Zadorov Fined $5,000 for Roughing Vlasic
The NHL's Department of Player Safety fined Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov the league maximum but issued no suspension.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hockey
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The NHL's Department of Player Safety fined Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov $5,000 for roughing Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic. The league announced no suspension for the incident.
Why it matters
The $5,000 fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, and the absence of a suspension leaves Zadorov available for Boston's lineup. The discipline follows a season in which Zadorov has already drawn heavy penalty time.
The $5,000 fine is the maximum permitted under the collective bargaining agreement. Zadorov leads the NHL with 47 penalty minutes in 14 games this season, and it remains unclear whether the league will take further disciplinary steps.
The players
Nikita Zadorov
Nikita Zadorov is a defenseman for the Boston Bruins who leads the NHL in penalty minutes this season and led the league in that category in each of the previous two seasons.
Alex Vlasic
Alex Vlasic is a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks who was the target of Zadorov's roughing penalty during the game.
NHL Department of Player Safety
The NHL Department of Player Safety is the league body that reviews on-ice incidents and determines supplemental discipline for players.
The details
Zadorov swung at Vlasic while the Blackhawks defenseman was defenseless on the ice, drawing two minor roughing penalties, a four-minute double minor, and a 10-minute misconduct. Ryan Donato brought Zadorov down, and officials separated the players after a scrum near center ice in the second period of Boston's 5-4 overtime win.
Timeline
Saturday: The roughing incident occurred at 18:34 of the second period.
Sunday: The NHL announced the $5,000 fine with no suspension.
Big Picture
The fine operates within the limit set by the NHL collective bargaining agreement, which caps monetary discipline for on-ice conduct. Zadorov's penalty total places him at the center of an ongoing debate over physical play in the league this season.
Zadorov is eligible to play in Boston's next game, so fantasy managers relying on him for penalty-minute categories should expect him in the lineup. The fine is paid to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund and does not reduce his playing time.
The takeaway
The fine confirms that Zadorov's physical play is drawing league scrutiny, but the lack of a suspension means fans will likely see him on the ice as usual. Readers tracking Boston's blue line should watch whether the discipline changes his approach.
Further reading
For more on the league's rules and penalties, see the Hockey section covering Boston's NHL team.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportskeeda.
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