Rielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa's Ridly Greig.
Rielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa's Ridly Greig.
Morgan Rielly didn't get a chance to face the music when inclement weather prevented the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman from heading to New York. But that's not stopping him from attending in person for his appeal.
TSN hockey insider Chris Johnston reports that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear Rielly's appeal at noon on Friday.
TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger that Rielly will be flanked by his agent, J.P. Barry, and Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving in addition to NHLPA lawyers, who put in the appeal on the defenseman's behalf.
Rielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Tuesday after the defenseman cross-checked Ottawa Senators' forward Ridly Greig. The 21-year-old Greig fired a slapshot into an empty net, sparking retribution from Rielly. The NHL's disciplinary body announced on Sunday that Rielly was offered an in-person hearing, which gave them the option to suspend the Maple Leafs defenseman by six games or more.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW1pqSHmMzY[/embed]
Rielly attempted to attend his in-person hearing, but it was switched to Zoom after a snowstorm in the New York area forced a change of plans.
The Department of Player Safety ended up suspending Rielly just five games, meaning Rielly only has one course of appeal and it's directly to Gary Bettman. A suspension of six games or more would have given Rielly the option of appealing with a neutral discipline arbitrator if the initial appeal to Bettman wasn't to the player's satisfaction.
A decision on Rielly's appeal isn't expected to take longer than a few days to render.
The Maple Leafs host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday where Rielly will serve the second game of his suspension. Rielly has seven goals and 36 assists in 50 games this season.
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