Insider Calls for Senators’ Greig to Be Suspended 5 Games for Sucker Punch

During the Ottawa Senators’ 4-2 loss in Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Ridly Greig crossed the line and may be facing discipline for it.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that Greig will have a hearing for roughing Carolina’s Sean Walker.

Ottawa’s Ridly Greig will have a hearing for roughing Carolina’s Sean Walker. Date and time TBD.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 26, 2026

During a scrum at centre ice, the Hurricanes defenseman was tied up with Warren Foegele. Greig was in the mix with those two, but Walker’s attention was not on him.

As Greig was to the side of the two players, he re-engaged with Walker and delivered a glove-on upper-cut to the face of the Hurricanes defenseman. On his latest episode of The Chris Johnston Show, the conversation of the play came up, and Johnston stated that Greig should receive a five-game suspension, the maximum allowed for a hearing that does not take place in person.

Greig Addresses Sucker Punch in Media Availability

As the Senators held their year-end media availability, Greig took to the podium, and The Athletic’s Julian McKenzie asked Greig about the impending hearing, which hasn’t been scheduled yet. Greig stated, “There is a hearing this week or next week. There is no rush on it.”

The Senators’ season came to an end after Game 4, being swept in the first round. Any suspension Greig receives will be served at the start of the 2026-27 regular season.

TSN’s Claire Hanna then asked if Greig could explain what happened in the scrum, to which he replied, “I gotta do a better job of controlling my emotions. Yeah, that’s all I’ll say.”

He also stated that it was not a targeted situation, and nothing happened earlier in the game that led him to Walker specifically.

5 Game Suspension Could Set New Standard

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has been facing plenty of criticism this season, and this could be an opportunity for them to set a new standard. This play is dangerous and has no place in hockey.

The last comparable play that led to a suspension was Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. After being hit from behind by Mathieu Joseph, Larkin stood up and delivered a glove-on punch to his face. He was suspended for one game.

That situation was a clear retaliation, which usually works against the player and leads to harsher suspensions. If you base the length of the suspension on that, Greig shouldn’t receive more than the one game Larkin got.

When asked about the punch, Johnston stated, “It drew a huge reaction across the league…emotions are spilling over at the time. He is taking the opportunity to get his free licks in.”

“I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he gets 5 (games). I don’t see any grey in this one…I think the league needs to send a message here.”

Johnston goes on to emphasize that five-game suspensions have been given to Evgeni Malkin and Radko Gudas recently, and that could stick with this one, too.

Greig’s Game Depends on Borderline Plays

Greig is the definition of an on-ice pest. He loves to play physically, he is typically good at walking the thin line of what is allowed and what is not, and that is when he is playing his best hockey.

Back when Greig took a slap shot into the empty net of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was well aware of what he was doing. There was a chance of a two-minute unsportsmanlike penalty, but to him, in that moment, sealing the deal and rubbing it in was worth it.

There are countless examples of Greig being annoying or physically aggressive against the opponent, and only one other suspension in his 247-game career. In 2021, Greig delivered a cross-check to the face of Pierre-Luc Dubois, receiving a two-game suspension.

As long as Greig can continue walking the line without crossing it, there is a ton of value in his game. He is reliable on the defensive side, he can produce in a middle-six capacity, and he can be an energizer for the team.