In the closing moments of their Saturday matchup, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly cross-checked Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, earning him a five-game suspension.
After Rielly and team and union officials participated in a virtual hearing, the NHL’s department of player safety made the suspension public on Tuesday. The league was able to suspend for six or more games because of the invitation for an in-person hearing, even if it was not held in New York due to snow.
Greig’s slap shot into an empty net with 5.1 seconds remaining on Saturday night to make it 5-3 Senators in favor of the opposition infuriated Rielly. Although he gave Greig a cross-check to the head and left shoulder, the 21-year-old, who was playing in his first full professional season, was unharmed.
The league clarified the suspension in a video, saying, “This is not a hockey play.” “This is an intentional, forceful strike to an opponent’s head using the stick as a weapon to exact retribution on an opponent well after a goal has been scored.”
Rielly, who has no prior record of fines or suspensions throughout his 11-year NHL career, would forfeit $195,313 in pay due to the ban.
Commissioner Gary Bettman is the only person to hear an appeal because the suspension was less than six games. Anything more would have been referred to Bettman and, upon request, a third-party arbiter.
The Maple Leafs, who are fighting for a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference, have suffered a serious blow in losing Rielly, one of their All-Stars and most useful players this season, for this extended period of time. For Toronto, the 29-year-old skates for more than 24 minutes every game, and his contributions in every way are hard to replace.
Following practice on Monday, Leafs forward William Nylander told reporters, “He’s been on fire, obviously an incredible season.” “I think our group is pretty resilient; when guys have been out, other guys have stepped up and played, taking that role,” the player said.
The incident sparked a lively discussion among hockey enthusiasts about the merits and downsides of taking revenge, particularly late in a game, as well as the unwritten laws of scoring an empty-net goal.
Rob Ray, the former enforcer for the Buffalo Sabres who is now a commentator, had no problem with Greig, Rielly, or the five-game suspension.
“I don’t find it problematic. It’s a competition game. It was a lighthearted game. Ray remarked after Buffalo defeated Los Angeles 7 to 0.
“The kid hammers it in at the end of the game. Despite their current position in the standings, I don’t mind if he does that either because it’s a big game for them. Ray continued, “And Rielly, being a leader, is attempting to ignite his team.” Ray played for Ottawa for 15 years before retiring from the NHL. He thus sits for five games. Significantly. That demonstrates to the other guys what leadership is all about.
Speaking about Greig and Rielly on Tuesday morning before the punishment was announced, veteran forward Andrew Cogliano expressed his belief that people are not giving enough thought to the emotional aspect of the game.
“If I had to guess, I’m pretty sure Greig wouldn’t do that if he had another opportunity,” stated Cogliano, who is currently in his 17th season in the NHL and has been with Colorado since 2022. “I believe it was an unnecessary incident, but in the heat of the moment, things happen, and Rielly took matters into his own hands, believing it to be improper for his squad. He may ultimately be suspended, but it might also make their room a little more cramped.
