NHL Player Safety Announcement
In a recent announcement, the NHL’s Player Safety Department revealed that Steven Stamkos, a forward for the Nashville Predators, has received a $2,500 fine due to unsportsmanlike behavior directed at an opponent from the bench during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Incident Details
This incident occurred during a match on Saturday when Jeremy Lauzon, a defenseman for the Golden Knights, collided with Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault, inadvertently pushing him into the Predators’ bench. As the play unfolded, Stamkos was seen using his stick to make contact with Lauzon, specifically targeting Lauzon’s face area by placing the stick blade underneath his visor.
Although there are claims that Stamkos’ intention was to protect Lauzon from Marchessault’s skate blade, the actions led to the fine. Additionally, Predators teammate Ryan O’Reilly was observed pushing Lauzon amid the conflict.
Player Background
Interestingly, there’s a backstory to the players involved; Lauzon was previously with the Predators for four seasons before moving to Vegas in the latest offseason, while Marchessault made his transition from the Golden Knights to Nashville in 2024 after a seven-season stint with Vegas.
Game Outcome and Previous Fines
The outcome of the game saw the Predators trounced by the Golden Knights with a final score of 7-2. This marks the third occasion on which Stamkos has faced fines in his professional career, which includes a $5,000 penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in 2017 for dousing a referee with water, as well as another $5,000 fine in 2018 for a dangerous trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly. Notably, he has managed to avoid any suspensions throughout his career.
This fine represents the first disciplinary action taken against a player from the Nashville Predators this season.
Upcoming Game
Looking ahead, the Predators are scheduled to host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena, with the faceoff slated for 7 p.m. CST.
