NHL

Ex-Penguin Handed Controversial Punishment For Spear

October 12, 2026

Former Pittsburgh Penguin forward Evan Rodrigues faced criticism for his controversial spearing incident during a recent game against the Vancouver Canucks. The play occurred as Rodrigues, now with the New Jersey Devils, approached the faceoff dot with Canucks center Marco Rossi.

After Rossi nudged Rodrigues with his hand, Rodrigues retaliated by spearing Rossi in the throat, a move that initially drew a spearing penalty before being reduced to a double-minor. Despite the severity of the action, Rodrigues was fined only $5,000—the maximum allowed under the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement—sparking debate over whether the punishment matched the intent behind the play.

The ruling contrasts with past NHL penalties for similar intentional stick plays, such as suspensions handed out to Evgeni Malkin for cross-checks and slashes, raising questions about consistency in player discipline.