A fine and suspension were both handed out on Friday after the New Jersey Devils game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
According to the press release, Flyers forward, Travis Konecny, has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Devils hybrid Brendan Smith on Friday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.
In retaliation to Konecny’s cross-check, Smith slashed Konecny at the end of the third period on Friday. But, it came at a cost. He was assessed a two-minute minor as a result and the Flyers wound up tying the game.
However, the NHL Department of Player Safety also announced today that Smith has been assessed a two-game suspension without pay as a result of the slash.
The press release states, “Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Smith will forfeit $11,458.34. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.”
Consequently, the Devils find themselves short defensemen as a result of the suspension. Smith will miss the next two games and without him and the injured Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey is down to five defensemen on the roster.
However, that will only be until the Devils officially recall defense prospect Simon Nemec. We learned earlier on Friday that the Devils plan to make Nemec’s recall official prior to their matchup with the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Hopefully after tonight’s Devils game, New Jersey doesn’t lose any more bodies.
More must-reads: