Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs Coaches Fined for Misconduct with Officials – Sky Bulletin

The Buffalo Sabres’ Don Granato and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Sheldon Keefe have each been fined $25,000 by the NHL as a consequence of what was considered unprofessional behavior towards game officials during Tuesday night’s matches.

The NHL announced on Thursday that the respective fines were for actions deemed inappropriate that took place during the games.

During the third period of the Sabres’ matchup against the Florida Panthers, which resulted in a 3-2 loss for Buffalo, Granato protested a tripping call made against Zach Benson and suggested that officials missed multiple infractions committed by the Panthers earlier. He received a bench minor for his outburst.

Granato defended his actions by saying, “At some point, you’ve got to stand up for your team. As a coach, you’re put in that position. It’s difficult, but you can’t sit by and just watch.”

Simultaneously, over in Toronto, Sheldon Keefe was asked to leave the game during the last few minutes of the Leafs’ 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, ending Toronto’s seven-game winning streak. Keefe refused to elaborate on what incited his reaction but was visibly frustrated after a tripping penalty was called on Mitch Marner, which happened shortly after the Leafs had managed to reduce their shortfall to 4-2.

With these fines, Granato and Keefe join Anaheim Ducks coach Greg Cronin, who received a similar fine earlier in the season for misconduct toward officials.

The NHL Foundation will be the beneficiary of the fines collected.

___

For more information on the NHL, visit their official news hub at AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Why were the coaches fined?

Coaches Don Granato and Sheldon Keefe were fined for unprofessional conduct during games, specifically for how they argued with the officials over penalty decisions.

How much were they fined?

Both coaches were fined $25,000 each by the NHL.

What happens to the fine money?

The money collected from the fines will be donated to the NHL Foundation.

Have other coaches been fined this season?

Yes, Greg Cronin of the Anaheim Ducks was also fined earlier in the season for similar reasons.

Where can I find more information about the NHL?

More details about the NHL can be found at the official NHL news hub, AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl.

The recent fines imposed by the NHL on coaches Granato of the Sabres and Keefe of the Maple Leafs serve as a reminder about the league’s code of conduct and the expectations for professional behavior, both on and off the ice. As representatives of their respective teams, it is vital that coaches display sportsmanship and respect towards officials, regardless of the frustrations that may arise during the game. These penalties underline the NHL’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensure that all individuals associated with NHL games do so in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the game.