NHL star William Nylander has been hit with a financial penalty by the NHL after an obscene gesture caught on live television.
The league announced a $5,000 fine for the Maple Leafs forward on Monday for ‘making an inappropriate gesture’ during Sunday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Nylander was spotted flipping the middle finger at a TSN camera that was pointed towards the press box, where he was watching the game due to injury.
The broadcast captured the 29-year-old making the gesture before laughing with teammates who were also not suited up for the contest.
While Nylander issued a swift apology, the league decided to make sure the message was received.
‘Nylander directed an inappropriate gesture at a television camera operator while the camera was directed at Mr. Nylander and his teammates in the press box,’ George Parros, the NHL’s senior vice president of player safety, said in a statement.
NHL star William Nylander flipped the bird at TV cameras during his team’s loss on Sunday
Nylander was watching from a box with friends when he noticed himself on the cameras
‘The gesture was shown live on-air during the game broadcast.’
Parros emphasized that players are held to a standard even when they are not on the ice.
‘This serves as a reminder the code of conduct governing Players extends throughout the arena at NHL games and in public game situations,’ the statement continued.
Nylander addressed the incident on Monday after the Leafs practiced, reiterating the apology he had posted to social media the previous night.
He claimed the moment was born out of ‘frustration’ rather than malice toward any specific individual.
‘I just wanted to apologize for my actions yesterday. It was out of frustration, so I’m sorry about that,’ Nylander told reporters.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube appeared eager to put the controversy behind the team as they prepare for their next matchup.
‘He made a mistake. He owned up to it,’ Berube said on Monday.
‘Things happen. People make mistakes. Players make mistakes. Coaches make mistakes. It happens. He knows it’s wrong and he owned up to it.’
The incident adds to a frustrating stretch for both the player and the team.
Nylander has been sidelined with a nagging groin injury and has already missed five games
Nylander has been sidelined with a nagging groin injury and has already missed five consecutive games.
He is confirmed to miss his sixth straight contest on Tuesday night when the Buffalo Sabres visit Toronto.
His absence has been felt on the ice, with the Maple Leafs losing four of the five games he has missed so far.
The $5,000 fine is the maximum allowable under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement for this type of infraction.
