Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig has been suspended one preseason game and one regular season game for his cross-check on Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois Sunday night. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that this is not a case of inadvertent contact that can occur when a player reflexively pulls his stick up in a defensive motion, when bracing for unexpected contact. Greig sees Dubois coming, and decides to both elevate his stick and extend it outward, making direct and forceful contact with Dubois’ head. Greig’s forceful actions with his stick make him the aggressor on this play, and merit supplemental discipline.
Greig, 19, is not guaranteed to make the Senators this season, meaning the regular-season game could have to wait a while. If Greig is loaned back to juniors before the season begins, that game will be waiting for whenever he does make his NHL debut. The Senators could, however, keep him on the roster through the first game of this season and then send him back, although it would cost them one of their 23 spots on opening day and potentially cause a roster crunch elsewhere.
This is not the first time Greig has faced a suspension in his hockey career, although this is the first one that is on his NHL record. That’s not a great way to start, as this incident will now be used to determine any future supplementary discipline.
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