“Suspend the guy” – NHL fines ‘violent player’ Adrian Kempe for slew-footing Connor McDavid in game between Kings vs. Oilers, fans react

NHL fans divided as league fines $5k to Adrian Kempe for slew-footing Connor McDavid in game between Kings vs. Oilers.

“Suspend the guy” – NHL fines ‘violent player’ Adrian Kempe for slew-footing Connor McDavid in game between Kings vs. Oilers, fans react

Connor McDavid and Adrian Kempe [Image Credit: Imago/LA Times]

Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe gets fined by the National Hockey League for slew-footing Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. The incident took place at Rogers Place on Monday during the mid-third period.

The play was not caught by the officials but later the NHL Player Safety Department fined $5000 to Kempe as a warning for the play. During the third period, McDavid tried passing the puck in the offensive zone but Kempe caught onto the center, swinging his foot to knock McDavid shortly.

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The Edmonton Oilers captain completed the game and the team won 1-0 against the LA Kings. Despite the win, the fans were baffled by the league’s decision to only fine Adrian Kempe and not give suspension for injuring Connor McDavid.

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The law of the jungle in the NHL is simple, the notion being that if the league does not properly punish violent players like Kempe, then crime pays. It pays to slew foot McDavid if there’s no suspension attached.

David Staples as per Karo Blikian of The Hockey News.com.
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However, this wasn’t the first time both players engaged in a dangerous play. In 2021, McDavid was given a 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct for boarding Kempe during the game. Both teams also played against each other for three consecutive seasons in the playoffs, further flaring up their rivalry.

NHL fans react as Adrian Kempe gets fined in Kings vs. Oilers game

The NHL community is not happy with Adrian Kempe only getting $5k fined for his hit on Connor McDavid. Several Oilers fans have been asking for suspension and questioning the league for their decision. While Kings fans have called out McDavid for being “soft”.

Adrian Kempe
Adrian Kempe [Image Credit: LetsgoKings]

One X user asked Kempe to be fined, saying, “Suspend the guy,” while another noted, “McDavid is so protected by the league it’s a joke.” While others said a $5k fine was not enough and it should have been fined more. Check more fan reactions below:

Apart from Kempe-McDavid chaos, another mess took place on the ice between winger Alex Laferriere and Connor McDavid. Laferriere was engaged in an altercation with McDavid where the latter’s challenge was met by the forward picking the rival captain’s feet up and throwing them on the ice. 

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However, this incident got hidden from the spotlight as fans focused more on the Kempe-McDavid disaster. The NHL Player Safety has been harsher on tough plays and injuries by players after encountering dangerous incidents on-ice.