The last time we met for an NHL Notebook, it was to discuss George Parros responding to the soft criticism from Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid aimed at the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. As a refresher:

“I think player safety has done their best,” McDavid said. “It’s not an easy thing to do. With that being said, I think there is reason to take a look at how the whole process works. If every time there’s a suspension, everybody complains about it, why don’t we take a look at the process and figure out if there’s a better way to make sure both parties are happy? It seems like there’s a lot of frustration there.”

George Parros, the Senior Vice President of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, responded:

“We sweat over these decisions and pour over these decisions every night, all season long,” Parros said via Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, in response to McDavid’s comments. “We have a process in place that’s consistent, and we have a team that works for me, and together with me, that evaluates all these plays. A very experienced team, a veteran team. Guys that have been there since the beginning of the department. Not to mention all the former players that have a large set of experiences playing NHL games, accolades. Some of the best guys that have played the game work for this department help make decisions. So, our process, I feel very confident in. We’ve got great guys who make these decisions, and I think the players should be confident in this team to do so.”

That was last week, and the brutal knee Radko Gudas laid on Auston Matthews (which sparked the conversation in the first place) took place back on March 12th. And on Friday (March 20th), Florida Panthers forward AJ Greer laid a hit from behind on Calgary Flames youngster Connor Zary, sending Zary headfirst into the boards.

In my view, Greer hooks Zary off balance, and then (after Zary has regained his footing) with seemingly no interest in going for the puck, gives him a two-hand shove into the numbers. Shout out to ex-Canucks prospect Hunter Brzustewicz for not hesitating to get in there and defend his teammate.

“Terrible hit,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska following the game. “It was awful. So I don’t really have much else to say about that. But it just shouldn’t happen when someone’s in that position.”

On Sunday, the NHL DoPS, with a great chance to give themselves some good PR by throwing the book at Greer for a clear-as-day malicious play, handed out a three-game suspension to Greer after giving him an over-the-phone hearing.

Here is what the league said of its decision:

“It is important to note that Greer is in control of this play at all times. First, he hooks Zary enough to cause him to lose his balance slightly. Then, as Zary regains his balance, and at a dangerous distance from the boards, Greer delivers a shove to the upper back of Zary that knocks him to the ice and causes an impact with the wall sufficient for supplemental discipline. If Greer wishes to initiate contact on this play, he must do so in a legal fashion rather than shoving Zary in a way that causes such an impact.”

That amount of space between a player and the boards is absolutely a danger zone, and shoving a player in the back the way Greer did is a dirty play, full stop.

What do you think of the league’s decision? Let us know in the comments section below!

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