Count former NHL enforcer John Scott among those puzzled by the relative lack of supplemental discipline doled out to Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for his role in a skirmish involving the New York Rangers Monday night.
Wilson was handed a league-maximum fine of $5,000 on Tuesday for roughing Pavel Buchnevich yet there was no mention of him aggressively throwing Artemi Panarin, whose helmet had been knocked off, down to the ice moments later.
The Rangers confirmed Panarin will miss the remainder of the regular season as a result of the incident.
“I just finished up doing a great video talking about Tom Wilson, what his suspension should be, how it was a gutless move on his part throwing around Panarin and punching Buchnevich in the face when he was on the ground in a prone position, just gutless, terrible hockey,” Scott said in a video posted on social media. “I was saying how much I used to respect Tom Wilson. He plays the game the way I like it to be played (but) I think he crossed a line this time and then I get the news that he gets fined $5,000?
“What on earth is happening with the NHL right now?”
The Rangers also expressed disappointment wit the league’s decision with forward Ryan Strome calling it “a joke” and coach David Quinn saying there “was an awful lot there to suspend him.”
Scott went on to criticize former on-ice rival and current head of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, George Parros, for the decision not to suspend Wilson.
“It was a joke of a fine,” Scott said. “What Tom did there’s no excuse for that. It’s insane to me he only got a $5,000 fine. He’s a repeat offender, he’s done this time in and time out. I don’t know if George has some kind of dog in this race, he wants Washington to win the Cup or I honestly don’t know. I have no words for it.”
Scott and Parros fought each other three times during their respective playing careers, once in 2009 and twice in February of 2013.
“What this means though is it’s fair game, baby, in any scrum,” the 2016 NHL All-Star Game MVP added in a tongue-in-cheek manner. “If you go into a scrum anywhere on the ice and you see a star player I’m throwing sucker punches, I’m grabbing this guy, I’m twisting ankles, I’m doing whatever I can because the worst thing that’s going to happen to me is a $5,000 (fine) because I can’t see anyone doing anything more than what Tom Wilson did to Panarin. Honestly. I feel bad for Panarin. The guy comes in to help out his teammate just to calm things down and Wilson jumps on his back.
“Shame on you, NHL, you guys should’ve did something to protect Panarin and then shame on Wilson. You gotta know better.”
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