The Gudas suspension is a joke and the Maple Leafs are now 'Open Season' for the rest of the NHL
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The lack of punishment to Radko Gudas over the Matthews incident gives teams the impression of a 'get out of free' card when it comes to going against Toronto.
The decision by NHL Department of Player Safety in handing Radko Gudas a five-game suspension for ending Auston Matthews' season is facing criticism from around the league, including from Matthews himself.
Matthews was injured in Thursday's match against Anaheim after Gudas collided with the Leafs captain, catching him in the knee, causing what the team said to be an MCL tear.
Oilers superstar Connor McDavid said that a 'review' should be considered of Player Safety's decision making.
Radko Gudas being suspended for five games would be a stringent retaliatory measure for most, but for the hit on Matthews, many feel it does little in terms of deterrence.
The five-game insult proves the league has no respect for Toronto's stars
The Toronto Maple Leafs, nor any team, doesn't need for their stars to be coddled, but they need for their repeat offenders to be held accountable.
Judd Moldaver, Matthews' agent, was blunt in a statement saying that the Department of Player Safety should be "suspended", having called the five-game ruling "laughable and preposterous".
In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am very disappointed and shocked that the league would allow for such a ruling.
A phone hearing and 5 games is just laughable and preposterous. While the hearing process is pre fixed in our CBA that there was no further discipline is a reckless and ridiculous position for player safety.
This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The player safety department should be suspended. - Judd Moldaver
A phone hearing and 5 games is just laughable and preposterous. While the hearing process is pre fixed in our CBA that there was no further discipline is a reckless and ridiculous position for player safety.
This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The player safety department should be suspended. - Judd Moldaver
The issue is less about Matthews being injured, and more the lenient punishment to a repeat offender in Gudas, a player with five career suspensions and numerous multi-game suspensions.
Head of Player Safety George Parros, a former Anaheim Duck, has been in the role since 2017, and in that time the Leafs have been handed the most suspensions.
Player Safety's lack of forceful and heavy punishment has led some to wonder if a former enforcer in Parros is the best player to lead the department, being perhaps sympathetic to his fellow tough guys.
Failing to protect the captain is a mandatory turning point for the roster
George Parros isn't the only one hearing it from the hockey world. The rest of the Leafs roster has faced their own criticism for not initially reacting to the Matthews hit.
Not having realized the initial severity of the injury to their captain, the Leafs waited until the third period to turn up the intensity, but to fans, it was too little too late.
Much criticism has come towards the Leafs veterans such as Morgan Rielly, who was first to admit his fault in the matter, as well as Craig Berube for barely playing enforcer Michael Pezzetta in the second or third to settle up the score.
It's another lingering issue that has emerged in concerns of a locker room in disarray, a Leafs team in need of an identity shift for next season.
No one has given support to Auston Matthews, and if teams can get off easy when it comes to targeting him, the Leafs pressing need is having the bodies that can step in and protect their captain.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
John Tortorella's confusion over Matthews signals a league prioritizing code over star safety
John Tortorella's confusion over Matthews signals a league prioritizing code over star safety
| POLL | ||
MARS 16|751 ANSWERS The Gudas suspension is a joke and the Maple Leafs are now 'Open Season' for the rest of the NHL Do you think the NHL cares at all about player safety? | ||
| Yes | 157 | 20.9 % |
| No | 447 | 59.5 % |
| Only when not Toronto | 147 | 19.6 % |
| List of polls | ||