NHL Reaches Final Punishment Verdict on Sam Bennett After Another Dirty Elblow

The NHL has failed to protect players this postseason, as the Florida Panthers get away scott-free with an elbow on an opposition player.

Sam Bennett brutally elbowed Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen. He'd never receive discipline for the elbow, but for slashing the Canes' Jordan Staal in the third period instead.

An even more egregious notion, considering that Bennett is known for gooning it up, as a rat in the NHL.

Bennett would receive plenty of legitimate backlash online.

Ironically, the Andersen play comes after the return of Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz, whose concussion could be blamed on the dirty play of the Panthers veteran center.

You'd believe that the Department of Player Safety and George Parros would strive to protect their star players in the league. We seem to be incorrect, as this isn't the only goalie he's targeted this season.

Now, we'd like to think Bennett would miss a meaningful Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals? No.

While Sam Bennett is a meaningful contributor to the Panthers' lineup, this shouldn't go unpunished. It might give the Panthers' opponents in the finals an advantage.

But it seems more or less, the NHL is protecting its bottom line, instead of the health and wellness of its players.

Bennett is a pending UFA at the end of the season, and another Stanley Cup to his name could raise his stock, even in light of the crimes committed on the ice for his team.