LY: NHL DROPPED THE BALL WITH WILSON

By: Allan Ly
RP Show Intern

The Tom Wilson/Artemi Panarin situation which occurred Monday night at Madison Square Garden has divided the hockey world because George Parros, the head of NHL Player Safety, only fined Wilson $5000.

The punishment was so universally criticized that the New York Rangers issued a statement calling for Parros’s removal.

“We view this as a dereliction of duty by NHL Head of Players Safety, George Parros. and believe he is unfit to continue in his current role,” the statement read.

There are two opinions on what the Rangers said, some say it is uncalled for while others disagree.

“I don’t have any issue with what the Rangers said,” said Rod Pedersen on his morning show on Game+ TV.

The other side criticized Rod’s comments, saying Wilson slamming Panarin’s head into the ice “wasn’t that bad”.

Experts believe that Tom Wilson should have gotten suspended.

 “I felt Tom Wilson probably could have got a game because of his reputation,” said TSN 1260 Edmonton’s Jason Gregor on Wednesday’s RP Show.

Looking back at the NHL and their history shows the punishments they hand out differ a lot.

Beginning with New York Rangers Hendrick Lunquist who got fined $5000 for spraying water at Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby during Game 6 of their 2014 NHL playoffs.

How can Tom Wilson get the same kind of punishment like Henrik Lundquist for only spraying water?

Nicholas Goss wrote an article for Bleacher Report that showcases the top 50 hockey hits and their punishments.

Goss’s list demonstrates that Wilson got off easy by the NHL.

Dino Ciccarelli is ranked 16 on Goss list, who played for the Minnesota North Stars, was suspended and even served jail time when he attacked Toronto Maple Leafs Luke Richarson in the 1988 season.

Hockey Hall Of Famer Scott Niedermayer played for the New Jersey Devils, and he was suspended for ten games when he hit Peter Worrell of the Florida Panthers during the 2000 season. This hit was ranked 31 on Goss most brutal hits and suspensions.

Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins slashed Vancouver Canucks player Donald Brashear in the head during the 2000 NHL season and got a 23 game suspension. According to Goss it got number 5 for the most brutal hits and suspensions.

Let’s not forget Todd Bertuzzi, when he played for the Canucks got suspended for 20 games when he went after Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore during a game in 2004. Goss ranked Bertuzzi number 12 on the list for most brutal hits and suspensions.

History shows that the NHL will give punishments out for uncalled hits, so it is evident that  more actions need to be done for the Tom Wilson situation.

(Follow Allan on Twitter at @AllanTheIntern)