Morgan Rielly offered Greig an in-person hearing for a cross-check.
Following Morgan Rielly’s contentious cross-check on Ridly Greig, the defenceman has been granted an in-person hearing with the NHL DoPS. This verdict means that Rielly will be suspended for at least five games, possibly more.
Discussions about prospective disciplinary proceedings from the NHL Department of Player Safety (DoPS) began Sunday morning. Chris Johnston stated that the DoPS is gathering information in preparation for Rielly’s hearing. The Maple Leafs’ next game is slated for Tuesday, so decisions are waiting.
John Shannon said that there was an internal argument in the NHL office over whether Rielly should have an in-person or phone hearing, with the former hinting at a ban of more than five games. According to Andy Strickland’s sources, the NHL DoPS planned to punish the Leafs defensemen severely.
Rielly, a key player for the Maple Leafs, may be suspended for the first time in his 11-season NHL career. Leading the team’s defenseman with seven goals and 43 points in 50 games, his absence for five or more games is a huge loss.
Is This Fair to Morgan Rielly Based on the History of Other NHL DoPS Decisions?
The moment the tweet from the NHL DoPS was posted, fans started debating the decision, many posting videos of similar plays to prove their arguments. Some used clips of similar or worse hits to show that the league went light. Others used clips to demonstrate how the league came down harshly on the player. Five games or more means the NHL is trying to send a message. Is this the right call?
