NHL fines Evgeni Malkin $5,000 for slashing Logan Stanley.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety just dropped the gavel, and this time it’s on Pittsburgh Penguins’ star Evgeni Malkin, who got slapped with a $5,000 fine—the maximum allowable under the CBA—for a slashing incident on Winnipeg Jets’ defenseman Logan Stanley during a game that ended 2-5 in favor of the Jets. Honestly, it’s the kind of mid-season, frustration-fueled play you see all the time, but when it involves a legend like Geno, it gets the hockey world buzzing on Twitter faster than a breakaway.The whole thing went down at the 15-minute mark of the first period, with Malkin taking a whack at Stanley that was serious enough to draw a minor penalty on the ice and then this follow-up financial hit from the league office. It’s not like Malkin was having a quiet night otherwise—dude still managed to dish out an assist later in the game, because even when he’s ticking off the refs, he’s got that elite playmaking gene that’s made him a lock for the Hall of Fame one day.But let’s be real, this fine is basically pocket change for a guy pulling in millions, though it’s more about the message it sends: the NHL is trying to crack down on stick work, even if it’s from veterans who’ve built careers on that edge. Remember back in the day when slashes were just part of the game’s fabric? Yeah, those days are long gone, and now every chop gets scrutinized like it’s a playoff OT goal.For context, Malkin’s been in the league since 2006, racking up cups and accolades, but he’s also no stranger to the sin bin—this fine just adds to his rap sheet, though it’s minor compared to some of the suspensions he’s faced over the years. Meanwhile, Logan Stanley, the recipient of the slash, is a big-bodied D-man trying to carve out his role, and incidents like this can spark rivalries or at least some spicy chirps next time these teams meet.The money, as per the collective bargaining agreement, heads straight to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, which is a cool silver lining—helping out guys in tough spots—but for fans, it’s another talking point in a season full of them. In the grand scheme, this isn’t gonna derail the Penguins’ playoff push, but it does highlight how the league’s discipline system is evolving, with even star players not getting a free pass. So, next time you see Malkin on the ice, watch for that fire—it’s what makes him great, but it also lands him in hot water sometimes.
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#Evgeni Malkin
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#Pittsburgh Penguins
#Winnipeg Jets
#slashing
#Logan Stanley
