Morgan Rielly has been suspended for five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety…
This follows an in-person hearing with the NHL, which was later rescheduled for a virtual teleconference due to the snowstorm presently affecting New York City.
Rielly was suspended for a cross-check to the head of Ridly Greig after Greig took a slap shot into Toronto’s empty net on Saturday night.
Following an in-person hearing, the league had the option of suspending Rielly for six games or more, but chose to do so for five. The complete explanation of Rielly’s suspension can be found here.
Rielly will forfeit $195,312.50 while serving his five-game sentence.
What will happen next?
The Maple Leafs will have to rely on a few of their depth defencemen for the next __ games. That includes players like William Lagesson, who has only played one game (against Ottawa on Saturday) since December 27.
“When you’re suddenly needed more, you think less. You just walk outside and play. On Monday, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Liljegren, “It can sometimes benefit a player as well.”
If Rielly decides to appeal his suspension, he has 48 hours to do so. Because the discipline was less than six games, there is only one appeal process, which will be handled by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
