Nicolas Roy fined $7,812.50 for overtime cross-check on Trent Frederic in NHL playoff clash

In a playoff series already packed with emotion and physicality, Vegas Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy has found himself at the center of controversy. During the tense overtime of Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers , Roy delivered a vicious cross-check to Oilers forward Trent Frederic , a move that didn’t just result in a major penalty and game misconduct, but also landed him a hefty fine of $7,812.50. That figure may not rattle a pro athlete's bank account, but it's the NHL ’s not-so-subtle way of saying: we saw it, and we won’t let it slide.


Crossing the line: Was the NHL’s punishment enough or just for optics?



The incident happened at 5:35 into overtime, the most critical moment when tempers run hot and discipline is supposed to define champions. But Roy lost his cool and delivered a cross-check that had fans and analysts alike erupting in debate. While the NHL’s Department of Player Safety swiftly handed out the maximum allowable fine under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, critics argue that it’s just another example of the league doing the bare minimum when it comes to enforcing safety and accountability.


Sure, Roy didn’t escape unscathed, a major penalty, a game misconduct, and a public fine aren’t nothing. But in a league where dangerous plays can dramatically shift momentum in high-stakes postseason games, many believe the NHL is once again hiding behind the limits of the CBA rather than confronting reckless behavior with real consequences. After all, a fine without a suspension keeps Roy eligible for the next game and that’s what has Oilers fans fuming.


After $7,812.50 fine, NHL under fire for handling of Nicolas Roy’s overtime cross-check



On the flip side, Vegas supporters argue the hit was part of the fast, brutal nature of playoff hockey, where emotions boil over and split-second decisions often lead to controversy. But let’s be honest: cross-checking in overtime isn’t just a mistake, it’s a message. And it’s one the NHL couldn’t ignore, even if they didn’t fully address it with harsher punishment.


At its core, this incident spotlights a larger issue, the league’s struggle to balance competitive fire with player safety. When the stakes are this high and the games this intense, where does the NHL draw the line?


For now, Nicolas Roy’s bank account takes a small hit, the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund gets a boost, and the debate rages on, was justice served, or just softly whispered?