When Sandis Vilmanis threw a high elbow that caught Charlie McAvoy in the head during the first period of Wednesday night’s game between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins, it was the kind of play that instantly grabs the league’s attention-and not in a good way.
The hit was dangerous. No matter what jersey you're wearing or rooting for, that kind of contact has no place in the game.
It’s the type of play that typically draws a closer look from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. But this time?
Nothing. No fine.
No suspension. Not even a review.
Vilmanis exited the game after the first period with what the Panthers labeled an upper-body injury. Less than 24 hours later, he was back on the ice as Florida took a 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That quick turnaround raised some eyebrows, especially considering the nature of the hit and the lack of follow-up from the league.
And it’s not just fans venting online-people around the league are taking notice.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared that several individuals reached out to him, not just about the hit itself, but about the way the penalties played out in real time. According to Friedman, “Charlie McAvoy took a hit, and it was not a major, and I think a lot of people thought it was a major, and it was a minor.” He added that what really stirred frustration wasn’t just the absence of supplemental discipline-it was the fact that Florida ended up on the power play after the dust settled.
Let’s break that down: McAvoy takes a questionable hit. Boston tries to respond.
The Bruins get hit with a retaliatory penalty. Then, a bench minor for arguing.
Florida ends up with a man advantage. That sequence didn’t sit well with a lot of people, including those who don’t typically side with Boston.
Friedman pointed out that the overall tension around officiating and discipline is rising across the league. “With the stress of the season, the tightness of the schedule, how close the standings are-nerves are really fraying,” he said.
And it’s hard to argue with that. In a league where playoff races are razor-thin and every point matters, consistency in calls and discipline becomes all the more important.
This isn’t the first time Florida has been at the center of controversy when it comes to physical play and the league’s response-or lack thereof. The pattern is starting to feel a little too familiar for some. And the concern is real: if hits like Vilmanis’ go unpunished, what’s to stop the next one from being worse?
The NHL has made strides in player safety over the years, but moments like this test the system. The league has a responsibility to protect its players-not just with words, but with action.
Because if the only consequence for a dangerous hit is a brief exit and a next-day return, the message being sent isn’t one of deterrence. It’s one of tolerance.
And in a sport that prides itself on toughness but also values respect, that’s a dangerous line to blur.