Rielly may get some time away from the ice depending on how things shake out.
Rielly may get some time away from the ice depending on how things shake out.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving was set to speak to reporters on Wednesday following the announcement that the defenseman was suspended for five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
But plans changed when the club informed the media during the team's practice that Treliving would no longer speak as the defenseman planned to appeal his sentence.
Rielly was handed a five-game suspension on Tuesday for his cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig. The incident was retaliatory after Greig fired a slapshot into an empty net.
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The Leafs were reportedly unhappy with how the suspension was handled with a leak of Rielly's discipline making its way public before either Rielly or the Maple Leafs were informed.
It's not clear if Treliving will speak on the matter anymore following the appeal. There was always a risk where the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) states that any team member making public statements disagreeing with the discipline could be subject to a fine.
Under Article 18 of the CBA, players are entitled to appeal a decision on supplemental discipline within 48 hours after the initial ruling. Given that the appeal is under six games, Rielly will only be entitled to one appeal process and that will be adjudicated by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
How soon will the appeal be seen?
Based on recent events, it could take as many as 11 days before Bettman's appeal is decided. It took that long for the NHL to decide on Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron's initial appeal with Bettman. The veteran was suspended six games for a similar retaliatory incident on Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub. The decision was rendered three days after Bettman had sat in on the appeal.
What's the plan for Rielly while he serves his suspension?
Rielly continues to practice with the Maple Leafs. On Wednesday, he skated as a forward as the club was short due to John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander all missing the session due to illness. Rielly won't be able to return to game action until Feb 22 at the earliest unless the appeal is seen before that and his suspension is reduced. In the meantime. Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe kept the door open to giving the defenseman a couple of days off.
"As much as he plays for us and as much as we need from him down the stretch, he didn’t have the same break that others had given his participation in the All-Star Game," Keefe said.
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