BREAKING: NHL announces major change to Morgan Rielly's suspension hearing

Moments ago, news broke from several sources that the NHL has been forced to change today's in-person hearing for Morgan Rielly. Due to an extreme snowstorm in New York, Rielly's suspension has been moved to a virtual one instead of in-person.

For all other intents and purposes however, this will still be an in-person hearing, and the Department of Player Safety is still expected to punish Rielly severely for his awful actions with a suspension of more than 6 games. Clearly, this play was the dirtiest play of the entire season and shocked hockey fans everywhere, and it deserves this harsh punishment.




If Rielly is suspended for 6 or more games, it's likely that the Leafs will file an appeal to reduce the suspension as a few other players have done so recently. According to Elliotte Friedman in a new report, the Department of Player Safety isn't happy with the recent appeals, and is aiming to be more consistent in their suspensions.

Some fans have pointed out Alex Chiasson's suspension for a play against the Leafs' Jimmy Vesey as a comparable. After the game, Chiasson went up to Vesey and were chirping each other, then Chiasson delivered a cross check to the head. He was suspended for one game.


Now, the NHL needs to set a precedent going forward to stop these actions, and Rielly will be made an example of, rightly so. Despite being cancelled due to weather, this will still be an in-person hearing for all other purposes of Rielly's punishment - he just won't be able to make his case in person.