Performing theatrics is an offense that's taken just as seriously as the perpetrator of the penalty in hockey, and the NHL has responded accordingly.
The league fined New Jersey Devils defenseman $2,000 Dougie Hamilton on Friday for having embellished twice so far this season. This fine comes as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64.
The NHL's Hockey Operations monitors all games, reviewing both penalized embellishment infractions and uncalled plays that merit penalties. Citations are issued when the department determines a violation occurred.
Hamilton received citations this season for incidents during a Nov. 4 game against the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey's 5-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Dec. 23, which led to the fine.
"Hamilton was issued a warning following an incident flagged by NHL Hockey Operations during NHL Game No. 193 at Edmonton on Nov. 4. His second citation, which triggered the $2,000 fine, was issued for an incident at 9:12 of the second period during NHL Game No. 545 vs. New York Rangers on Dec. 23," the press release from the NHL stated.
The fines go up incrementally by $1,000 each more time Hamilton embellishes again. The third citation would incur a $3,000 fine, the fourth would increase to $4,000, and any subsequent citations would result in a $5,000 fine each.
If the Devils accumulate five embellishment citations, coach Sheldon Keefe will begin facing fines as well. The penalties start at $2,000 for the fifth citation, increasing to $3,000 for the sixth, $4,000 for the seventh, and $5,000 for the eighth. All fines are directed to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
Hamilton is the league's third player to get fined for embellishment this season. Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner and Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris preceded him in the theatre department.
This news comes two days after the Devils fell 3-0 to the Los Angeles Kings on their West Coast road trip.
"It's a close game, we didn't execute on the chances that we had or maybe left them off the hook a little bit," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Some of these 2-on-1's that we had or did kind of break free. It's a hard fought game, maybe ran out of gas a bit there in the third period but there's a lot to like about the game here today, certainly in comparison to yesterday."
Hamilton owns five goals and 20 points on New Jersey's top defensive pairing with Brenden Dillon. The Devils sit in second place of the Metropolitan Division with 51 points.
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