Is it me, or does the NHL's Department of Player Safety only seem to suspend Leafs and players with ties to the organization? To that effect, the DoPS has announced that Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Ritchie has been handed a one-game suspension.
In what was the only play from that game that received supplemental discipline, Ritchie will sit for a game after slashing Ducks defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk in the face after a collision along the boards on Friday night.
A physical player, this is not Ritchie's first rodeo with player safety. When he played for the Ducks, he got a two-game suspension that included 1 playoff game for roughing. Now, for the second time in his career Ritchie has been suspended.
While Ritchie's slash was dirty, it puts another stain on George Parros' legacy as head of player safety. With all the headshots that have gone unpunished and the inconsistency from Parros. It's hard to justify suspending Ritchie for this play. Granted, a slash to the face is no laughing matter, but there have been far worse infractions this season that have gone entirely unpunished.
