NHL’s attempts to curb diving proving an early flop

Removing provision of suspending three-time divers takes teeth out of rules, writes Gregg Patton

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand, centre, battles Washington Capitals defenceman John Carlson, right, for the puck during the second period of their National Hockey League game in Boston on October 11, 2014. Michael Dwyer / AP PhotoShow less

The embarrassing tactic of “diving” to draw a penalty in any sport should be met with stiff penalties to discourage cheaters.

Diving is corrupt, a slap to the integrity of a game. Yet on and on it goes, throughout the NHL.

And the league, while claiming it will now crack down on players who fake falls, may actually be going in the opposite direction. In its new rule package, the league is slightly increasing fines for players and adding fines for coaches of repeat offenders.

On the other hand, the provision to suspend a three-time “diver” is no longer there.

Not that anybody can remember or identify any player ever suspended for diving.

But as a punishment tool, nothing gets everyone’s attention like having a healthy player sitting in the press box in a jacket and tie for a game.

Instead, an offending player will get his two-minute penalty and supposedly a warning for a first offence, then graduated fines for each subsequent infraction up to US$5,000 (Dh18,365).

On the fourth offence, coaches start getting fined as well, up to a fee of $5,000.

But how serious is the NHL about any of this? When Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins became the first to draw an embellishment penalty this season, coach Claude Julien reported that the league never warned Marchand, nor the coach, apparently deciding to let it go.

Way to crack down, NHL.

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