Fansided

Islanders: Better use for $40,000 in fines Bruins paid

By Michel Anderson |
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Craig Smith #12 of the Boston Bruins argues a second period penalty with referee Jean Hebert #15 during the game against the New York Islanders in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum on June 05, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Craig Smith #12 of the Boston Bruins argues a second period penalty with referee Jean Hebert #15 during the game against the New York Islanders in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Nassau Coliseum on June 05, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The series between the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins has been a chippy affair. The Islanders physical, yet clean style, has certainly annoyed the Bruins. After a 5-4 Game 5 win by the Isles, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy called the refs for favoring Barry Trotz’s men.

But the Islanders being a clean team and the Bruins being a heavily penalized one isn’t a new narrative, as Cassidy would have you believe. The Bruins had 533 penalty minutes over the 2021 season (5th highest in the league) while the Isles had 370 (3rd lowest). Again, this isn’t a new narrative. The Bruins have been an undisciplined team all year long.

Cassidy’s comments were not only false they also landed the Bruins a massive – by NHL standards – $25,000 fine. Add the three $5,000 fines that Bruins players received for unpenalized acts in the series and the Bruins have paid a total of $40,000 in fines in this series alone. And every single fine was avoidable.

Imagine paying $40,000 for something that could have been totally avoided? To have a little fun before Game 6 today, what could the Bruins have done with that money?

Better use for Bruins $40,000 in fines against New York Islanders

Just in case you aren’t aware of where these fines come from exactly, let me break it down for you here:

  • Nick Ritchie: $5,000 for elbowing Scott Mayfield (Game 5)
  • David Krejci: $5,000 for slashing/cup-check on Mathew Barzal (Game 4)
  • Jake DeBrusk: $5,000 for cross-checking Scott Mayfield (Game 2)
  • Bruce Cassidy: $25,000 for comments about refs (Game 5)

So what could the Bruins have done with that $40,000?

1.147 Bitcoins

The current value of one Bitcoin is $34,861.80 USD. Buying just a single Bitcoin would have been a much better use for that money. Fines to the NHL is money out. With Bitcoin, there’s a very good chance that you earn money. Bitcoin peaked at $58,734 back in March.

Anger Management classes

The Bruins clearly need some help keeping their cool out on the ice. How about anger management classes? The best ones online are about $65 a week. For $40,000 you could sign up all 20 players for 30 weeks of classes. Might be money well spent if they stop taking penalties, no?

Tiny Thompson 1937 hockey card

How about buying some classic Boston Bruins memorabilia? I found this Tiny Thompson card listed for $29,5000 on eBay. He’s a Boston legend and easily seen as the best goalie in Bruins history.

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