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Bruins' Zadorov Fined $5K for Cross-Check on Dahlin

4/29/2026

Summary

Zadorov Fined for Cross-Check

Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000, the CBA maximum, for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin.
The hit occurred with 16:43 left in the third period while Buffalo led 6-0.
Zadorov was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the cross-check.
The $5,000 fine will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, resulting in Buffalo’s 6-1 win that gave the Sabres a 3-1 series lead.

Summary

Zadorov Fine Debate

Department of Player Safety said the incident did not meet the threshold for a suspension.
Zadorov missed Monday’s practice and was listed as a game-time decision, raising health concerns after his tunnel injury in Game 3.
Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn tweeted that the $5,000 fine was too light and called for harsher punishment.
The $5,000 maximum fine, modest compared with Zadorov’s $5 million salary, has revived discussion about raising the fine cap.

History

Historical Context

The 2005 National Hockey League–Players’ Association collective bargaining agreement instituted a $5,000 maximum fine for on-ice misconduct, aiming to curb violent play. Under that rule, the NHL fined Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov $5,000 after his cross-check on Buffalo Sabres rookie Rasmus Dahlin during a 6-0 third-period deficit. The Department of Player Safety’s decision to forgo a suspension mirrors the 2006 precedent when the league similarly limited penalties for high-profile hits, prompting player-union criticism. Consequently, the $5,000 cap remains a flashpoint, with analysts citing Zadorov’s $5 million salary and the $5,000 fine as evidence that disciplinary reforms are still needed.

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Zadorov Fined for Cross-Check

Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000, the CBA maximum, for cross-checking Rasmus Dahlin.
The hit occurred with 16:43 left in the third period while Buffalo led 6-0.
Zadorov was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the cross-check.
The $5,000 fine will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, resulting in Buffalo’s 6-1 win that gave the Sabres a 3-1 series lead.

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