'It Was Probably A Little Reckless': Maple Leafs' Noah Gregor Reacts to Tom Wilson's Wild Stick to the Face That Got Him Suspended For 6 Games

Gregor says Wilson apologized for catching him with his stick on Wednesday.

The NHL came down hard on Tom Wilson Friday, suspending the Washington Capitals forward for six games after wielding his stick up high and catching Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor in the face.

In the play, which occurred during the Maple Leafs' 7-3 win against the Capitals on Wednesday, the Caps forward swung his stick up high catching the Leafs forward square in the teeth.

"I think he felt pretty bad. Like, it was obvious he felt bad about what he did, and kind of when he realized it got me," Gregor said of the incident following Leafs practice on Friday. "But yeah, he said sorry."

Wilson received a double-minor penalty for high sticking, which occurred at the 12:15 mark of the third period.

Gregor felt pretty fortunate that all he had endured was some broken teeth that were already dead from when he played hockey as a kid. 

Gregor didn't feel as though the play was intentional.

"I don't think he's trying to slash a guy in the face. I really don't think anyone in the league is ever trying to do that," Gregor said. "It was probably a little reckless with the stick, and it unfortunately got me. But it ended up being OK. I'm fine and the league will handle it from here."

The NHL's Department of Player Safety agreed with the assertion that Wilson likely didn't attempt to catch Gregor in the face. But they still felt that Wilson was responsible for his stick. They also cited Wilson's lengthy suspension history as a factor in handing him a six-game suspension.

"He is accountable for the dangerous result of the play, which is a direct and forceful blow to an opponent's head by a player with a substantial track record of supplemental discipline," The NHL Department of Player Safety said in a two-minute explainer video.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJb1iqw4IaQ[/embed]

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