Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, has upheld the five-game suspension of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly after an appeal was requested. Despite Rielly's absence, the Leafs have managed a 4-0 record and will play one more game without him against Arizona. Morgan Rielly spoke publicly for the first time since his first career suspension, expressing his honesty about the incident and his gratitude for the process being over. The Leafs have rallied around Rielly, viewing the suspension as a wake-up call to get serious about winning. Rielly is set to return in the game against the Golden Knights, with questions surrounding whether the Leafs will keep the Brodie-Liljegren pairing together.
Morgan Rielly comes back from suspension, and the red-hot Maple Leafs don't skip a beat https://t.co/gyA56rdS8q
"A real wake-up call to our team to get serious about winning." The #Leafs have rallied around Morgan Rielly defending his team's honor. He returns against the Golden Knights tonight. Do they keep Brodie-Liljegren together? ⤵️ https://t.co/ezorHXPKKW https://t.co/ezorHXPKKW
Now that there is clarity on his short-term future, Morgan Rielly said he’s “grateful” the entire process is over, writes @joshuakloke. The Leafs' star blue liner speaks on his first career suspension. https://t.co/LMQrZ3vTeP https://t.co/spigeGZUHs
"I was just honest about the play and how it went down." #Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly speaks for the first time since his 5-game suspension. On the discipline, the appeal, and moving on from it. ⤵️ https://t.co/COGIqDy00L https://t.co/COGIqDy00L
Leafs’ Morgan Rielly’s 5-game suspension affirmed by Gary Bettman ⤵️ https://t.co/BKvPXP3IeO
Gary Bettman rules to uphold Morgan Rielly's five-game suspension after requested appeal of the ban. #Leafs are 4-0 without Rielly thus far. They'll go one more game without him tomorrow in Arizona: https://t.co/ekEJe4OATe