The NHL Player Safety department faced criticism for Radko Gudas’s five-game suspension for kneeing Auston Matthews, which ended Matthews’ season. The decision to conduct a phone hearing, limiting the suspension to a maximum of five games, prevented a more severe penalty based on the injury’s severity. Matthews’ agent expressed disappointment, stating the ruling undermined confidence in the disciplinary process. Comparisons with Evgeni Malkin’s recent suspension highlight inconsistencies in how player conduct is penalized.
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