"Should be a suspension" "Player safety is a joke" - NHL fans react as Flyers' Garnet Hathaway gets fined $5,000 for elbowing Joel Eriksson Ek

The NHL fined Philadelphia Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway $5,000 for elbowing Minnesota Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek. This is the highest fine allowed under the NHL’s rules.

The incident happened during Saturday’s game, at two minutes into the second period, where Eriksson Ek scored a power-play goal and had an assist, though the Wild lost to the Flyers 7-5.

Eriksson Ek has scored in three straight games for the Wild and has four goals and six points in six games this season.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the fine on X:

"Philadelphia’s Garnet Hathaway has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for elbowing Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek."

Fans quickly reacted to the fine on Garnet Hathaway.

One fan said, “Should be a suspension and a fine.”

Another fan added, “NHL player safety is a joke.”

"Targeting a previous reported injury of an opposing player for a fine/$5000 < $30,000/game salary, with no suspension and a history of conduct.....now there's a DEAL🤬! EMBARRASSING NHL!!!!!" a fan wrote.

While the fine addresses Garnet Hathaway’s hit, fans still question if the NHL’s player safety measures are strong enough. Here are some reactions from fans on X:

"You guys have done a rly good job of keeping the game clean with these hard hitting punishments. Keep it up! 👍🏻" a fan wrote.

"NHL Player Safety is such a joke. 5k for a dirty hit like that isn’t a deterrent. Until they get serious about punishment for hits like this one they will never get rid of them," one fan wrote.

"Should be suspended. Hathaway has no value and worst cheap shot artist in the league. He should be thrown out of the league. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR BUT THE REFEREE TOLD EKKER HE DOESN'T LIKE TO CALL A MAJOR WHEN A TEAMS SHORTHAND! The Ref needs to be disciplined too!" a fan mentioned.

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Garnet Hathaway and Philadelphia Flyers secured a win over the Minnesota Wild

The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 7-5, ending their six-game losing streak. Sean Couturier scored a hat trick, including his 500th NHL point. Travis Konecny had one goal and four assists, while Nick Seeler, Matvei Michkov and Rasmus Ristolainen each scored. Goalie Samuel Ersson made 21 saves for the Flyers.

For Minnesota, Marcus Foligno scored twice, and Joel Eriksson Ek added a goal and an assist. Despite tying the game several times, the Wild couldn’t hold off the Flyers’ final push, with Ristolainen scoring late to break the tie. Couturier’s empty-net goal then secured the Flyers' 7-5 victory at Wells Fargo Center.