Evan Rodrigues has handed New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe an unwanted problem after high-sticking Vancouver Canucks forward Marco Rossi off a faceoff.
The NHL fined Rodrigues $5,000 on Sunday, the maximum permitted under the collective bargaining agreement. The Department of Player Safety confirmed the punishment following the incident.
There was nothing subtle about the offense. Rodrigues caught Rossi high with his stick immediately after the draw, turning a routine faceoff into an ugly sequence.
That is what makes the play so difficult to defend. Competing hard for possession is one thing. Bringing your stick up dangerously around an opponent's face is another.
The punishment is a fine rather than a suspension. Rodrigues won't miss games because of this ruling, but the Devils still have to deal with the attention surrounding his actions.
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For Keefe, the issue goes beyond the financial penalty. His players need to compete aggressively without putting opponents at unnecessary risk or inviting league discipline.
Evan Rodrigues faces backlash after dangerous play
Rossi was the player exposed to the danger on this sequence. High-sticking around the face can have serious consequences, especially when contact comes unexpectedly during a faceoff.
The league's decision settles the official punishment, but it doesn't make the play acceptable. There was simply no hockey justification for allowing the stick to get that high.
New Jersey's coaching staff now has a choice: treat the fine as a closed case or use the incident to reinforce discipline inside the locker room.
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Vancouver, meanwhile, have every reason to be frustrated about what happened to Rossi. Faceoffs are supposed to be battles for possession, not situations where players must worry about dangerous stick contact.
Rodrigues doesn't need to change his willingness to compete. He needs to show better judgment when battles get physical, particularly when opponents are within striking distance of his stick.
The fine also puts his future conduct under greater scrutiny. Another incident involving dangerous stick contact would immediately bring this episode back into the conversation.
The NHL has delivered its response. Now Rodrigues needs to answer with cleaner decisions on the ice. This was an ugly, unnecessary play, and the punishment was deserved.
Should Evan Rodrigues have received a suspension instead of a $5,000 fine?
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