Alex Ovechkin blasts the Department of Player Safety, calls Wilson suspension a ''joke''

With Tom Wilson being handed a 7-game suspension on Saturday for his questionable hit on Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo during Friday's matchup in Boston, there have been plenty of strong opinions floating around. Some don't think 7 games was enough, and some didn't think the hit warranted any supplemental discipline whatsoever. You can count Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin among the latter.

According to NBC Washington's JJ Regan, the Russian winger is not only unhappy about his teammate receiving the suspension, but also about the amount of attention Wilson's hit on Carlo has received in general.

"I think when you play hockey you have to be ready for that, and you have to know who's on the ice," said Ovechkin.

Now, while referees do not have the luxury of seeing the frame-by-frame breakdown of these types of hits, you'd have to wonder whether or not Ovechkin misinterpreted whatever the refs said to him, if in fact any comment was made at all - especially due to the fact that Carlo was injured on the play.

The hit resulted in Carlo being admitted to hospital for treatment, but the good news is that the lumbering defenseman was released from the hospital the following morning. At this point, the only update on Carlo is that he is expected to be "out for a while", per Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Regardless of Ovechkin's opinion on the matter, the NHL's Department of Player Safety did rule that the hit was dirty and that since Wilson has a history of predatory hits, a suspension was warranted, whether the referees felt the need to issue a 2-minute penalty or not.

In the end, I suppose it is to be expected that the captain would lend his vocal support to a teammate, despite the circumstances surrounding any suspension, within reason of course.

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