw the league’s ire. On Wednesday, the NHL fined him $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct after a bizarre sequence during Tuesday’s game.

Duhaime not only started a fight with Seattle Kraken's Jacob Melanson late in the third period, but he also apparently poked Melanson from the bench in the second.

That poke, the league decided, was worth a fine.

Fans are reacting with equal parts disbelief and humour. One X user joked: “Must not have been a middle finger, punishment would be much higher.”

Others are questioning the point of these relatively minor fines, calling them “laughable” and “meaningless.”

It’s not the first time the NHL’s player safety department has drawn ridicule for seemingly minor penalties. From gestures in the press box to bench pokes, the fines often feel like they’re more about following protocol than actually punishing players. I mean, these fines are like pennies to them.

For now, Duhaime will pay the $2,500 fee and move on, and fans will continue to debate whether these fines actually accomplish anything.