Rangers: Parros unfit to lead NHL's Department of Player Safety

The New York Rangers are calling for George Parros' removal as the NHL's head disciplinarian after he chose not to suspend Tom Wilson for the agitator's actions Monday night.

"The New York Rangers are extremely disappointed that Capitals forward Tom Wilson was not suspended for his horrifying act of violence (Monday) night at Madison Square Garden," the team wrote in a statement Tuesday.

"Wilson is a repeat offender with a long history of these types of acts and we find it shocking that the NHL and (its) 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 as a dereliction of duty by NHL head of Player Safety, George Parros, and believe he is unfit to continue in his current role."

Earlier on Tuesday, the department fined Wilson $5,000 for roughing Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich.

During Monday's game, Wilson put Buchnevich in a headlock with a stick and punched him from behind while he laid on the ice. Moments later, Wilson threw Panarin to the ice. The officials handed the Capitals winger four minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.

Panarin and Buchnevich both received roughing minors of their own. Panarin later left the game due to injury and didn't return.

The Capitals will defer to the NHL rather than responding to the Rangers' statement, a team spokesperson told the Washington Post's Samantha Pell.

Parros joined the Department of Player Safety in September 2016 and was promoted to the lead role one year later. He suspended Wilson for seven games earlier this season after the Capitals forward boarded Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo.