In an NHL regular season game, Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks took part in a notable brawl with Chicago’s players.
The altercation occurred in the eighth minute, drawing the attention of fans and officials as at least eight skaters squared off. Mintyukov received a two-minute penalty for his involvement.
Chicago came away with a decisive 7 to 2 victory.
Anaheim sits just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference with 49 points, while Chicago lingers in the lower portion of the standings with 41 points.
Mintyukov was chosen by the Ducks with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. In July 2023 the team signed him to a three year entry level contract. Earlier, in May 2023, Mintyukov, then a member of the Ottawa 67s, earned the Max Kaminsky Award, which honors the Ontario Hockey League’s top defenseman each season.
The Russian player moved to North America at the age of 16. He has stated that relocating to Ontario seemed a stronger option than pursuing a path in the Junior Hockey League. He also spoke about a meeting with Roman Rotenberg, who did not guarantee him a future with SKA, which influenced his decision to explore other opportunities in North American hockey.
Mintyukov has previously led rookie players in NHL points, underscoring his impact as a young defender in the league.