Leafs fined $100k for violating the CBA. Keefe fined $25k for demeaning an official

[sureLoss]

$100k fine for travelling on a day off

https://twitter.com/user/status/1608206605270540303

https://twitter.com/user/status/1608208376626049025

https://twitter.com/user/status/1608208617454424064

https://twitter.com/user/status/1608207646741463041

[getbak]

OH NO!!!

I hope they don't have to declare bankruptcy. NHL fines are a joke.

[dino7c]

made the team travel on boxing day? I'm sure some players were good with it but you have to have these rules in place.

We have people that would put in 20 hours a day at the mine too but regulations are there for a reason.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I'm assuming an official was demeaned due to making questionable calls? Does anyone actually hold refs accountable for atrocious calls throughout the league? Added another ref and the officiating is worse than ever.

[dino7c]

Flames should have taken a fine for that joke officiating last night...although then they would be in the bad books for another decade

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I'm assuming an official was demeaned due to making questionable calls? Does anyone actually hold refs accountable for atrocious calls throughout the league? Added another ref and the officiating is worse than ever.

Yeah, I would love to know how the NHL actually deals with some of these awful officials. I have no idea what Keefe said and there are lines that should not be crossed no matter how bad the person is at their job, but I understand the frustration.

The travel thing is kind of dumb too. I get that it isn't fair to insist that players travel on stipulated holidays, but if it was up to the players and they preferred to travel earlier that night, then they should be a allowed to make that choice. I wonder if that is what happened here. If I had a game the next day, I'd rather leave earlier than later.

[getbak]

According to Friedman, they were supposed to fly just after midnight but instead left around 10:30.

That shows how silly this is. That hour and a half wouldn't have made any difference to any of the players, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they players asked to leave early just because they were all already at the airport and wanted to get to their hotel earlier.

They shouldn't schedule any games on the 27th that require the visiting team to fly more than 1 hour. There are plenty of teams that are close to each other that they still could have had a decent number of games last night.

[curves2000]

I was always under the impression that NHL teams were not suppose to travel until the morning of the 27th of December, and by morning, I am referring to 8 am, 9 am etc.

A lot of players will make plans to travel somewhere usually late on December 23rd and than have 3 full days off to rest and recover with family and friends. A lot of teams will travel on the 27th early morning for same day travel on game day, which is a rarity.

If more teams see that the fine is a minor $100k, than they will take more advantage of this loophole.

[SuperMatt18]

Sounds like the players were the ones that wanted to leave earlier instead of travelling on game day or after midnight.

Looks more like it’s the NHLs own stupid rule here. If they want to have the 24-26 off for a Christmas break then there should be no games on the 27th either to allow for a travel day for those teams.

[Vedder]

The only reasonable solution is for the Leafs to forfeit the game.

Also, imagine how bad your conduct has to be to get fined for abuse of an official. I wonder what was said.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by dino7c

made the team travel on boxing day? I'm sure some players were good with it but you have to have these rules in place.

We have people that would put in 20 hours a day at the mine too but regulations are there for a reason.

Looks like they flew out 3 hours earlier than required by the CBA. I'm sure the players were more than happy to get to bed in STL by 01:30 instead of 04:30.

[sonq]

Wait I don't understand this completely. They're fined because players were "working" on a day off?

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by sonq

Wait I don't understand this completely. They're fined because players were "working" on a day off?

Yes this exactly

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

Looks like they flew out 3 hours earlier than required by the CBA. I'm sure the players were more than happy to get to bed in STL by 01:30 instead of 04:30.

I'm sure they were but rules are rules...really they should have flown out in the morning, its 2 hour flight

[curves2000]

I guess context is important in this scenario, some of the players may have been ok with actually traveling on the evening of the 26th as opposed to arriving really late (4 am) on the 27th but that might not be everybody.

What has become a trend with the NHL, as it's unique in that no team activities over 3 full days, as that a lot of players, their wives and girlfriends will go somewhere for Christmas, usually a warm destination.

If a bunch of them are chartering a private plane, leaving after the game on the 23rd and than expecting to fly into their home city late on the 26th, hoping for a quick practice and a game day travel on the 27th.

Some players, perhaps notably, lesser known, less wealthy and powerful players may be ok with chilling at home for a few days and traveling but others may not. If your a marquee player who has a family and or a rocket for a wife/girlfriend and your beach vacation got cut short, it will be an issue.

A somewhat related incident happened years ago with the Edmonton Oilers. They were in their usual, massive slump of losses. The coach approached fresh 18 year old Captain McDavid about practicing on a CBA mandated day off and he said "sure, let's work on stuff" A lot of players were not happy and voiced their displeasure directly to the media. Players with families, family coming to town, players who are in relationships etc.

Just because something works for somebody doesn't mean it works for everybody. It's always best to just follow the rules.

This is the first time I have heard of a team flying in what is in essence, the evening of the 26th. There will be pushback from the NHL players on this for sure.

[dino7c]

That is the real issue...they tried to get around it by flying out at midnight which is an FU to the players rights. Then they say well 3 hours earlier is better for you guys right?

2 hour flight they could have left at 10 on the 27th and been at the rink at 1pm or so for a 7pm game. Oilers flew into Calgary yesterday, its a one hour longer flight. Pretty sure the Flames flew to Seattle today.

[CaptainYooh]

The funniest (or the most bizarre) thing about it is that these fines go the "fund". The management made a decision to violate the CBA. Players who were subject to the violation should be reimbursed. Same about fines for injuries.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Looks more like it’s the NHLs own stupid rule here. If they want to have the 24-26 off for a Christmas break then there should be no games on the 27th either to allow for a travel day for those teams.

They could have games like EDM-CGY, VAN-SEA, TBL-FLA, any combo of LAK-ANA-SJS-VGK-ARI, or any of the teams in the NE and still have the teams travel the morning/afternoon before the game.

TOR-STL is just a weird choice for the day after the break. CHI-CAR was also a weird combo, but the rest of yesterday's games were between teams with relatively low travel requirements.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by dino7c

That is the real issue...they tried to get around it by flying out at midnight which is an FU to the players rights. Then they say well 3 hours earlier is better for you guys right?

2 hour flight they could have left at 10 on the 27th and been at the rink at 1pm or so for a 7pm game. Oilers flew into Calgary yesterday, its a one hour longer flight. Pretty sure the Flames flew to Seattle today.

Ya I don't really see how completely disrupting overnight time to get a few hours of sleep in a hotel then skate then nap then gametime is preferable.

Hell, couldn't they morning skate at home, nap on the plane, and then go straight to the rink upon landing?

[Reggie Dunlop]

They didn't hold a practise on Christmas Day, so there's that.