UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery will be “fined substantially” by the team after arriving late for a team skate a day after the All-Star game.
Emery’s explanation for being 4 minutes late was that he went to Nassau Coliseum for the skate, when it was being held at the Islanders’ practice rink Monday afternoon.
“Ray has got to be in uniform with the rest of the team,” general manager Bryan Murray said. “This is a uniform league. We have rules, and he has to follow them, just like anyone else.”
Murray said Emery will be “fined substantially.”
Emery spoke after Ottawa’s 5-2 win over the Islanders on Tuesday night.
“When the club came back from the break, I just didn’t go to the right location,” Emery said. “I didn’t want to cause a ruckus, and I want to make up for it.
“They said it was a one-time thing, and they know it was accidental, but it’s kind of me all the time, so it’s (management’s) job to do something about it. I didn’t want to miss the practice, but I did, and I have to try to get past it.
“I haven’t heard any of my teammates say it harmed them or anything like that. All I can do is show up on time and try to get through this as best as I can.”
Murray did admit that the transgression itself wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be, but this wasn’t Emery’s first incident this season. He threw his stick in the stands after a morning skate, angry that he wasn’t starting that night’s game. He also fought teammate Brian McGrattan in practice.
“We think Ray is a good goaltender,” Murray said. “We’re asking him to be accountable.”
Emery could be docked up to 1/187th of his $2.75 million salary, roughly $14,700.
Murray doesn’t think this transgression will affect the rest of the team.
“I think the rest of the team is fine with what we’re doing,” Murray said. “They want Ray as a part of the team.”
That thought was echoed by captain Daniel Alfredsson.
“I don’t think it will be a problem,” Alfredsson said. “I think Ray has done a lot of good things over the last few weeks, and if he keeps working hard, he’ll be a big part of our team.”
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