"Not a bad penalty for attempted murder": NHL fans react to Arber Xhekaj receiving $3,385 fine for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' on Leafs' Cedric Pare

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42 for unsportsmanlike conduct in Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the fine on Sunday after Xhekaj received 27 penalty minutes for targeting Toronto's Cedric Paré during the first period.

The fine is the maximum allowed under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. The NHL Player Safety account on X posted:

"Montreal’s Arber Xhekaj has been fined $3,385.42, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct on Toronto’s Cedric Pare."

NHL fans reacted to the news on X.

"Not a bad penalty for attempted murder," one fan joked.

"Literally his months wages at Costco," another added.

"Player Safety is a joke," another fan said.

"NHL went lenient because they know the Refs are fucking retarded. Pare shouldn't even of been in the game," a fan wrote.

Fans shared mixed opinions, with some finding the fine justified and others questioning the severity of Xhekaj's actions. Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

"Look how scared the leafs fans are that Xhekaj will get to share the ice with their stars opening night 😉" a fan wrote.

"But no suspension for the knee that possibly ended Laine’s season before it even started. What a joke!!!" another wrote.

"This is the league admitting the refs made a mistake not penalizing Cedric Paré," a fan said.

"This could have been avoided by simply giving pare 5 and a game and you basically eliminate any retribution and defuse the situation. It's a preseason game and it means basically nothing regardless of whether Pare intended it not you difuse the situation in a nothing game," a fan added.

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More details on Arber Xhekaj's revenge on Leafs’ Cedric Paré

During Saturday’s game, Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj attacked Leafs’ Cedric Paré after Paré's knee-on-knee hit injured Patrik Laine. Laine left the game after the hit and did not return.

Xhekaj waited for Paré’s next shift and punched him repeatedly, even as Paré fell to the ice. Xhekaj was given a game misconduct, while Paré received no penalties for the hit or fight.

Patrik Laine left the ice in pain after the hit from Paré during Saturday's game. He could not put weight on his leg, which raised concerns about a serious injury.