Devils’ Brenden Dillon fined for boarding Blackhawks’ Tyler Bertuzzi

An aggressive veteran is going to have to be pulling cash out of his wallet for his recent actions.

On Thursday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon has been handed a $5,000 fine for boarding Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Bertuzzi.

The fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred late in the first period of the game between the two teams on Wednesday night. Bertuzzi was playing the puck in the corner in the offensive zone when Dillon decided to throw a hit from behind on Bertuzzi, using his left arm to drive Bertuzzi into the glass, with Dillon leaving his feet in the process.

Dillon was handed a minor penalty for boarding on the play. Bertuzzi was relatively unfazed by the hit, as he was able to continue in the game. That wasn’t the only time Dillon used his physicality against the Blackhawks’ top stars. Later on, he sent rising scorer Connor Bedard to the ice with a relatively cleaner hit.

New Jersey went on to win the game, 4-3, in overtime, thanks to Simon Nemec playing the hero for the Devils.

This isn’t the first time Dillon has faced supplemental discipline in his time in the league. In February 2024, while a member of the Winnipeg Jets, the New Westminster, B.C. native was suspended three games for an illegal hit to the head on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Noel Acciari. While with the San Jose Sharks in December 2017, he was handed a one-game suspension for slashing then-Washington Capitals blueliner Madison Bowey.

Dillon has played 17 games so far this season, scoring two goals and four assists for six points, while accumulating 11 penalty minutes.

The Devils (12-4-1) are set to visit the Capitals on Saturday night.