Minnesota Wilds Head Coach Calls Out NHL Star For «Diving»

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Hunter Bowman
November 25, 2023 (1:30 PM)

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Diving in hockey has always sparked controversy, and it seems Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason is no stranger to the sentiment. After a close loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, Evason didn't hold back, pointing the finger at NHL superstar Cale Makar for engaging in what he sees as diving, a behavior often criticized in hockey circles.

Expressing his frustration, Evason questioned the prevalence of penalties and the increasing trend of players taking a tumble. He even raised the concern that players might be instructed to dive, given how common the practice has become.

Evason stated,

"The penalties, first, it's hard, right?" asked a frustrated Evason. "Our sticks are there on a lot of the penalties but there's a lot of big men that fall down. Billy, we just talked about it. I don't get the diving anymore. I don't get it in today's game. It's a different game. So I guess I gotta stop thinking like that. We just talked about it. Guy gets boxed out and he falls on his back side. One of the biggest strongest guys, one of the best skaters in the world, falls down twice, too. Do we teach diving? You don't want to do that. Doesn't seem right for the game. So it's frustrating in that matter."

Evason's stance aligns with a significant portion of the NHL fan base that shares his distaste for diving. However, it remains to be seen whether his comments will have a lasting impact on the league's approach to this issue. Despite the widespread sentiment against diving, the challenge of addressing it effectively in the NHL persists.

Source: Hockeyfeed