P.K. Subban fined $15K for tripping, avoids suspension

P.K. Subban has been punished for his actions on the ice but also avoided a suspension. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Devils' P.K. Subban fined $15,000 for tripping, avoids suspension

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Nov 3, 2021 5:29 PM ET

New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban has been punished for his actions on the ice but also avoided what some believed should've been a message-sending suspension.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday that Subban has been fined $15,000 for tripping Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras during Tuesday's game between the clubs that Anaheim won 4-0:

#NJDevils defender PK Subban will have a hearing today for tripping Trevor Zegras. #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/tjH0EHe8OM
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) November 3, 2021

Subban's fine is the maximum amount allowed per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. All fine money goes to the players' emergency assistance fund.

As outlets such as The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) and The Athletic noted, negative reactions among fans regarding the league's handling of Subban stem from the fact he's a repeat offender from this season, alone. He was fined $5,000 for what was deemed to be a "dangerous trip" of Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic last week:

#NJDevils PK Subban with an almost identical “slew foot” tonight against #Flames Milan Lucic.

What do you think? Should this be looked at by @NHLPlayerSafety

-Graphic Credit To @CamandStrick pic.twitter.com/xzGtwEm18l
— Hockey Hound (@HockeyHoundShow) October 27, 2021

Subban also injured New York Rangers forward Ryan Reaves during the preseason with a similar move but wasn't fined:

Subban with the slew foot #NYR pic.twitter.com/AISheOqr4j
— David (@DaveyUpper) October 6, 2021

The 4-3-1 Devils next play at the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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