NHL slaps Canucks' Höglander with max fine for high stick
Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Höglander has been hit with a hefty fine.
The Swedish player has been fined $2,864.58, the maximum penalty permitted under the CBA, for a high stick on Jake Walman of the Detroit Red Wings.
Höglander was not assessed a penalty during the game for the incident.
Vancouver’s Nils Hoglander has been fined $2,864.58, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for high-sticking Detroit’s Jake Walman.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 16, 2024
The young forward has an annual salary of $1.1 million.
The play occurred in the third period of the Canucks’ recent 4-1 victory over the Red Wings on home ice. It looked very accidental from Höglander.
Walman has taken two high sticks to the head tonight, the latest from Höglander pic.twitter.com/zi4fKZtjJ3
— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) February 16, 2024
Walman made headlines last week when he hit the Griddy dance celebration after scoring the game-winning goal over the Canucks in overtime. Nikita Zadorov made sure to return the favour with a dance of his own last night.
Despite his shorter frame, Höglander plays a strong and powerful game. He is more than willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice and is being rewarded for his efforts.
The 5-foot-9 forward is in the midst of a breakout season. He has 17 goals in 53 games thus far and has recently been promoted onto a line with Elias Pettersson and Elias Lindholm.
He’s also finally starting to get some power play usage in the net-front position. This should only help his offensive numbers over the final few months of this season.
Nils Höglander is out there practicing with the second power play unit.#Canucks pic.twitter.com/N2L9YO5Ow1
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) February 15, 2024
“If you watch him, he was outstanding in the corners,” said head coach Rick Tocchet after last night’s game. “He was playing a little nasty tonight too, I love that about him… He fits that bill of being nasty, he’s in the corners, he’s taking the puck to the net.”
He was already fined once this year for a slew foot on San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc. The NHL fined Höglander $2,864.58 for the dangerous play back in late November. This means he’s surrendered more than $5,000 this season in fines.
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