Zack Smith of Ottawa fined by NHL for embellishment
One of the intriguing aspects of the NHL’s diving and embellishment policy is that the players hit with fines aren’t always whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct during a game. So it operates a bit like the Department of Player Safety: Providing oversight for missed calls, as well as punishing those already penalized.
Zack Smith of the Ottawa Senators didn’t receive a diving penalty – or even draw a penalty – against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 12, but the NHL’s Hockey Operations issued him a warning for embellishment during that game.
On Dec. 10, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Smith did draw a penalty against Steven Stamkos, and it was a pretty ridiculous flop:
We don’t want to say that Zack Smith went down easy, but a cold beer on a hot day is jealous…
So Smith was fined $2,000 by the NHL on Thursday, under Rule 64 for diving and embellishment. It’s the automatic fine a player gets for his second offense. The next one is $3,000.
Again, the money is paltry (thanks, CBA) but the point of this is public shaming: Not only to let the player fined know he’s on notice, but to let everyone else embellishing know that the NHL is watching.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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