Gary Bettman Targets and Fines Rookie Joshua Roy Thousands After His First NHL Game
As my excellent colleague David St-Jean points out, it really didn't take long before young Montreal Canadiens forward Joshua Roy had to be penalized by Gary Bettman and the NHL.
A Bettman Rule That's Causing a Lot of Reaction
As you obviously know, last night at the Bell Centre against the Edmonton Oilers, Roy was playing his very first NHL game.
He finished the game with the following stats: no points, three blocked shots, and no shots on goal, in just over 13 minutes of playtime.
In short, before the game and as per tradition, Roy had his honorary lap during the warm-up, his "rookie lap", and he did it without his protective helmet, like several others including a certain Connor Bedard.
So, like his friend Bedard, Joshua Roy will apparently receive today a ridiculous call from the NHL's player safety department to impose (already) a fine.
The rule is as follows: new NHL players must wear a helmet during the warm-up period, no exceptions. (and under penalty of fine)
Gary Bettman and the NHL will therefore send a hefty $2,500 fine to the young Habs forward.
Should there be an exception for rookie laps?
Veterans encourage the youngsters to do it without their helmets, so it practically becomes an automatic $2,500 fine for every rookie who joins the NHL.
It's a bit ridiculous.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 14 | 610 ANSWERS Gary Bettman Targets and Fines Rookie Joshua Roy Thousands After His First NHL Game Should there be an exception for rookie laps? | ||
| Yes | 513 | 84.1 % |
| No | 97 | 15.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531078.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531009.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (50) stops Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530954.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530884.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images")
