Panthers' Nick Cousins, Blues' Oskar Sundqvist fined for embellishment

Published Mar. 7, 2024 5:37 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL has fined Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins and St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist $2,000 each for embellishment.

The discipline announced Thursday by the league's hockey operations department comes after Cousins and Sundqvist were found to have embellished for a second time this season. Under Rule 64, designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players who dive or embellish, the first time is a warning, and a third instance would come with an additional $3,000 fine.

Sundqvist’s punishment was announced the same day as the Blues signed him to a new two-year contract worth $3 million. The 2019 Stanley Cup-winning Swede will count $1.5 million against the salary cap in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

Cousins, who has a reputation for getting under the skin of opponents, got his warning for an embellishment Nov. 4 against Chicago. His second citation, which drew the fine, came last week against Buffalo.

Sundqvist didn't get his warning until an incident Feb. 11 at Montreal, then was docked $2,000 for his actions last week against Edmonton.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

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