Matthews throws a subtle jab at George Parros and the Department of Player Safety
Tuesday night in Boston, Bruins forward Taylor Hall took exception to a hit laid by Leafs defender Ilya Lyubushkin. Hall was skating backwards with the puck through the neutral zone and attempting to turn around. Lyubuskin stepped up on Hall mid-turn and Hall fell into the boards head and shoulder first. The hit was not exceptionally dirty, or particularly heavy, but a competent referee might have called a 2 minute boarding penalty and I don't think anyone would have complained.
However, when no penalty was called, Hall got up, dropped his stick, pursued the Leafs defenseman and threw a punch from behind that landed on the side of Lyubushkin's head. The shot knocked the defender to the ice. Lyubushkin would leave the game and has since been having concussion-like symptoms according to the team.
Hall was penalized 2 minutes for roughing and fined $5,000 for the punch. That's the equivalent of $83 to a person who makes $100,000 a year.. not exactly a stiff punishment for causing a brain injury. A similar punch by Detroit's Dylan Larkin earned him a Match penalty, a 5 minute major and a 1-game suspension earlier this season. There has been heated debate on social media over the Department of Player Safety's incompetence, or at the very least, inconsistency.
Auston Matthews was recently suspended 2 games for a cross check to the head and neck of Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin. The cross check was dangerous, and while it warranted a suspension, fans took issue with the fact that the previous 18 dangerous cross checks in regular season play had resulted in fines for the perpetrators.
On Thursday, following the Leafs' morning skate, Matthews was asked to weigh in on Hall escaping the punishment the Leafs forward was handed.
At this week's GM meetings, managers were warned by the league that speaking out publicly against officials would result in heavy fines. The New York Rangers were fines $250,000 last season after calling for George Parros to be fired. When it comes to comments regarding officials, you have to read between the lines.
Notice that Matthews didn't directly say that he disagrees with the officials, just that he didn't think it was clean. The real kicker is that Matthews referred to the head of the Department of Player Safety as "George". Not "Mr. Parros", not "Player Safety", just "George." Matthews' disdain for the man who's job is to protect players is crystal clear.
Parros has been horrible at his job since day 1, and rarely, if ever, do his decisions fall into the realm of fairness for the Leafs.
The saga will continue tonight. The Leafs will play the Winnipeg Jets for the first time since Neal Pionk's knee on Rasmus Sandin sent the game spiraling into gong show territory. Keefe is preparing for war, electing to dress both Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford. I think it's probably not too wild of a concept to expect the Department of Player Safety to be involved once again in one form or another after tonight's game.
| POLL | ||
MARS 31 | 468 ANSWERS Matthews throws a subtle jab at George Parros and the Department of Player Safety Will the league fine Matthews for hinting at Parros failing to do his job properly? | ||
| Yes | 172 | 36.8 % |
| No | 296 | 63.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
