Larry Brooks, a journalist for the NY Post, recently criticized the NHL Department of Player Safety (DoPS) for their inconsistency in protecting players, particularly defenseman Erik Gustafsson.
In a game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Panthers forward Sam Reinhart delivered a brutal hit on Gustafsson, who appeared slow to return to the bench afterward.
Brutal elbow by Reinhart on Gustafsson. ... He was very slow to the bench.
"I guess Erik Gustafsson isn't important enough for George Parros and the NHL Department of Player Safety to protect." - Larry Brooks
The criticism highlights concerns about the NHL's approach to player safety, particularly regarding the treatment of non-star players compared to their star counterparts.
While some argue that Reinhart's hit may have been unintentional due to his falling motion, the lack of action from the NHL DoPS to address the incident raises questions about player safety enforcement in the league.