NHL Fines Arber Xhekaj For Retaliating After Patrik Laine injury

While there’s no doubt Canadiens fans, not to mention Canadiens players were glad to see a reaction from the team’s toughest player, you’d be hard-pressed to argue Xhekaj did not deserve supplemental punishment. Xhekaj was kicked out of the game in the first period after tracking down Cedric Pare and landing a series of punches on the 25-year-old minor leaguer who injured Laine. There were calls for a suspension, a legitimate potential outcome given the violence involved in the play, but once Xhekaj noticed Pare was not going to answer the bell, he managed to keep his gloves on, which may have factored into the Department of Player Safety’s (DoPS) decision.

The fact that he was kicked out in the early parts of the game may also have influenced the DoPS’ final ruling, but either way, it’s fair to say he was lucky to avoid a suspension. And it’s also fair to such an inconsequential fine is a joke when we consider what is at play in the NHL, and that the referees failed to do their job when they ignored the clear kneeing penalty, which is what led to ensuing chaos.

The Montreal Canadiens offered a brief update on Laine during the game, in which they announced he would not be returning to the ice. As it stands, he’s likely dealing with intense swelling around his knee, which may delay some of the testing necessary to confirm whether the injury did severe damage to his ACL or MCL, among other areas.

In the end, Xhekaj’s fine and Pare’s relegation to the minor leagues will change very little, as the Montreal Canadiens lost an important player on an ugly play in a meaningless preseason game that featured the referees quickly losing control of the situation.