Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman fined $2,000 for embellishment

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman has been fined $2,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for embellishment, Daily Faceoff‘s Matt Larkin reported Thursday.

The NHL deemed that Friedman embellished to draw a slashing call on Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny at the 10:22 mark of the third period of the Battle of Pennsylvania game on Apr. 2.

Friedman had previously been issued a warning for embellishment related to an incident during a game against the Detroit Red Wings back on Dec. 28, 2022. His second citation automatically triggered the $2,000 fine.

Through 21 games with the Penguins this season, Friedman has collected three points (one goal, two assists) while averaging 14:30 per night. The 27-year-old defenceman, who stands five-foot-eleven and shoots right, is under contract through 2024 at a $775,000 annual cap hit.

The Flyers originally selected Friedman in the third round (No. 86 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut with the club during the 2018–19 season but only appeared in 11 games before being claimed off waivers by the Penguins in 2021.

With Friedman’s pockets now ever-so-slightly lighter, the Penguins are set to return to action at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday for a critical game against the Minnesota Wild at 7:00 p.m. ET.