"Connor I love ya, but that's a dive": Luke Gazdic, Kevin Bieksa weigh on the "embellishment epidemic" in Oilers-Canucks series

By Arnab Mondal

Modified May 19, 2024 04:31 GMT

Kevin Bieksa has voiced conce͏rns about embellishment͏s in the heated Edmo͏nton Oi͏lers ͏vs. V͏a͏ncouver Canucks series͏. The issue has drawn critic͏ism f͏rom for͏mer players and commentato͏rs alike. ͏

Alongside Bieksa, Luke Gazdic and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet have highlighted ͏the͏ prevalenc͏e of diving in the NHL͏, particul͏arly ͏during the playoffs.

Luke Gazdic didn't hold back in his assessment:

"I think we officially have a call it an embellishment epidemic on our hands in the National Hockey League, and it's not just this series. It's all across the league."

Despite viewing it as a league-wide issue, Gazdic singled out players like Brock Boeser, Nikita Zadorov, Connor McDavid, Conor Garland and Zach Hyman from the Canucks-Oilers series for their embellishments.

"You know it's embellishment when the player looks straight at the referee as soon as he hits the ice. It's every single player, honestly, on both teams. Conor, I love ya, but that's a dive."

Gazdic's frustration was evident as he remarked:

"They're just flopping all over the ice. It's honestly tough to watch at this point."

Kevin Bieksa echoed Gazdic's thoughts and added an insight into the behavior of certain players:

"Do you notice the guys that are doing the embellishment are all Powerplay players, too?"

Reflecting on his playing days, Bieksa admitted:

"I had guys I played with that would do it... I'd say, hey, enough. Like, behind closed doors."

He emphasized the need for integrity, even while acknowledging the temptation to secure power plays:

"I'd love to boosh bomb it and get second assist. But, like, you gotta have a little bit of integrity."

Elliotte Friedman offered a solution to curb the issue:

"The only way to stop it, I really think, is if they start calling the penalties only for embellishment."

He suggested that removing the dual penalties for embellishment and the initial infraction might deter players from diving:

"You're only getting the penalty for the embellishment."

The consensus among the panel was clear: embellishments are tarnishing the game, so stricter enforcement of penalties for diving might be the necessary remedy.

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Kevin Bieksa disapproved calls in Oilers vs. Canucks game

Kevin Bieksa expressed strong disapproval of a critical crosscheckin͏g penalty given to Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse during the second period of Game͏ 3 in͏ the second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks.

The penal͏ty led to a power͏ play goal for the Canucks, extending their lead to 4-2. The Canucks eventually won th͏e game 4-3. According to Edmonton Journal:

“The call was awful,” Bieksa said, highlighting his discontent with the decision.

Fellow commentator Luke Gazdic supported Bieksa's sentiment:

“I don’t like the call. And it’s not because I used to play for the Oilers. If this was [Vancouver d-man] Carson Soucy, I would be saying the exact same thing. To me, this is just in the battle, in the fight.”

Host Ron MacLean also sided with Kevin Bieksa:

“I’m with you on that,”

Commentator Elliotte Friedman added:

“I agree with you.”

Their unified criticism underscored a broader frustration with NHL officiating in the game.