Some people are talking about DoPS, or bad officiating as the root causes. I disagree. Biggest issue is that there is not consequences disciplinary-wise with these games. How does it matter that an AHL scrub gets an NHL suspension? Does this suspension translate to the AHL? I think not. Why does it matter a guy get a 5 minutes penalty? These games do not count, so what if the team lost the game because of it? But on the other hand the consequences are huge for the NHL players at the other end of the sticks.
If they were serious, they'd impose sanctions on the team that affects regular season...
For example...
Fine to the player like the one handed to X translates to an automatic matching fine to the HC & 10x fine to the team
Suspension to player = regular season games & translates to equivalent roster reduction to team for regular season (ie 2 games means the team can dress 1 less player for two regular season games wether or not said player is on opening night roster).
Tweaked as needed, but that kind of direct impact on the team "when it counts" would shift the accountability to the HC/GM/owner and quickly end the AHL scrubs & borderline NHLers from being given free reign to try to "earn" themselves recognition by targeting actual skilled players.
The NFL and professional rugby have shown how easy it is the reign in this type of behaviour without losing the physicality that is a core part of their game. Cheap shots will always exist given the intensity of the respective sports and the reality that humans can always go over the edge... But scrubs gratuitously going after skilled players is a choice the NHL makes rather than a necessary feature