The NHL's punishment for Tom Wilson after his roughing of Pavel Buchnevich and extracurriculars on Artemi Panarin that have forced him out the rest of the season isn't being viewed well by the Rangers.
"I think it's a joke, to be honest with you," Ryan Strome told media on Tuesday. ". ... I think it crossed the line. A defenseless player in Panarin with no helmet on -- a superstar in our league. I think it's a joke.
"You want the league to have your back in those situations."
The Rangers saw Wilson fined the maximum $5,000 under the new CBA but no suspension. Strome believes that since it was a non-hockey play, meaning play was deemed dead and there was no skating involved, the players can't be the ones policing the situation.
And that is especially important when it comes to a player like Wilson, who is extremely physical.
"In a situation like that, we don't really have a team that goes toe-to-toe with those guys if you just want to turn it into a brawl," he said. "That's just the way it is."
Head coach David Quinn also gave his thoughts on the matter, saying the Rangers will protect one another. But bruisers and enforcers are not what New York is made of.
"The way we're built, it's not going to be a brawling situation for sure," he explained.
We'll see what transpires on Wednesday night when the Blueshirts and Caps go at it again to complete their season series. Wilson is allowed on the ice yet again.
Panarin, Trouba, and Lindgren officially out for rest of season
The Rangers announced that Panarin is indeed out of the remainder of the season after suffering a lower body injury during the Wilson brawl.
Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren join him.
Trouba has been dealing with an upper body injury, last playing on Apr. 20, while Lindgren suffered an upper body injury last Thursday.