Sidney Crosby raises CRITICAL questions regarding NHL’s Department of Player Safety in wake of 2023-24 season

Pittsburgh Penguins leader Sidney Crosby has asked some questions regarding players suspension and safety to the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Sidney Crosby raises CRITICAL questions regarding NHL’s Department of Player Safety in wake of 2023-24 season

Sidney Crosby (Pic Credit: Imago)

As the month of September reaches its conclusion, the NHL fever is about to hit the town. With around two weeks remaining for the first game of the new season, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has raised some critical questions. “The Next One” has spoken on the NHL’s Department of Player Safety and their inconsistent decisions.

As the name suggests, the department is there for the safety of players. In a game of ice hockey, tempers flaring is a normal thing. There have been several incidents where players have started a brawl and fight against other players. The fight between Alex Pietrangelo and Leon Draisaitl or the heavy punches between Darnell Nurse and Nicolas Hague in last season’s Stanley Cup is fresh in the minds of fans.

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On several occasions in such types of fights, the referees are seen to be standing on the side. This has led to fans asking why they do not intervene to stop the maul and protect the players. Players are then usually sent to the dugout for some minutes depending on their offense. Crosby has now pointed out what exactly is a suspendable act.

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“It’s still something where you see a highlight or you see a clip and you don’t know the range of suspension,” the veteran forward said. He further added how he felt about this situation. “You don’t know whether it’s going to be a suspension or not. That’s how I feel.”

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Sidney Crosby’s previous comments about DoPS raise further concerns

Sidney Crosby has continued to charm the fans with his impressive hockey skills for a long time now. His personality and determination have made him one of the most liked figures in NHL history. While his plays have often decided games, he has seemingly never had a major issue with the officials. However, this is not the first time he has raised questions against the league’s Department of Player Safety (DoPS).

Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby (Pic Credit: NHL)

In 2018, Crosby commented on the regular run-ins of Tom Wilson with the officials. During the preseason that year, Wilson became the enemy in the eyes of many after hitting Oskar Sundqvist. “When a guy does it a handful of times, you start to question what the intent is,” Crosby said back then before adding how many times they talk about him.

“I hope as players we can get some clarity on what’s a good hit and what’s not,” Crosby further added. While in his 1,190 games as a big leaguer, he has not found himself on the wrong end of the DoPS. Despite this, there have been instances where Crosby himself could have received some sort of disciplinary action for his conduct on the ice field. The fact that he received his first career misconduct last season in February further proves his point and raises questions on the credibility of the NHL’s DoPS.

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