The recent suspension of the Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly following his crosscheck on Ridly Greg of the Ottawa Senators has sparked some controversy. Many in Maple Leafs Nation have questioned the length of the suspension, particularly given Rielly’s history of good behaviour throughout his tenure with the Maple Leafs and in the NHL. Even NHL fans outside of the Toronto area who know Rielly have to know he’s one of the good guys.
Many around the Maple Leafs have wondered if the NHL is overly punitive with issues similar to this where Maple Leafs players are involved. They believe that the league’s decision-making process lands unduly hard on things that happen with and about the Maple Leafs as a team.
As a result, it seems that the Maple Leafs have decided to raise concerns. They believe that there’s a pattern of longer suspensions for their players compared to suspensions for players on other teams. The appeal of Rielly’s five-game suspension was initiated, and a meeting was held yesterday as part of the appeal process. However, there has been no official word on the outcome of that meeting.
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Is Brendan Shanahan Behind Rielly’s Suspension Appeal?
One intriguing rumour has emerged about Rielly’s appeal. That rumour is that Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan views this situation as an opportunity. He will use it to address what he sees as poor treatment of his team by the NHL office. Shanahan reportedly sees the appeal process as a chance to make his case to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and others in the league hierarchy.
However, on one hand, this rumour can be considered hearsay. However, on the other hand, the source for the rumour is hockey insider Anthony Stewart. The bottom line is that the Maple Leafs aren’t taking Rielly’s 5-game suspension lying down! In a bold move, the Maple Leafs’ front office, led by Shanahan, has appealed directly to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The team is seeking answers about the Department of Player Safety’s decision.
Anthony Stewart Believes the Maple Leafs Feel Targeted
On a recent episode of The Leafs Nation’s “Leafs Morning Take” podcast, guest Anthony Stewart shed light on the frustration brewing within the Maple Leafs organization and fanbase. Stewart hinted that Toronto feels unfairly targeted, suggesting that Shanahan even requested the in-person hearing to confront the league about what he sees as harsh treatment towards Toronto.
Stewart pointed out that while Rielly’s on-ice retaliation warranted discipline, the severity of the five-game suspension seems excessive. Specifically, he believed this was so because no injuries were involved. He highlighted the disparity between this punishment and others handed down for similar or worse infractions throughout the season.
With Rielly’s appeal underway, are the Maple Leafs pulling out all the stops? Key figures such as Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and NHLPA lawyers are also involved. They are rumoured to be poised to join the discussion. All this demonstrates that the team is determined to challenge the ruling. If this is the case, will Shanahan’s strategic approach help the Maple Leafs in the future?
The Bottom Line for the Rielly Suspension
Currently, I have not heard the outcome of these discussions. However, Rielly similar to Jason Spezza before him, has not done anything out of his solid character before. There is a chance that the suspension might be lessened.
That said, it remains uncertain. What might be more interesting is how the ongoing tensions between the Maple Leafs and the NHL regarding disciplinary decisions will be settled in the long term.