NHL Player Safety hits Kraken defenseman with maximum punishment after fight with Flames forward

The NHL's Department of Player Safety wasted no time getting to work this preseason.

Thursday night's matchup between the Kraken and the Flames, a 4-3 shootout win for Seattle, turned physical in the corner when Ottavainen took a hit from Othmann and immediately answered back.

He grabbed Othmann around the head, threw him to the ice and landed several punches while Othmann tried to protect himself.

Several teammates from both sides jumped in almost instantly.

On Friday, the league announced the fine, which sits at the maximum allowable amount under the current collective bargaining agreement.

The ruling makes it clear the NHL viewed Ottavainen as the instigator, even though the backstory behind the flashpoint runs a bit deeper than one shift.

Back on September 20, in an earlier preseason meeting between the same two clubs, Othmann delivered a high hit along the boards to Ottavainen, appearing to leave his feet with the elbow up.

That hit earned Othmann a five minute major and a game misconduct.

It is not hard to connect the dots between that moment and what unfolded days later.

The 24 year old defenseman spent all of last season with Seattle's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, putting up three goals and 14 assists in 53 games before adding four points in 12 playoff games.

Seattle drafted him in the fourth round back in 2021, and his only NHL regular season action so far came during the 2024-25 season, when he picked up a single assist.

The Kraken wrap up their preseason slate on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks before opening the regular season in Calgary on October 1, setting up a fast rematch with Othmann and the Flames.

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