Blue Jackets' Brandon Dubinsky fined $10,000

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky was fined the maximum $10,000 for a boarding incident against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi on Tuesday.

Dubinsky, who had a phone hearing Wednesday afternoon, checked Scuderi from behind into the boards in the second period, but the defenseman was not seriously injured on the play. He returned to the game and played more than 22 minutes.

Although Scuderi was clearly vulnerable on the play, Dubinsky appeared to try to make some effort to roll off the check, However, he did make head contact. The fact that he had no previous supplemental discipline history probably saved him from receiving a one-game suspension.

Kings center Mike Richards immediately instigated a fight with Dubinsky in retaliation for the hit. Richards received an instigator penalty in addition to a fighting major and a misconduct. Dubinsky received an additional 15 minutes for the fight.

The NHL increased the amount it could fine players under the new collective-bargaining agreement, up from $2,500. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Brendan Shanahan, the league's supplemental discipline czar, has previously suspended three players this season: the Philadelphia Flyers' Brayden Schenn, the New York Islanders' Colin McDonald and Washington Capitals' John Erskine.

Dubinsky's $10,000 loss is more than the forfeited pay of Schenn and McDonald from their suspensions. But a one-game suspension would have cost Dubinsky more than $45,000.