Nick Cousins Fined $2,000 by NHL for Diving and Embellishment

Ottawa Senators winger Nick Cousins has been fined $2,000 by the NHL for diving and embellishment. This is his second citation this season, triggering an automatic fine under Rule 64. The first warning came on Oct. 25 against Washington, and the second occurred on Nov. 9 against the Utah Mammoth, where Cousins fell to the ice with minimal contact after JJ Peterka was assessed a minor penalty for interference. The league aims to penalize players who repeatedly dive to draw penalties, with fines escalating for subsequent offenses. Cousins has made a career of being hard to play against, and this fine adds a stigma of being publicly labeled a diver.