One undisputed fact came out of the Carolina Hurricanes’ Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday: it’s not cheap to tell the truth.
The NHL brought the hammer on Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour quickly and decisively, fining Brind’Amour $ 25,000 for his comments to postgame, which criticized the officers for the 4-3 double loss transfer of the Hurricanes to the Boston Bruins. In addition, the league announced a conditional fine of $ 25,000 to be collected in the event of further violations resulting in league discipline for the following calendar year.
The conditional fine is similar to one imposed on Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella in January after similar criticism of the officers.
Brind’Amour spoke with Luke DeCock of The News and Observer and Sara Civian of The Athletic after the game to express his extreme displeasure for it officially by referees Chris Lee and Francis Charron during the game, specifically the sequence in the second period when the referees refused to tell Brind’Amour what the verdict was on the ice. Brind’Amour posed a challenge, which was set up and resulted in the Hurricanes to bring down a man.
Brock McGinn then scored briefly during the Bruins’ power play, prompting Brind’Amour to express his satisfaction in a fairly loud way in the direction of the referees:
This is Brind’Amour’s first fine in his two years as head coach of Hurricanes. Unlike fines imposed on players, which are bound by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, there is no limit on fines imposed on coaches.
The release from the league office is below.
HURRICANES ‘BRIND’AMOUR FIND $ 25,000
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour has been fined $ 25,000 for comments following the team’s First Team Round 1 game against the Boston Bruins, the National Hockey League announced today. In addition, Brind’Amour has been fined $ 25,000, which will be collected, in addition to any subsequent discipline, in the event of similar unusual behavior through August 12, 2021.
The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.
