NHL fines Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour $25,000 for postgame comments

One indisputable fact came out of the Carolina Hurricanes’ Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday: it’s not cheap to tell the truth.

The NHL brought the hammer down on Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour quickly and decisively, fining Brind’Amour $25,000 for his postgame comments criticizing officiating in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Boston Bruins. In addition, the league announced a conditional fine of $25,000 to be collected in the event of any further transgressions resulting in league discipline for the next calendar year.

The conditional fine is similar to one that was levied against Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella in January following similar criticism of officiating.

Brind’Amour spoke to Luke DeCock of the News and Observer and The Athletic’s Sara Civian following the game to express his extreme distaste for the officiating by referees Chris Lee and Francis Charron during the game, specifically the sequence in the second period when the referees refused to tell Brind’Amour what the ruling was on the ice. Brind’Amour lodged a challenge, which was upheld and resulted in the Hurricanes going down a man.

Brock McGinn then scored shorthanded during the Bruins power play, which prompted Brind’Amour to express his satisfaction in a rather loud fashion in the direction of the referees:

This is Brind’Amour’s first fine in his two years as Hurricanes head coach. Unlike fines levied against players, which are bound by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, there is no cap on fine amounts levied to coaches.

The release from the league office is below.

HURRICANES’ BRIND’AMOUR FINED $25,000

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour has been fined $25,000 for comments following Game 1 of the team’s First Round series against the Boston Bruins, the National Hockey League announced today. Additionally, Brind’Amour has been assessed a conditional fine of $25,000, which will be collected, in addition to any subsequent discipline, in the event of similar inappropriate behavior through Aug. 12, 2021.

The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.