Brad Marchand Fined $5,000 for Helmet Incident

Brad Marchand was fined $5,000—the maximum under the NHL CBA—by the Department of Player Safety for unsportsmanlike conduct after he ripped off and tossed Rasmus Dahlin’s helmet following a second-period altercation in the Florida Panthers’ 3–0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Marchand hauled Dahlin to the ice and threw punches after an uncalled cross-check, drawing minors for interference and roughing while Tage Thompson received a roughing minor, and the ensuing power play produced a Josh Doan goal 32 seconds later. The fine, confirmed on X, goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund; Marchand avoided suspension despite on-ice helmet vandalism that briefly forced Dahlin to borrow a teammate’s helmet and drew boos from the crowd. The episode added to Marchand’s long history of fines and disciplinary incidents and reopened debate about his on-ice conduct even as Dahlin and others downplayed the scuffle as part of competing. The loss extended Florida’s skid to four straight amid injuries to key players including Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, and Marchand—who leads the team in goals and points through seven games—now prepares for a return trip to Boston.