Parros' Future: NHL's Player Safety Under Scrutiny

0:00This is Corey with the story with NHL News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Subscribe for daily updates on your team. George Parals has headed the NHL's Department of Player Safety for 8 years now, starting back in September 2017. He's the longest serving leader since the department launched in 2011, outlasting predecessors, Brendan Shanahan, and Stéphon Quintal. Lately though, Paral spaces fresh criticism over how the department handles suspensions, the latest flap involves Anaheim Ducks' defenseman, Radco Goudas, who got a 5-game ban for nearing Toronto Maple Leaf star Austin Matthews. That hit not Matthews out for the rest of the season, and plenty of fans and analysts called the penalty two-life for such a dangerous play. Many in the hockey world question if passed ties, like Parals' history with the Ducks, sway decisions. Still, Commissioner Gary Bettman has voiced full support for Parals and his team, saying they have the league's trust. Looking ahead, at Parals Steps Down, successors could include familiar names like Shanahan,

1:03who's now free after leaving Toronto, or tough veterans, such as Chris Pronger, Paul Korea, Eric Lindros, and Ryan Getzloff. Getzloff already works in the department after retiring, giving him an inside track. Some even push for outsiders, like retired referees, or I.I.H.F. officials, to bring neutral eyes, with player safety debates heating up. The NHL's next pick could reshape how the game balances grit and protection moving forward.