Bettman, who oversaw the appeal process, affirmed NHL Department of Player Safety boss George Parros' ruling on Tuesday.
Bettman, who oversaw the appeal process, affirmed NHL Department of Player Safety boss George Parros' ruling on Tuesday.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Morgan Rielly will have to serve the final game of his five-game suspension on Wednesday when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman affirmed the defenseman's five-game suspension.
The NHLPA filed an appeal on Rielly's behalf last week after the Maple Leafs defenseman was suspended for his cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Rielly Greig in a 5-3 loss on Feb. 10.
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The appeal process was seen by Bettman on Friday and the complete ruling is available here.
The NHLPA argued Rielly's suspension was excessive based on four factors.
1. The conduct did not involve an intentional cross-check to the head because: (a) Rielly intended to strike Greig's body; (b) the primary point of contact was, in fact, Greig's body; (c) Rielly's stick rode up from the arm to make contact with Mr. Greig's head and (d) once Rielly realized he had contacted Greig's head, he released one hand from his stick to mitigate the force of the blow being delivered.
2. Rielly had no history of supplementary discipline.
3. Greig was not injured.
4. The five-game suspension imposed by the Department of Player Safety was excessive in light of supplementary discipline imposed for similar infractions by other players in the past.
Bettman agreed with points two and three but mentioned those were already taken into account in the initial discipline given to Rielly. In arguing the first point, Bettman stated that Rielly "delivered a high, forceful cross-check to Mr. Greig, making significant and dangerous contact to his head."
Bettman also disagreed that Rielly attempted to mitigate the damage upon impact. "Rielly did not simply extend his arms to deliver the cross-check; after skating for several seconds, he leaned into the check with his body, adding force to the blow. The fact that one hand came off the stick — after the blow to Mr. Greig's head — does not appear to have mitigated the force of the blow," Bettman's ruling stated.
Additionally, Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan and GM Brad Treliving testified that Greig's actions were provocative, which the commissioner contended was "utterly irrelevant" to the case.
The NHLPA also argued four suspensions as a comparator in making their case for Rielly's suspension to be reduced: The four involved suspensions of Alex Chiasson (one (l) game), Jeff Skinner (three (3) games), Blake Lizotte (one (l) game) and Evander Kane (one (l) playoff game). Bettman disagreed that any of those were in any fashion similar to what took place between Rielly and Greig.
The NHLPA argued to not have the David Perron suspension of six games for his cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub used as a comparator due to it currently being under appeal by a neutral discipline arbitrator, but Bettman declined.
Finally, Bettman appreciated that Rielly disavowed any notion that his actions on Greig were appropriate, despite statements by others (he did not acknowledge anyone in particular)
"Certainly, the conduct leading to this suspension is out of character with his long record of clean play in the NHL," Bettman wrote of Rielly. "It is my hope and expectation that the events leading to this suspension were an aberration that will not be repeated."
Because Rielly was given a suspension of less than six games, there is no further option for Rielly to appeal his case and the matter is closed.
Rielly will be eligible to return to the lineup on Thursday when the Leafs visit the Vegas Golden Knights.
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