Gary Bettman has upheld Morgan Rielly’s five-game suspension.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Morgan Rielly challenged his recent five-game suspension, but it was upheld by Commissioner Gary Bettman. Rielly was suspended for cross-checking Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig in the face after Greig shot the puck into an empty net from about five feet away. This incident sparked discussions across the NHL, with various opinions shared on social media. The Maple Leafs and Rielly pursued an appeal to Commissioner Bettman, which is the standard process for a five-game ban. Although a player suspended for five games can appeal, Bettman himself presides over the hearing rather than a private adjudicator.
Commissioner Bettman’s decision means Rielly will miss playing against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. Rielly, Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan, and general manager Brad Treliving believed Rielly had grounds to have his suspension reduced. They pointed out that Rielly is a first-time offender, which should be considered, and cited instances where similar plays resulted in lesser punishments. For instance, Blake Lizotte of the Los Angeles Kings received a one-game suspension for a similar cross-check to the face of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey. However, Bettman ruled that Rielly had alternative options to engage Greig, such as pushing, shoving, or dropping his gloves to fight, and stated that had Rielly reacted differently, supplementary discipline might not have been necessary.
The Maple Leafs had hoped for Rielly’s early return, particularly since their defensive lineup is currently depleted. They recently called up Marshall Rifai from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate due to an injury to William Lagesson. Having Rielly back a game or two earlier would have provided significant assistance during their four-game road trip. However, they must now wait out the full five-game suspension.
The Maple Leafs played against the St. Louis Blues on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, before embarking on games against the Arizona Coyotes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado Avalanche for the remainder of the road trip. Given the tight competition in the Atlantic Division, this road trip holds considerable importance for the team, currently sitting in third place and aiming to catch up with the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, with only 28 games remaining in the season.
