Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen made NHL history for all of the wrong reasons when he tumbled to the ice on December 31st against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The NHL fined Andersen $2,000 for diving/embellishment when he fell forward into his own net after David Perron bumped his skate, making him just the second goalie in NHL history to pick up a fine for diving behind Michal Neuvirth’s punishment in 2015.
Was Andersen’s fall reasonable considering the contact from Perron? Did he deserve the fine?
You may be able to make a decent argument that Perron’s contact was enough to force Andersen off balance, resulting in an over correction and spill. Regardless, it was embellishment in the eyes of the NHL. Though Andersen wasn’t punished during the game itself, the league reviews all possible diving/embellishment situations and will warn and then fine guilty parties.
Andersen picked up the fine after receiving a warning for a fall he took earlier in the season against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Temperatures are dropping and the leafs are falling. pic.twitter.com/BWmA9MGwuB
— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 25, 2017
The $2,000 fine may seem insignificant considering Andersen is making $5 million in 2017-18. These fines are more about sending a message – and publicly embarrassing a player – as opposed to making a financial statement.
As a reminder, here’s how the NHL handles these kinds of fines:
First offense: Warning
Second offense: $2,000 fine
Third offense: $3,000 fine
Fourth offense: $4,000
Fifth offense: $5,000 fine, $2,000 head coach fine
Sixth offense: $5,000 fine, $3,000 head coach fine
Seventh offense: $5,000 fine, $4,000 head coach fine
Eighth offense: $5,000 fine, $5,000 head coach fine
As a precaution, Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock may want to ask Andersen to work on his balance.
