Should League Come Down Harder On Diving?

Previously we debated their James Neal being fined for diving would deter other NHL players from doing the same? Well yesterday Montreal Canadiens defenseman, P.K Subban has been fined $3000 US from the league after being caught diving for the third time! The fine itself probably amounts to little more than the change in Subbans back pocket, but it does raise some serious questions about the Leagues disciplinary procedures. The incident itself occurred on March 12 after the Habs 5-2 to Ottawa. What strikes me as bizarre in this whole situation is firstly, why on earth would Subban- one of the leagues most feat blue liners be falling to earth freely? And also why the league hasn't sent a harder message that this won't be tolerated?

Subban has been a master at winning penalty calls for Montreal in the last few seasons, but he seems to also equally skilled at giving them away. This whole affair is going to nothing for the love/hate image that fans outside Quebec hold for him. But it also raises the question of whether he will try this again in future? If so how will the the league act towards this? Being caught for a third time is frankly, just daft and I cannot see how the Gary Bettmann and co fining him chump change is going to rectify this? Players caught with excessive diving should face the threat of possibly suspensions because it is a poor form of cheating. Perhaps issuing a warning for the first occasion, a fine for the second attempt and a one game ban/suspended ban for attempted number three!

I can understand the urge that players feel in these type of clutch situations because if the calls goes your way, that is a game changer! But in this instant Subban has yet again been caught with his pants down and this is likely to make him more of a target on ice as professional do not take kindly to men making fun of the game. Shame that Brendan Shanahan is no longer in office, because would have love to seen how the 'Shanaban' would have worked on this one!