Leafs captain John Tavares criticizes the league over Matthews' suspension
John Tavares spoke to the media ahead of the Leafs' game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The first question he was asked was about Auston Matthews and his 2 game suspension.
"Obviously we're disappointed. We don't want him to miss any games or think he should, but it is what it is. We're going to move forward and it's an opportunity for guys to step up and this is a time to play hard and get some results with him out of the lineup."
Clearly Tavares and the Leafs are not happy with Matthews' suspension. George Parros' lack of consistency is frustrating to all NHL players and fans. Nobody knows where the line is. It seems that punishment is doled out arbitrarily and without consideration for precedent. It's this randomness that makes the NHL so difficult to deal with. It also doesn't help that the Department of Player Safety seems to play favourites with certain players and teams.
Unfortunately these words are the strongest we're likely to see on the matter. The NHL does not look kindly on those who speak out against referees or the league itself. Even with his mild tone, Tavares is still at risk for a fine, or at very least a phone call for speaking against the NHL's decision.
Tavares' full availability can be found here.
POLL |
MARS 15 | 489 ANSWERS Leafs captain John Tavares criticizes the league over Matthews' suspension Is this the year the Leafs finally get past the first round? |
Yes | 279 | 57.1 % |
No | 165 | 33.7 % |
We're going all the way | 45 | 9.2 % |
List of polls |
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12 hours ago | By Dean Chaudhry Ex-Leafs Enforcer Turned Podcaster Shares Strong Opinion on Auston Matthews Situation |
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17 hours ago | By Mike Armenti Ex-NHLer Accuses Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs of Being Dishonest with the Public |
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Dec 24 | By Dean Chaudhry Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews Believed to Have Reached an Understanding Surrounding His Health |
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Dec 24 | By Mike Armenti Spittin' Chiclets Co-Host Has a Special Message for Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews |
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Dec 24 | By Ryan Smitheram Maple Leafs' Update on Chris Tanev Not Enough to Satiate Fans |
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Dec 24 | By Ryan Smitheram Insider Reveals Power Struggle Between Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs |
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Dec 24 | By Dean Chaudhry Legendary Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen Shares Special Moment with His Son on Live Telecast |
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Dec 24 | By Nick Matthews TSN Analyst Preps Maple Leafs Fans on Potential Recovery Plan for Auston Matthews |
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