The NHL announced yesterday that former NHL heavyweight George Parros has joined the NHL front office as a Director in the Department of Player Safety. The Princeton-educated player will handle NHL player disciplinary issues, as well as educate players on current and future rules. He joins fellow former NHL players Stephane Quintal and Chris Pronger by making the jump to the NHL’s disciplinary arm.
Parros last played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadians in 2013-14, scoring 0G and 1A in 22 games, but racking up 85 penalty minutes. Parros played primarily as a classic enforcer, acquiring 812 penalty minutes in 356 NHL games—most of which took place in Anaheim where he played for six seasons. He suffered two concussions while playing for Montreal, however, and decided to retire at the season’s end.
Parros’s hiring will help the league with it’s fine balancing act between the sport’s physicality and protecting its players. Part of the enforcer art is playing physical but within the rules. Rated one of the smartest athletes by The Sporting News, Parros should be well-qualified to handle the increasingly subtle disciplinary issues that are arising as a result of a faster game pace.