NHL Department of Player Safety Suspends Lightning Forward for Leaving Bench to Fight
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Lightning
Moments ago, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced their decision to suspend Connor Geekie for one preseason game.
Connor Geekie didn't make an illegal change to get on the ice to fight, which would have resulted in an automatic ten game suspension. Player Safety determined that Geekie made a legal line change but with the sole purpose of getting on the ice to fight Zach Davies.
Geekie stepped onto the ice and immediately initiated a fight with Zach Davies, and pummelled him with repeat right hand haymakers. It wasn't a close fight at all.
The anger from the Lightning forward was a result of an earlier hit against team captain Victor Hedman. Zach Davies stood up Hedman at the blue line with a clean hit to the chest. Hedman wasn't even injured, and yet the Lightning players were incensed by the hit. Even Nikita Kucherov pursued Davies immediately for a fight.
Honestly, it's bizarre to see Lightning players react this way to a completely clean and legal hit that didn't cause an injury. Hedman is their team captain and it is preseason, so defending him in a small scrum would be understandable. Chasing after Davies to fight twice is a serious overreaction from the Lightning, and Geekie will pay for it with a suspension.
The NHL Department of Player Safety is taking some criticism for their decision as well, as per usual. Just last week, Habs defenceman Arber Xhekaj chased after and fought Cedric Pare against his will, and the NHL only issued a fine. There's small differences between the two scenarios, but they're comparable enough that they should be punished the same. Player Safety is no stranger to making controversial decisions, and it seems like they'll be up to it again this year.
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