Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was fined US$5,000 by the NHL on Thursday for an inappropriate gesture aimed at Calgary Flames defenceman Mark Giordano during a game this week.
Kadri was upset after Giordano drilled him with an open-ice hit in the first period of Calgary's 4-3 home win on Tuesday night. Kadri made a throat-slash gesture once he returned to the bench.
After the game, Kadri said he let his emotions get the best of him.
"It's not something that I even remember really doing to be honest," he said. "I was kind of in and out a little bit after that hit, just furious. It was an emotional reaction and that's about it."
The fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. The money goes to the players' emergency assistance fund.
Kadri has 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 52 games this season.
