Time for the NHL to Embarass the Divers

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s/t Pro hockey talk... I really like the idea of exposing and publically humiliating the divers in the NHL. I am all in on that idea. In fact, let's have a wall of shame and expose the frauds weekly that cheapen the game of hockey.


I have a great idea. Let's have an end of the season dishonor award for the frauds that get caught diving and embellishing the most. I would suppose the players union won't let this happen, but if you don't want to get called out and publically humiliated, stop flopping and diving all over the ice. It's really that simple.

Dan Rosen - NHL.com -- The players in the session, including Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John-Michael Liles, led an impassioned discussion on enforcing the diving/embellishment rule (Rule 64.1), [Colin] Campbell told NHL.com. He said the players want to distribute a list of divers around the League so it can be posted in all 30 dressing rooms and be delivered to the on-ice officials.

“They want to get [the list] out there,” Campbell said. “They want the player to be caught, whether it’s on the ice by the referee or by us on video. They are all tired of diving. The object is to make them stop eventually and, by doing that, they can get it out there around the League, embarrass them. The referees will know it, too, so the divers don’t get the benefit of the doubt.”

According to Elliott Freedman of SportsNet.ca the NHL seems to be moving away from exposing the divers and frauds. Again, diving to draw a penalty is cheating and poor sportsmanship.

The first example the NHL showed in its diving video was Tomas Plekanec’s head-snap in the Eastern Conference Final. The league wasn’t so sure about publicly naming those warned or fined, but the players pressed for it. Montreal’s centre is going to be closely watched at the start of the season

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• Enforcing the NHL's New Diving Rule

You have to love Adam Burish’s candor

This was golden, I know this is a day old but It’s worth the read if you haven’t seen it yet. Former Badger forward and current San Jose Shark Adam Burish responded to Vancouver Canucks defenseman Bieska’s charges that the Sharks were embellishing during their series against the Canucks. On its face, this charge is hilarious, if not preposterous, because the Canucks are known around the National Hockey League as being perpetual divers and have two of the biggest divers in the league. Check it out.

Kevin Kurz, CSNBayArea.com -- [Adam] Burish offered a suggestion to the Vancouver defenseman.

“I guess it if I was him, while he's up on his soap box trying to save the integrity of the game and doing all that stuff, I'd swing by player No. 14 (Alex Burrows) and player No. 17 (Ryan Kesler) – The Beast – and have a little talk with them about diving and the integrity. Then he can work his way over to our room.

“But, I'd start with those two guys in his room.”

Burish wasn't done.

“It was silly to call out the refs and worry about what we're doing. Please, keep worrying about us. But, in our room we're going to worry about our guys, what we've got to do, how we can be better and not worry about the integrity of the game and have props in interviews, and act like a lawyer with video evidence."

This is one of the reasons that no one likes the Vancouver Canucks outside of the Province of British Colombia. The point is also mute now, because the Canucks were eliminated by the Sharks last night.

Hump Day links… No Hockey = anxiety

As the summer winds down I like many hockey fans – am getting ready for some hockey (professional and College). The First exhibition for UND hockey on October 6th 2012, is two days shy of two months.

Last week we mentioned this story in pass... It still looks as if Cristobal Huet is still looking for a home in the NHL after playing two seasons in the Swiss League.

Jim Jamieson, The Province --- Huet, who won a Stanley Cup ring with the Blackhawks in 2010 (although on the bench, as Antti Niemi got the starts), was banished to Europe by Chicago the past two seasons primarily because of the size of his contract and its $5.625 million cap hit.

But Huet is looking to return after two seasons in the Swiss League and his agent, Stephen Bartlett, is shopping his 37-year-old client around the NHL.

So if we are to believe the reports - it sounds like the Stanley Cup Champions L.A. Kings and the Vancouver Canucks are expressing interest in Cristobal Huet

Everyone’s favorite diver Vancouver Canucks fraud Ryan Kessler, will be out until December after having shoulder and wrist surgeries. Originally, some had though that there was a possibility of Kessler being able to come back in October but that discussion has since been squashed. [The Providence]

According to TSN.CA, there are now plans being drawn up to have a second NHL ready arena in the Toronto Area. The new arena could be the host of the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship.

The Toronto area should be closer to getting a big-league arena this week, as GTA Sports and Entertainment Chairman and CEO Graeme Roustan will submit the GTA Centre Site Plan Application to the City of Markham on Wednesday

Former Boston University Terrier Corey N. Trivino, has been sentenced to two year’s probation for his criminal activities last winter that led to his dismissal from the Boston University Hockey team. The former BU Terriers’ will two years from now in August 2014.

Corey N. Trivino, the former top scorer for Boston University’s hockey team, was sentenced to two years of probation after a teary-eyed former student at the school testified in court Tuesday that her life was turned upside down when he cornered and assaulted her in her dorm room last December. “Mr. Trivino’s actions have caused me more pain, suffering, and fear that I’ve ever experienced in my life,’’ said the woman, who identified herself in court, but whose name the Globe is withholding ­because she was the victim of a potential sex crime. [Boston Globe]

The BU Hockey Blog has his take on the matter as well. [BU Hockey Blog]

Jess Rubenstein from the Prospect Place asks the question, "Really if you are the New York Islanders do you dare bring Trivino into camp?" I have to agree with Jess and say that if I am the General Manager of the New York Islanders I would walk away from this kid in a heartbeat and spare the team the baggage and drama that comes with this troubled kid.

I really hope that this rumor is not true and doesn’t come to fruition. The last thing that I want to see is the NHL jerseys look like the ones the playes wear in Europe during the IIHF.

Jeremy Lynn, CSNChicago --- In order to increase revenue, the NBA announced last month that they had tentatively approved a plan to put advertising on players' game jerseys for the 2013-14 season.

If one major sports league is willing to do it, could others follow suit -- especially the NHL?

SI.com warns hockey fans not to be surprised if the idea of ad logos on NHL sweaters becomes a reality within the next few years.

There still is no word on whether Aaron Dell is returning to UND for his senior season or not. As soon as we hear either way we will let you know. I was told by a very good source back in April that Dell was going to sign a professional contract and not be returning to UND. Either way UND will be pretty solid in net this season.

Here is the latest news from the NHL CBA negotiations – it sounds like the NHLPA and the Owners are tying up some loose ends before they get down to the nuts and bolts of the discussion.

Corey Masisak, NHL.COM --- Fehr is expected to join the meetings in New York on Thursday, which is expected to begin the shift in the discussions toward the core economic issues in the CBA negotiations.

Schneider said Tuesday that the NHLPA is "definitely closer" to extending a counter-proposal on the economic issues in response to the League's initial proposal from last month, but did not offer a concrete timeline on when it will occur.

"We have a team of people who are working on it and getting through an awful lot of stuff, an awful lot of papers," Schneider said. "It is an ongoing process."

Daly said that work on the new CBA will continue while the League awaits a proposal from the Union.

Carolina Hurricane’s forward Jeff Skinner has signed a contract extension worth $34.35 million or $5.725 million a year for six years. If the NHL owners get their way there will no longer be deals that are longer than 5 years. Last season Skinner scored 20g-24a—44pts in 64 games. [NHL.COM]