George Parros defended the NHL Player Safety’s decision to suspend Radko Gudas for five games, amid growing criticism following Auston Matthews’ season-ending injury.
The controversy stems from a knee-on-knee collision that left Matthews with a grade 3 MCL tear and a quad contusion. The injury will sideline the Toronto Maple Leafs star for the remainder of the regular season. Many around the league argued the suspension was too short, given the severity of the outcome.
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Speaking at the NHL General Managers’ meetings, Parros said he is confident the punishment matched the play.
MORE: Maple Leafs coach challenges NHL ruling on Auston Matthews hit
“When we evaluate these plays, we look at the play and not the players,” Parros said. “If we determine that play was worthy of supplemental discipline, we then look at history of the players involved and if there is an injury or not.
“This is how we come to make all of our decisions. We did this and made this decision under those circumstances, felt that this was the appropriate response, and so I stand by it.”
The decision to hold only a phone hearing drew further debate. Under NHL rules, that limits suspensions to five games. An in-person hearing could have opened the door for a longer penalty.
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“It wasn’t like I decided to have a phone hearing, found out there was an injury, and then wished I had an in-person instead,” Parros said about his decision.
Criticism has come from players, including Connor McDavid, who suggested the league should review its disciplinary system. Matthews’ agent also questioned the process.
Parros said he did not believe a suspension beyond five games was likely, so he avoided raising expectations unnecessarily.
“We can have an in-person hearing and have it be less games,” Parros said. “I don’t mind that aspect of it, but there is an aspect to managing expectations and not just having in-person hearings left and right to drum up maybe unnecessary attention.”
George Parros supported DoPS after the Auston Matthews controversy
Parros has also backed his team, calling it experienced and consistent. “So, our process, I feel very confident in,” Parros mentioned.
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He left the door open for future changes but said any shift would require collaboration with the NHL Players’ Association. But for now, he believes the system works.
However, Octagon Hockey’s Allan Walsh criticized Parros’ comments, saying, he’s “tone deaf, defensive, arrogant and unwilling to thoughtfully consider any criticisms levied against him from Clubs, Agents and Players.”
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