From EF 32 Thoughts:
10. Rod Brind’Amour was fined $25,000 on Tuesday for inappropriate conduct during Sunday’s 4-2 loss to Washington. He was furious at a late-game slashing call on Sebastian Aho, but I didn’t think his reaction was anything crazy, and all he said post-game was, “It’s a tough way to end a game. It was a great game, great hockey game. What are you going to do?”
The explanation comes from an Oct. 18 memo sent to GMs and coaches indicating the league had “already seen several instances of head coaches making unacceptable public comments critical of officiating and video replay decisions, as well as unprofessional conduct on the bench in response to penalty calls, non-calls and even icing calls. All General Managers and coaches are hereby put on notice that, effective immediately, all such public comments and demeaning displays that are critical of officiating, video replay and supplemental discipline specifically, and, more generally the League and the game, will result in an automatic fine of not less than $25,000. Any subsequent violations during the 2021-22 Regular Season and Stanley Cup Playoffs will result in a doubling of the fine.”
That served as an industry-wide warning, with the advice that “if you do not like a call or a non-call, a video replay decision that did not go your team’s way or a supplemental discipline decision, you are free to say that you ‘saw it a different way’ or that you ‘disagree with the decision.’” Again, I didn’t think this was too bad, but Brind’Amour was fined during the 2020 bubble playoffs for officiating criticism. So there’s some history. Maybe the league doesn’t like jacked coaches.