NHL Player Safety proves they care more about $5,000 fines than protecting stars like Auston Matthews
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The NHL Player Safety Department is back at it again, and after just a $5,000 fine for a Seth Jarvis high-stick, you start to wonder whether or not they really know exactly how to handle discipline.
Being bloodied and left worse for wear, Conor Garland skated off the ice and all attention turned to the punishment the NHL would dish out. Is it a one-game ban? A fine? Absolutely no response? With the current state of player discipline - it's hard to tell.
But the NHL did have a response and issued a $5,000 fine to Seth Jarvis for high-sticking Garland, and while it's certainly a response, in the wake of the Auston Matthews incident, it might not be that great.
The Seth Jarvis ruling is a loud reminder of a broken system
The league was able to give the max fine right away, however took 24 hours to decide whether or not Radko Gudas should be punished for taking out Matthews.
George Parros tried to explain the process but managed to contradict himself several times including where he stated they receive injury reports only after deciding to punish the player; and that it was intent over results.
At least they are consistent but how were incidents like Jacob Trouba's McSorley-esque swing at Trent Frederic judged then? How was that also a fine especially knowing the intent outweighed the injury?
For a group that isn't 'concerned with social media' they made a public appearance for the first time in years, and have now offered swift justice for a following incident. Saying they aren't feeling the heat is a flat out lie.
$5,000 is literally peanuts to guys who make millions. Even on a league minimum that equates to 1/155th of their salary. Yes, it's literally that low. It doesn't deter players from doing it; it just stops them from buying a new Rolex.
Putting in a much more punishing financial hit would certainly deter players and the fact the league only punishes suspended players based on number of suspensions - it's not enough.
Why the NHL's focus on pocket change is an insult to fans who watch their stars sit in the press box
As the heading suggests, the minimal focus on punishing players and giving them a slap on the wrist is going to make fans irate.
There's zero consistency, with even player agents and top media personalities being incensed at the department. When the league's best player calls you out, and you ignore him...fans notice.
The NHL gets $5,000 from Jarvis. Awesome. Now when fans boycott games and they lose tens of millions; is that 5k really going to make a difference?
Fans pay a lot of money to go to games, and if their stars are going to be out for an extended period of time, there's no reason to go. If this happened in December and Gudas had five games, but Matthews missed the year, how does the punishment ever fit the crime?
The focus on protocol and precedent has led to an archaic style of discipline that goes back to a time where losing players for suspensions meant something.
Now, the NHL is more concerned with slapping players on the wrist, and not with who their players are slapping around.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 18|775 ANSWERS NHL Player Safety proves they care more about $5,000 fines than protecting stars like Auston Matthews Does the NHL need to change their discipline protocol when it comes to player injuries? | ||
| Yes | 742 | 95.7 % |
| No | 33 | 4.3 % |
| List of polls | ||