Winnipeg Jets: Why Dustin Byfuglien’s Fine For $5,000 Was Too Much

The NHL have taken some things into their own hands lately, handing out a few different fines around the league. One of those players who received a fine was Winnipeg Jets defenseman, Dustin Byfuglien.

Dustin Byfuglien was suspended a grand amount of $5,000 the other day for a dirty slash on Capitals forward, Jay Beagle.

Byfuglien has had a fairly slow season, putting up next to nothing in terms of goals. He was also out with an injury early on in the season. Despite not putting up a whole lot of goals and points, Big Buff has been playing his normal hard hitting game. His physicality is a key part to the Winnipeg Jets success, because it gets them going after he delivers a solid check. He’s not afraid to stand up for himself, which has led us to witness many instances of him taking on two or even three guys in a scrum.

Other fines and my opinion

Byfuglien is one of three to have received a monetary penalty for his actions. Madison Bowey got a sizeable fine of $1,890.68 for a dirty hit on a Jet, Matt Hendricks. It was considered interference.

Not only Bowey and Byfuglien but Deryk Engelland. He was fined $2,688.17 for a cross check on Chicago’s Brandon Saad. All three of these fines were the maximum fine for every different instance.

Not going to lie, I think the punishment on Byfuglien was a bit harsh. Sure, you have to limit the dirty play in the NHL, but that is isn’t the worst I’ve seen. For example, we got to witness Sidney Crosby basically chop a mans finger off. I think the Marc Methot and his finger were worse off than Jay Beagle was. I mean come on, Crosby had literally no discipline and Byfuglien is getting fined that much for a toned down slash compared to that.

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For Buff’s sake, this better be just a one time thing. Repeat offenders get it worse, and we don’t want him suspended.