The NHL Issues a Clear Warning to Divers Following Recent Verdict

A lot of times players end up trying to exaggerate certain trips, slashes, etc. in order to draw a penalty and gain the advantage. It's either called on the ice as a penalty or given a blind eye by officials.

But the NHL has rules for a reason and they saw Jeff Skinner break them so blatantly they decided to issue a fine under Rule 64 regarding diving and embellishment.

It was a stunning decision that is a clear warning sign to other divers who want to try and gain an unfair advantage. While it's not the most expensive fine, it's still a matter of principle; the league is paying attention even if they weren't initially.

While it might seem surprising to see a fine, the NHL does have a system for these types of incidents.

Per Sportsnet's Damien Cox, the NHL has a review panel that allows for a group of people to monitor each dive and determine whether to rescind a penalty, issue a warning, or in Skinner's case, a fine.

Skinner's fine isn't just a random occurrence, as NHL insider Chris Johnston notes. It's his second time, therefore gets a $2,000 fine.

With the NHL employing a system to crack down on these types of incidents, it's great to see them actually use it. Not only do the players get fined but the coaches do as well if they give the league enough of a headache.

In closing, it's great to see the NHL at least trying to issue some type of punishment for embellishment. While the fine and warning may seem a bit inconsequential, it's still a sign to players that the league is paying attention.