TEMPE, Arizona – Morgan Rielly addressed his cross-check to Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s head and ensuing five-game suspension for the first time on Wednesday, saying the cross-check was “not intended to be executed the way it was.”
“It was a reactionary thing. I just wanted to address something,” Rielly said of the incident that came after Greig put a slap shot into an empty Toronto Maple Leafs net with six seconds remaining in a 5-3 loss on Feb. 10. “Obviously it got away from me.”
Advertisement
Rielly appealed his suspension and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced on Wednesday the league would uphold the decision. The defenceman had originally been offered an in-person hearing but inclement weather forced that hearing online.
“Based on my review of the video,” Bettman wrote in an 11-page statement, “I find that Mr. Rielly’s actions were not merely careless or reckless, they were intentional.”
GO DEEPER
Morgan Rielly's 5-game suspension affirmed
The Feb. 10 loss meant the Leafs lost three of four games this season against the lowly Senators. But despite losing the season series – which brings to mind the fact that the Leafs have struggled against teams toward the bottom of the standings this season – Rielly insisted the loss didn’t fuel the cross-check. Rielly had argued, according to Bettman’s ruling, that Greig’s slap shot was “disrespectful” to the Leafs.
“There was no history. I have no issue with anyone on (the Senators). We lose games. The outcome of the game didn’t have an impact on it,” Rielly said Wednesday.
Rielly had never been suspended before by the league in his 11 NHL seasons. He was asked if the hearing and appeal process was difficult on him.
“Difficult? Well, I didn’t convince them of anything. So I guess so. But I was just honest about how the play went down and what I was thinking or trying to do. The rest is up to them,” Rielly said.
Rielly said he had former teammates reach out to support him.
Without having played for a week-and-a-half, Rielly said there’s “lots to be learned” from his experience.
“I feel like I’ve had a lot of support from the organization. The experience has been a new one,” Rielly said.
Rielly has continued to practice with the Leafs during the suspension, often skating on a pair with the seventh defenceman. On Wednesday, Rielly skated alongside William Lagesson. Throughout, he’s appeared in good spirits.
Advertisement
“We’re going to keep fighting and keep battling for him,” Auston Matthews said of Rielly. “He’s going to be a big boost for us too because of who he is, the kind of person and the kind of player he is, what he means to this team and what he brings to this team.”
Rielly will be available to the Maple Leafs on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. He is in the middle of one of his better seasons as a Leaf, posting seven goals and 43 points through 50 games and made his first NHL All-Star Game earlier in February.
Perhaps strangely, given how well Rielly has played this season and his importance to the Leafs as their No. 1 defenceman, the Leafs have won all four games so far during Rielly’s suspension.
“It just makes you want to get back on the ice with them and help,” Rielly said.
Now that there is clarity on his short-term future, Rielly said he’s “grateful” the entire process is over.
(Photo: Richard A. Whittaker / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)