Rangers Release Statement Regarding NHL Department of Player Safety’s Decision to Not Suspend Tom Wilson
The team did not mince words this evening
The New York Rangers have publicly responded to the news of Tom Wilson’s $5,000 fine for his actions during last night’s contest against the Washington Capitals. The incident saw Artemiy Panarin suffer an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 4, 2021
The Rangers clearly made their feelings known, highlighting Wilson’s past dangerous behavior and calling for the removal of George Parros as the head of the Department of Player Safety for “dereliction of duty” and believe that he is “unfit to continue in his current role.”
This statement is certainly one of the strongest we’ve seen from the team, and an NHL team in general in regards to feelings regarding NHL officiating and league discipline. What happens next is likely a fine, and a hefty one at that from the league based on the Rangers’ comments. A marquee franchise calling for the removal of an NHL official isn’t a regular occurrence, and for that you can expect the league to react.
We have seen instances before regarding the Rangers and the league, with one of the more notable ones being John Tortorella’s $30,000 fine for criticizing officiating at the 2012 Winter Classic.
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John Tortorella Fined $30,000 By NHL For Remarks After Winter Classic
With that said, stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.