NHL Player Safety’s George Parros has lame excuse for Larkin on Joseph’s suspension controversy

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has served his one-game suspension, was back in the lineup on Tuesday and moved past the ordeal. He he called his suspension warranted, for punching an opponent in the season opener . Larkin retaliated against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph for a hit from behind.

“It was an unfortunate play — the whole thing,” Larkin said Monday. “I really felt Joseph could have let up. He had enough time to see my numbers and make a different decision.”

That’s what many fans called out : why was Joseph not suspension on his end? The word finally got to the ears of NHL Player Safety’s George Parros, who made a statement on his decision. And it kinda sounds like a lame excuse, if you ask me.

“We have 100 minor boarding penalties a year in the NHL, and if every player reacted like [Larkin] after receiving one of those, we’d be a lot busier in our department.”

You can see his full interview here:

Larkin and Joseph have made amends since the incident, texting apologies to one another and both expressed a wish to move on and forward.

The Red Wings and Lightning will meet up again in March, 2022, so Larkin and Joseph indeed have plenty of time to forget about it.