The Inconsistent NHL Department of Player Safety Strikes Again Flyers Fans

Philadelphia Flyers fans were left scratching their heads once again before the puck dropped against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. Hours before the game the NHL Department of Player Safety failed to suspend New York Rangers player Chris Kreider for a hit he placed on Vancouver Canucks rising star Elias Pettersson on Wednesday night. Instead, he received a $5,000 fine. Here is a clip of the crazy hit:

Chris Kreider tries to hit Pettersson, then throws the elbow and hits EP in the face.

Kreider was given a 5 minute penalty and ejected. Pettersson was bleeding and went to the room. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/kpsVdmhB0J
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) March 14, 2019

This should result in a suspension not Jake's. Jake didn't Target the head where Chris Kreider does. If Chris Kreider gets equal of Jake suspension the NHL really needs to revisit their discipline. #Flyers https://t.co/XNCAABUwqP
— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) March 14, 2019

Five days ago Flyers star Jakub Voracek was suspended for two games for a hit he placed on New York Islanders Johnny Boychuk. Voracek did not play the puck, as he saw Boychuk coming at him full speed. Instead Voracek uses his back to brace/hit Boychuk, and Boychuk got hurt in the process. According to the The Department of Player Safety, Voracek was suspended for targeting Boychuk’s head, even though the intial blow was in the middle of Boychuk’s chest. Here is a clip of this incident:

On the left, we have a two game suspension.

On the right, we have nothing.#Joke pic.twitter.com/6WcnrxNisa
— Murph (@2Murphy8) March 10, 2019

Really???? A two-game suspension for Voracek, and nothing for Kreider. I write this piece not to vent and not to be a homer for the orange and black. However, I write this piece to be an advocate for the players. Someone is going to get seriously hurt because of the inconsistencies the Department of Player Safety has shown these past few seasons. The NHL is the greatest game on earth, how can this happen? Why are they so inconsistent with their rulings?

Voracek gets suspended for two games for a check using his back, and Anthony Mantha doesn’t even get a hearing for drilling a defenseless Claude Giroux head first into the boards. All this while Giroux was on his knees nonetheless. This is just mind boggling, and wrong.

$5,000 fine for Chris Kreider really shows how inconsistent the NHL really is. The department of safety should be embarrassed. #Flyers #freevoracek
— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) March 14, 2019

If I’m the players I personally would address the inconsistencies with the upcoming CBA contract negotiations. This is just not right. I am not defending just Flyers players here. I am defending players throughout the entire NHL. Safety should be the number one priority here, and to me, I hate to say it…it isn’t. It is not due to the inconsistencies. Let’s pray that this gets fixed sooner, rather than later.

Mandatory Credit: Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports