Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports the Vancouver Canucks have been fined $50k by the NHL for violating offseason training rules for players. The season ended for the Canucks on April 13 when they won in overtime in their regular season finale against the Arizona Coyotes. That was supposed to be the end of the 2022-23 campaign for Canucks players, but it appears the team did not shut things down immediately.
Rick Dhaliwal of Team CHEK in Vancouver added that six players took part in on-ice instructional skates headed by the Sedin twins. Two of the players involved were Dakota Joshua and Jack Studnicka. He also reported that the skates took place between April 17 and 23, up to ten days after the team’s regular season had concluded.
The rules clearly state in the CBA that clubs are not permitted to have coaching or hockey operations personnel participating in any on-ice sessions with players during the offseason. Both Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, are employed by the Canucks as development coaches and they typically work with prospects at the AHL level to refine their skills. Based on the current CBA, the Sedin’s would be forbidden from stepping on the ice with players again until development camp in September.
While $50k is really a slap on the wrist for an NHL club that pays each player a minimum of $750k per season, the league also warned the Canucks that if this is to happen again the punishment would be much more severe.
Yawn…
Union rules can be detrimental to development when it rules out voluntary involvement.
“No practicing to get better and put a better product on the ice!”
Nice union rule
Fine the Canucks for having players that want to keep practicing, reward the Blackhawks with Bedard for covering up a sexual abuse scandal for a decade. Hockey!