Gary Bettman revealed how George Parros settled on Tom Wilson's 20-game suspension

BarDown Staff

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The Washington Capitals have started their Stanley Cup defence on a strong note with a 4-2-2 record through 4 games and they've done it without a key player. Tom Wilson was suspended 20 games for a hit on Oskar Sundqvist during a preseason game and the 24-year-old appealed the suspension in the hopes of it being reduced.

On Thursday, that hope disappeared as Gary Bettman uphled Wilson's suspension and in his 31-page ruling (as per TSN's Frank Seravalli), Bettman revealed some interesting things in regards to how George Parros settled on 20 games for Wilson.

Bettman writes Parros used a 3x multiplier to arrive at Wilson suspension, valuing 3 playoff games at 6 games, then Parros added two additional games for 20 on account of Sundqvist injuries (concussion, facial lacerations and right shoulder a/c joint sprain).
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 25, 2018

Furthermore, Bettman revealed that the NHLPA argued there should have been no suspension handed down to Wilson.

In upholding Tom Wilson's 20-game suspension, Gary Bettman writes #NHLPA argued there was no violation of Rule 48 and "there should have been no supplementary discipline of any kind nor suspension of any duration."
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 25, 2018

Bettman writes: “When asked how long a suspension the incident warranted - assuming I were to conclude that Mr. Wilson’s check did, in fact, violate Rule 48 - the NHLPA suggested a suspension of eight (8) games.”
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 25, 2018

In saying all of this, it's important to point out that the appeal process may not be over yet as Wilson can actually appeal this ruling.

Tom Wilson via the NHLPA has 7 days to further appeal to a neutral arbitrator if that's what he chooses to do https://t.co/XDrYwgeTbT
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 25, 2018

(H/T: Frank Seravalli)