NHL Department Of Player Safety Gets Called Out After Recent Rulings
Late Thursday evening, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced their punishments for game four of the Golden Knights vs Oilers series.
Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse received a one-game suspension for instigating a fight during the final five minutes of the game. Although the NHL had the option to overturn the suspension, they chose not to do so.
Additionally, Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was also suspended for one game due to a vicious slash he delivered to Oilers star Leon Draisaitl.
I Don't Think They Got It Right
The ruling has faced criticism for being too lenient, with many, including Hockey Insider Greg Wyshynski, expressing their dissatisfaction.
Wyshynski took to social media and posted a lengthy tweet criticizing George Parros, the NHL's Head of Player Safety.
Here's what he had to say:
I don't think the NHL Dept. of Player Safety got this one right.
Alex Pietrangelo deserved at least 2 games for his slash on Leon Draisaitl. When intent is that clear -- late in the 3rd, in a losing effort -- and the target is the other team's leading scorer? C'mon.
I understand there'll be a counterargument from Pietrangelo about the how hard the slash wasn't and how it targeted a padded area on Draisaitl.
The lack of injury was a factor in it only being one game. If Drai's arm was broken? Petro's done for the series, at a minimum.
George Parros made two decisions today: Upholding Darnell Nurse's instigator suspension and only giving Pietrangelo a 1-game ban. They even out for Game 5.
State of play seems like the biggest factor here: 2-2 series, 2nd round. Not intent to injure.
This was the easy way out.
Alex Pietrangelo deserved at least 2 games for his slash on Leon Draisaitl. When intent is that clear -- late in the 3rd, in a losing effort -- and the target is the other team's leading scorer? C'mon.
I understand there'll be a counterargument from Pietrangelo about the how hard the slash wasn't and how it targeted a padded area on Draisaitl.
The lack of injury was a factor in it only being one game. If Drai's arm was broken? Petro's done for the series, at a minimum.
George Parros made two decisions today: Upholding Darnell Nurse's instigator suspension and only giving Pietrangelo a 1-game ban. They even out for Game 5.
State of play seems like the biggest factor here: 2-2 series, 2nd round. Not intent to injure.
This was the easy way out.
Parros has received a lot of criticism over his rulings, I think the NHL needs to find someone who can do Parros job better, because clearly Parros isn't cutting it.
| POLL | ||
Do You Agree with Greg Wyshynski? | ||
| Yes | 30 | 55.6 % |
| No | 24 | 44.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
