Player Safety shows incompetence yet again, this time with Kuznetsov decision
The NHL's Department of Player Safety has made some questionable decisions in recent years, but perhaps none more questionable than the suspension it handed out to Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on Tuesday.
After a puck battle with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kyle Burroughs on Monday, Kuznetsov smacked Burroughs in the face, intentionally, with his stick. Kuznetsov admitted as much, though he claims that he didn't intend to catch Burroughs in the face. George Parros appears to have bought the excuse, issuing just a 1-game suspension.
Player Safety used the fact that Kuznetsov has only been fined once during his 600-plus game NHL career as its rationale behind not issuing a longer suspension. A first-time offender, Player Safety opted to give Kuznetsov the benefit of the doubt.
It's absurd when you think about it. With some of the suspensions we've seen for, arguably, lesser offenses. In this instance, Kuznetsov willingly swung his stick high at an opponent, resulting in that opponent being struck in the face. The swinging of the stick wasn't an accident. This is one where the rationale behind the decision is completely lost on me. You have to imagine that had Burroughs been seriously hurt, the suspension probably would have been 10-20 games.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 18 | 118 ANSWERS Player Safety shows incompetence yet again, this time with Kuznetsov decision Did the DoPS miss the boat on this suspension? | ||
| Yes, definitely | 52 | 44.1 % |
| No, they got it right. First time offender | 16 | 13.6 % |
| Is anyone really surprised anymore? | 50 | 42.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
