The NHL’s Department of Player Safety set a hearing for May 4 to address Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig’s sucker punch of an opponent.
The department’s announcement Tuesday did not describe it as an in-person hearing, which would be necessary to issue a suspension longer than five games. The Ottawa Citizen previously reported the hearing will be conducted by phone.
Greig was penalized for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker on Saturday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. The Hurricanes won that game to complete a 4-0 sweep, ending Ottawa’s season, so any suspension would be applied to next season.
The incident occurred during a stoppage in play midway through the second period of Game 4. Walker was involved in a scrum with Warren Foegele when Greig approached the pair and appeared to throw a punch that caught Walker up high and dropped him down to the ice.
Greig, 23, completed his fourth season in the NHL with 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points over 77 games. The assist and point totals marked career highs, while it was the third straight season he finished with 13 goals. He also amassed 83 penalty minutes.
He had one assist and two penalty minutes for Ottawa in the first-round series.
