Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul has been fined $10,000 for cross-checking Patrick Eaves in Wednesday's New Year's Day clash against the Detroit Red Wings, reports NHL.com.
The 30-year-old has received the maximum permitted fine under the CBA, but can count himself lucky to avoid a suspension for the unsavoury Winter Classic incident.
Eaves left the ice immediately after the episode and didn't return. He was fortunate to avoid suffering a concussion, but did need to have his jaw reset.
"Everything's good to go now," he told MLive.com. "It was pretty uncomfortable with my jaw being the way it was; my teeth weren't lined up.
"I was pretty sore right away. But it's back in the right spot and feels a lot better."
Lupul would have been the sixth player suspended in Toronto this season had the NHL opted for a suspension.
Coach Randy Carlyle has lost 19 man games to suspension so far this campaign, and that's not including Phil Kessel's three game sentence during pre-season.
Lupul was considered a repeat offender because he was banned for two games last season for a head shot on Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman.
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