BREAKING: Maple Leafs taking action against Morgan Rielly's suspension

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Liam McCormick
February 14, 2024 (10:33)

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Moments ago, news broke from NHL insider Chris Johnston that Morgan Rielly and the Toronto Maple Leafs are filing an appeal against the five game suspension he was dealt yesterday.

On Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators, Rielly delivered a forceful cross check in retaliation when forward Ridly Greig taunted the Leafs with a slap shot into the empty net and ice the game. Rielly's actions has sparked a debate across the hockey world about whether his actions were justified, and whether Greig broke the unwritten rules of hockey.

When Rielly was offered an in-person suspension hearing, it was thought that the Department of Player Safety would suspend him for at least six games, using David Perron's suspension earlier this year as precedent. However because Rielly was given just 5 games instead, he cannot make an appeal to an independent arbitrator - it will have to be directly to Gary Bettman. It's extremely unlikely that Bettman will reduce the suspension or show any sort of difference from Player Safety.

So far this year, Gary Bettman has upheld every suspension appeal made against the Department of Player Safety. What's more, is that Player Safety is reportedly becoming rattled by the increasing amount of appeals, as well as players and teams showing no confidence in their decisions. It seems as though George Parros' time as head of Player Safety could soon come to an end of the league decides to listen to the ongoing criticism, and make an adjustment.