NHL fines Rangers $250,000 for comments on Tom Wilson, NHL head of player safety

The New York Rangers likely realized on Tuesday their strongly worded comments about NHL Head of Player Safety George Parros being "unfit to continue in his current role" after the league failed to suspend Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson following his actions on Monday would not go unanswered. 

On Thursday, the league answered that statement by fining the Rangers $250,000. 

"Public comments of the nature issued by the Rangers that were personal in nature and demeaning of a League executive will not be tolerated," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said for the prepared statement. "While we don't expect our Clubs to agree with every decision rendered by the Department of Player Safety, the extent to which the Rangers expressed their disagreement was unacceptable. It is terribly unfair to question George Parros' professionalism and dedication to his role and the Department of Player Safety."

Wilson was fined $5,000 for roughing Pavel Buchnevich but received no suspension or punishment for slamming Artemi Panarin down to the ice, an incident that knocked Panarin out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.

"The New York Rangers are extremely disappointed that Capitals forward Tom Wilson was not suspended for his horrifying act of violence last night at Madison Square Garden," the Rangers said late Tuesday afternoon in a statement shared via Twitter and other platforms. "Wilson is a repeat offender with a long history of these type of acts and we find it shocking that the NHL and their Department of Player Safety failed to take the appropriate action and suspend him indefinitely. Wilson’s dangerous and reckless actions caused an injury to Artemi Panarin that will prevent him from playing again this season. We view this as a dereliction of duty by NHL Head of Player Safety, George Parros, and believe he is unfit to continue in his current role."

The lack of action from the NHL Department of Player Safety resulted in six fights between the clubs during the first period of Wednesday's game that the Capitals won 4-2. Before that matchup, the Rangers parted ways with president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton.

Buchnevich, meanwhile, is scheduled to have a hearing for high-sticking and cross-checking Washington Capitals forward Anthony Mantha in the second period of Wednesday's affair.