DoPS Head Fires Back at Criticism from Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid didn’t directly call out George Parros, but when you take a bit of a shot at the process involving suspensions, it’s implied that Parros is the one who will shoulder most of the responsibility. Currently serving as the head of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, it is Parros who leads the way when it comes to matters of player discipline, something McDavid suggested was broken, and the process was frustrating.

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McDavid said, “Yeah, you know, I think the Department of Player Safety has done their best. It’s not an easy thing to do. With that being said, I think there’s reason to take a look at how the whole process works.”

McDavid added:

“If every time there’s a suspension, everybody complains about it, well, why don’t we take a look at the process? I figure if there’s a better way to make sure both parties are happy, it’s worth exploring, because it seems like there’s a lot of frustration there.”

Parros responded to McDavid’s public comments regarding the re-examination of the suspension process:

“We sweat over these decisions and pore over these decisions every night, all season long. We have a process in place that’s consistent, and we have a team that works for me, and together with me, that evaluates all these plays. A very experienced team, a veteran team. Guys who have been there since the beginning of the department. Not to mention all the former players who have a large set of experiences playing NHL games and accolades. Some of the best guys who have played the game work for this department, helping make decisions. So, our process, I feel very confident in. We’ve got great guys who make these decisions, and I think the players should be confident in this team to do so.”

What Does All Of This Mean?

Unless Parros is removed or replaced, don’t expect much to change. Considering questionable decisions and suspensions of a certain length need to go through commissioner Gary Bettman anyway, it’s safe to assume he’s in line with Parros and his department.

Expecting the NHL and the DoPS to suddenly alter their processes because the best player in the world says so is naive. It’s probably what the league should do — because McDavid isn’t the first player to be confused by the standard — but this has remained a frustrating issue for years. The NHL is unlikely to suddenly pivot.

There’s no ego in this department,” Parros said. He added, “We’re always willing to improve if there’s room for it. This is a collaborative effort with the general managers. In an environment like this, we get together and work on the game. If there are issues that need to be fixed, we’re more than willing to address them—and if that involves our process, we can talk about that too.”

He pointed out that the department is required by the CBA to review these plays based on past precedent and other factors negotiated with the Union. “So, like I said, we feel very confident in the process we’ve been using for a long time, but that doesn’t mean we’re not willing to evolve if needed. We’re always looking to improve things if possible. That’s what these meetings are for.”

Parros Believes They’re Doing a Good Job Considering How the Game Has Changed

Given how quick the game is now and how hard it can be to walk a fine line between being physical and not being overly aggressive, he’s surprised there aren’t more incidents. “At the same time, I don’t think we can ignore the fact that the game is going pretty well. It’s as fast and as skilled as it’s ever been. Our players have buy-in. Yes, we have incidents like this all the time, and there are always a few that become lightning rods, but in general, we make a lot of decisions that are accepted and anticipated.”

He noted, “I think players know where the line is. I trust them to a great degree. The game is so fast, and things happen quickly, but they play it responsibly under those circumstances—and that’s impressive.:

“While we can disagree on certain suspensions, I’m very confident and satisfied with where the game is overall right now.”

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