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Rangers statement criticizes Wilson fine, Parros as player safety head

Rangers statement

January 11, 2014: A view of the New York Rangers logo at center ice during the Yale Bulldogs versus the Harvard Crimson game at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The Yale Bulldogs defeated the Harvard Crimson 5-1. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty

The Department of Player Safety’s decision to only fine, and not suspend, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for his actions on Monday night has not generated a popular response around the NHL.

Nowhere is that more true than with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers issued a scathing statement on Tuesday evening that not only criticized the lack of a suspension for Wilson, but also directly said that player safety head George Parros is not fit to serve in his current position.

The Rangers complete statement is as follows:

“The New York Rangers are extremely disappointed that Capitals forward Tom Wilson was not suspended for his horrifying act of violence last night at Madison Square Garden. Wilson is a repeat offender with a long history of these types of acts and we find it shocking that the NHL and their department of player safety failed to take the appropriate action and suspend him indefinitely. Wilson’s dangerous and reckless actions caused an injury to Artemi Panarin that will prevent him from playing again this season. We view this is a dereliction of duty by NHL head of player safety, George Parros, and believe he is unfit to continue in his current role.”

Wilson was fined $5,000 for his actions on Monday that resulted in 16 penalty minutes during the game. It is just the latest incident in Wilson’s career that resulted in supplemental discipline from the league. Earlier this season he was suspended seven games for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo. In total, Wilson has been fined or suspended for eight different times (five suspensions totaling more than 30 games and three fines) in his career.

Panarin, the Rangers’ best player, suffered an injury as a result of Monday’s incident and will not play again during the regular season.

Rangers players were extremely vocal about the situation after the game and again on Tuesday.

The two teams play again on Wednesday night in New York.

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.