As expected, Panarin fined for unsportsmanlike conduct

Just as we assumed, the alleged Department of Player Safety fined Artemi Panarin for throwing his glove at Brad Marchand at the conclusion of Friday’s game in Boston.  The fine was the maximum $5,000, the same amount levied against Tom Wilson when he tried to cause serious injury to Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich last May.

Ranger fans should be happy that Panarin wasn’t suspended for attempt to cause a serious injury (intended sarcasm).  Then again, a glove at full force could cause serious damage to a rodent like Marchand.

And of course, there was no punishment meted out to Brad Marchand who, according to Panarin, was the instigator.  More on that in a bit.

So, this season we’ve seen P.K. Subban get away with two slew foots against the Rangers and J.G. Pageau get away with a shoulder to the head of Ryan Lindgren.  The latest was a knee on knee by Charlie McAvoy on Kevin Rooney.  Granted, all of those plays were judgment calls,  but we should get used to never getting the calls from George Parros and his crew.

It does make you wonder if they are holding a grudge against the Rangers for the statement put out by the team last May after the Tom Wilson incident.  If anyone forgot, here is the statement from the New York Rangers

"“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. Wilson is a repeat offender with a long history of these types 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 the NHL head of Player Safety, George Parros, and believe he is unfit to continue in his current role.”"

The Blueshirts were fined $250,000 for that with the following response from Commissioner Bettman.

"“Public comments of the nature issued by the Rangers that were personal in nature and demeaning of a League executive will not be tolerated.  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.”"

It also makes you wonder exactly how deeply the alleged Department of Player Safety looks into these incidents.  Artemi Panarin was asked about the incident by reporters and he said that it was because Marchand brought up the false story out of Russia last year that accused Panarin of an assault.

He told Vince Mercogliano of USA Today that it was Marchand who started it and that he felt it was not fair that Marchand was not disciplined as well.

He told Mercogliano  “It’s important to think that I didn’t start it. I didn’t say good things about him, too, but I think when you touch country, it’s different. Probably all Russians would want to defend their country.   In the NHL, lots of people say bad words sometimes… (But) how do we want to be as humans? For kids and everybody, we have to be good examples. Because, as athletes, lots of kids watch us… Trash talk is pretty popular… But I think a balance is important.”

You would believe that that kind of reaction from a player like Panarin would engender a deeper look into what caused it.  Obviously not.

This is not the last we will hear about the Rangers and their relationship with the NHL.  One thing is for certain, it must be driving Gerard Gallant absolutely nuts.

Stay tuned.