Matheson Receives Maximum Fine for Preseason Roughing Incident
The NHL fined Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson $5,000, the maximum allowed under the CBA, for roughing Ottawa's Ridly Greig. Greig cross-checked Matheson in the face, and Matheson responded with punches before both received roughing minors. Greig was not disciplined further, while Matheson has previously been fined and suspended by the league.
The NHL fined Matheson the CBA maximum, $5,000, payable to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. The incident came at 10:43 of the second period in Montreal’s preseason finale against Ottawa. After Greig’s cross-check hit Matheson’s face, Matheson knocked him down and threw more punches. Both got roughing minors; Greig faced no further league discipline.
Matheson’s history includes a 2018 diving fine, a 2020 playoff high-sticking fine, and a two-game suspension for a hit on Elias Pettersson. Greig received a two-game April suspension for punching Carolina’s Sean Walker. Matheson is in the first year of a five-year, $6 million annual extension through 2030-31; Montreal opens as an Atlantic contender.
This fine may reinforce that even preseason retaliation carries financial consequences, though the CBA cap limits deterrence for high-salaried players. Fans and media could debate consistency in supplemental discipline, especially when one player receives only a minor penalty. For young hockey players, the incident may shape perceptions of retribution and officiating, while the Canadiens and Senators may focus on avoiding similar penalties in games that count.