"Learning lots from McDavid" "Best signing Leafs didn't make": NHL fans react as Oilers' Jeff Skinner gets slapped with $2,000 embellishment fine

Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner has been fined $2,000 for embellishment, as announced by the NHL on Monday. This fine follows a second diving offense under NHL Rule 64, which targets players who exaggerate penalties. Skinner first received a warning on Oct. 22 for an incident against the Carolina Hurricanes. The fine resulted from a play on Nov. 23 during a game against the New York Rangers.

Under NHL Rule 64, players receive a warning for the first offense. A second offense results in a $2,000 fine, and further offenses lead to higher fines. If a player receives multiple fines, the team's coach can also be fined. Skinner's fine will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

NHL insider Chris Johnston reported the news on X.

Fans took to the comments section and shared their opinions.

"Maybe the best signing the Leafs didn’t make," one fan said.

"He's learning lots from McDavid & Draisaitl," another fan said.

"I don't understand why they resort to fining, as if that actually combats diving. Have the refs start calling clear dives as the only penalty, NOT with coincidental calls making it 4-on-4. Dives that lead to PP goals against will stop it faster than piddly fines," one fan wrote.

Here are some more fan reactions.

"Well he’s a figure skater of course he’s gonna perform theatrics," a fan wrote.

"They better start fining Mason Marchment then, guy embellishes every game," another fan wrote.

"Knoblauch has to be telling these guys to do this stuff... never seen so many guys from the same team diving consistently," one fan said.

Jeff Skinner's concerns this season with the Edmonton Oilers.

Jeff Skinner is seeing a career-low time on ice with the Edmonton Oilers after his offseason signing. Skinner has averaged only 13:37 minutes of TOI in 24 games and has resulted in lower numbers on the scoresheet to his name. He has recorded only four goals and four assists so far, way lower compared to his 82-point season for Buffalo in 2022-23 when he scored 35 goals.

During the Oilers' 4-1 win at Ball Arena on Saturday, Skinner contributed one assist against the Colorado Avalanche. Kasperi Kapanen scored his first goal for the Oilers to tie the game 1-1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist. Vasily Podkolzin made it 2-1 and Brett Kulak extended the lead to 3-1 before Nugent-Hopkins scored an empty-net goal. Stuart Skinner made 27 saves for the Oilers.