BREAKING: Morgan Rielly's Hearing No Longer Being Held In-Person

The Toronto Maple Leafs are bracing to play their next several games without top defenseman Morgan Rielly, who could be facing a lengthy suspension.

He was scheduled to have an in-person hearing with the NHL's department of player safety this afternoon in New York which allows the league to suspend Rielly for six or more games, but it sounds like those plans have changed.

Morgan Rielly's Hearing No Longer Being Held In-Person

Morgan Rielly's hearing with the NHL's player safety department will be held virtually due to inclement weather in New York City.





The hearing comes in response to an incident that occurred near the end of the third period of Saturday's contest between the Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Ridly Greig took an uncontested slapshot into an empty Leafs' net, solidifying a 5-3 victory for the Senators. Rielly took exception to Greig's shot and cross-checked him into the boards, sparking a melee on the ice.


Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe supported Rielly's actions, stating, «I thought it was appropriate. Our players have the right to react.»


On Monday, Rielly received further support from his teammates as they awaited the verdict on his potential suspension.

Veteran Ryan Reaves commented, "If you rewind to when I came into the league, he's probably still laying on the ice. I thought [Rielly's response] was appropriate. I don't see how a kid that young thinks it's appropriate to do something like that."


Reaves anticipated a lighter punishment, suggesting, "I was expecting a fine. A one-game max."

Auston Matthews also backed Rielly's response, stating, "I think it definitely deserved a reaction... Morgan's not a malicious player."

Head coach Keefe hinted at potential bias in Rielly's hearing, stating, "I think there's a history also of events that happen in Toronto and with the Leafs that get more attention and more hype that tend to lead to something such as this."


Despite the incident, Rielly has maintained a clean record throughout his 11-season NHL career and leads Maple Leaf defensemen in scoring and ice time.

The Maple Leafs are set to face the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena Tuesday night, kicking off a three-game home stand before hitting the road for four games.