NHL defenseman Nikita Zadorov has been fined the maximum allowable amount of $5,000 for a punch delivered to Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic, the league's Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.
The incident occurred during a recent game between Zadorov's team and the Blackhawks. The fine represents the maximum permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement for a first offense of this nature.
Zadorov, a physical presence on the blue line known for his hard-hitting style, was assessed a minor penalty for roughing on the play. The supplementary discipline comes after review by the NHL's player safety department.
Vlasic, a young defenseman for Chicago, was not injured on the play and remained in the game.
