Captain creates a stir, using the media to send a clear and concise message to the NHL's front office
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Photo credit: RDS
The NHL has faced a lot of scrutiny over the last few years with their inconsistencies ranging from their officiating to the NHL's Player Safety Department. Sometimes it seems like they pick a ruling out of a hat and players around the league are definitely taking notice.
Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin spoke to the media for the first time since his 4-game absence from a dangerous incident that seemingly went unpunished by the officials and Player Safety.
In the first period of a recent game against Ottawa, Larkin got hit in the back of the head by Mathieu Joseph, before falling into the fist/forearm of Parker Kelly and falling to the ice unconscious before being helped off - fortunately without the need of the stretcher. After a lengthy review from the referees to deem if it deserved a match penalty or not, they handed Joseph a 2-minute minor for roughing, while Larkin's teammate, David Perron, received a match penalty for intent to injure, for which he received a 6-game suspension.
"The last week in the league has been pretty eye-opening," Larkin said, according to The Athletic's Max Bultman.
"It's been kind of a trend - this last week has been a highlight for player safety. As a player, I'm obviously closely attached because I just went through something, but I've talked to guys on our team, guys from other teams, and it's hard to feel safe out there. It's hard to know how to protect yourself."
"This instance, watching it back, I wasn't really doing anything," Larkin said. "I just was trying to make a play on the puck and just standing there, really... How do you protect yourself? Who's protecting you? There's a lot of (unanswered questions) in our sport right now."
"It's been kind of a trend - this last week has been a highlight for player safety. As a player, I'm obviously closely attached because I just went through something, but I've talked to guys on our team, guys from other teams, and it's hard to feel safe out there. It's hard to know how to protect yourself."
"This instance, watching it back, I wasn't really doing anything," Larkin said. "I just was trying to make a play on the puck and just standing there, really... How do you protect yourself? Who's protecting you? There's a lot of (unanswered questions) in our sport right now."
Larkin was also referring to Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor who was forced out of the lineup for 6-8 weeks after a knee-on-knee collision with Ryan Strome from the Anaheim Ducks. Although the officials handed Strome a 5-minute major and a match penalty, the NHL's Department of Player Safety did not hand out any discipline.
The NHL Player Safety Department has never really been given rave reviews over the years and the inconsistencies continue to climb by the week, by the month, and by the year. Last week was definitely eye-opening because those were two blatantly dangerous incidents that were completely avoidable and that deserved at least a suspension of at least few games.
When the players don't feel safe and begin speaking outwardly about it, you know something is wrong. It will be interesting to see how the league responds and whether Larkin will receive a potential fine for criticizing the league, like some instances we've seen in the past. It would be even more wild if the NHLPA got involved and called for George Parros' resignation.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 19 | 1001 ANSWERS Captain creates a stir, using the media to send a clear and concise message to the NHL's front office Do you think George Parros will be replaced as the head of Player Safety? | ||
| Yes | 536 | 53.5 % |
| No | 94 | 9.4 % |
| It's long overdue either way | 371 | 37.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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