Kraken's Ottavainen Receives Maximum Fine, No Suspension for Fight with Othmann
The NHL fined Seattle defenseman Ville Ottavainen $2,190.72, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for acting as the aggressor in a fight with Calgary forward Brennan Othmann. He avoided a suspension for the incident. The altercation came four days after Othmann delivered a high hit that drove Ottavainen's head into the glass.
Ottavainen, 24, spent most of last season with Seattle’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley, recording 17 points in 53 regular-season games and four in 12 playoff contests. The Kraken selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft; his only NHL game came in 2024-25, when he registered an assist.
The penalty stemmed from a Thursday preseason game Seattle won 4-3 in a shootout. Four days before, Othmann received a five-minute major and game misconduct for a high hit that forced Ottavainen’s head into the glass along the boards. Seattle closes preseason Saturday versus Vancouver, then opens the regular season Oct. 1 at Calgary.
The decision may shape how players, coaches, and fans view retaliatory violence and league discipline in hockey. It could influence perceptions of player safety, especially regarding head hits, and may affect how aggressively teams respond when teammates are targeted. Because the teams meet again soon, the unresolved tension could draw added attention from broadcasters, spectators, and league officials, though any broader societal impact is likely limited to sports culture and safety norms.