TORONTO — Morgan Rielly is filing an appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and its No. 1 defenceman disagree with the five-game suspension handed down Tuesday evening by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig Saturday, following Greig’s slapshot in the Leafs’ empty net.
Rielly is appealing the department’s ruling via the Players’ Association.
Because Rielly’s suspension did not exceed five games, there is only one step in the appeal process.
Bettman rarely does not uphold rulings made by DoPS chief George Parros.
Reilly has already served one game of his suspension, a 4-1 victory for the Leafs over the St. Louis Blues Tuesday.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday night that GM Brad Treliving would address reporters regarding the Rielly suspension Wednesday, but that availability has been put on hold until the appeal process plays out.
Prior to Rielly’s “in-person” hearing, Keefe said Monday that he reviewed suspension-resulting cross-checks over recent years and was surprised to see Rielly’s elevating to the severity of an in-person call.
“But at the same time, there’s a history also of events that happened in Toronto and with the Leafs that get more attention, more hype, that tend to lead to something such as this. So, to that end, not surprised,” said Keefe, who also objected to Jason Spezza’s six-gamer in 2021.
“We’ve been through a number of others in the past. It seems like we’ve had to prepare for it more so than anybody else in the league, perhaps.”
Rielly has not been made available to reporters, despite requests, since the cross-check.
He skated as a substitute winger in practice Wednesday, as Maple Leafs forwards John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander were all absent.
No date for Rielly’s appeal has been set.
