Fans react to George Parros decision to only fine Arber Xhekaj

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Brett Thomas Wills
September 29, 2024 (3:40 PM)

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Sunday fans were up in arms as the decision from NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros came down on Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj.

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens had varying opinions Sunday after Department of Player Safety head George Parros fined Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj for his behaviour with Maple Leafs Centre Cedric Pare.

Parros has been wildly inconsistent in levying any sort of punishment when it's been called for. The punishment handed to Xhekaj has been no different. Some have called for him to be suspended while others feel a fine is the appropriate action. But the problem isn't just in how the Department of Player Safety handled this situation, but its' the matter at hand in this moment so many had lots to say about it.

Many people have voiced their displeasure on social media and rightfully so considering that the league has voiced that they are trying to get better in terms of taking care of their players but the actions that they take after reviewing every incident they've needed to is laughable at best.

While it's possible it's a giant coincidence, based on how Parros has operated since taking over the responsibility with the league one has to wonder if he played a little favouritism with the Canadiens. While this feels like it could be a conspiracy, one has to remember that he's a Harvard-educated person. He should be acting a little smarter than he is, no?

But as much as Parros is being paid by the league one must call into question whether or not he's doing the bare minimum at a job that is arguably almost as important as Gary Bettman's, and he's the commissioner for crying out loud.

If the National Hockey League wants to become more serious in the eyes of their fans and their stakeholders it feels as if George Parros needs to go or, at the very least, be able to make competent and consistent decisions when things like this happen. He's paid to do a job that if he was graded he would barely scrape by D+.