In a recent game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Morgan Rielly found himself in hot water for his actions towards Ridly Greig. Rielly now faces a hearing with the NHL's department for player safety as a result.

The incident occurred during the closing moments of the game when Greig fired a slap shot into an empty net, seemingly taunting the Leafs as they faced a 5-3 loss. Rielly, clearly displeased with the gesture, charged towards Greig and cross-checked him. Unfortunately for Rielly, it appears that his stick made contact with Greig's head during the altercation.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe defended Rielly's response, stating that he believed it was an appropriate reaction. However, the department of player safety saw things differently. The suggestion of an in-person hearing hints at the possibility of a suspension for Rielly, potentially lasting six games or more.

Losing Rielly for an extended period could prove detrimental to the Leafs, as he is a crucial component of their defensive lineup. With an average ice time of over 24 minutes per game, Rielly is a key player on the top defensive pairing alongside TJ Brodie. His 43 points also place him fourth on the team, surpassing the combined total of the next three Leaf defenders.

It is worth noting that Rielly has no history of such incidents, but this did not seem to sway the player safety department. This parallels a similar situation in 2021 when Jason Spezza, who had a clean record throughout his career, was handed a six-game suspension for a hit on Neal Pionk.

The Leafs may choose to appeal the ruling, but the upcoming schedule does not pose too much of a challenge. They have home games against the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Ducks before hitting the road to face the Blues again and the Arizona Coyotes. However, tougher matchups against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche loom in the near future.

In Rielly's absence, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe will have to rely heavily on defenseman Jake McCabe and 24-year-old Timothy Liljegren. Liljegren is expected to step into a prominent role on the top-four defensive unit and will need to excel under the increased responsibility.

The Leafs are already grappling with injuries to Mark Giordano, David Kämpf, and Calle Järnkrok, further straining their lineup. Navigating through this challenging period without Rielly will undoubtedly test their depth and resilience.

As Rielly awaits his hearing outcome, the Leafs must prepare for a potential absence that could have a significant impact on their playoff aspirations.