Headlines

  • NHL, NHLPA Ratify Four-Year CBA Extension
  • Gavin McKenna To Commit To Penn State
  • Tyler Johnson Announces Retirement
  • Flyers Re-Sign Cam York To Five-Year Contract
  • Sabres, Mammoth Elect Salary Arbitration With Bowen Byram, Jack McBain
  • Players Still Eligible For Offer Sheets
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Neal Pionk, Jason Spezza To Have Hearings With Department Of Player Safety

December 6, 2021 at 10:39 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 12 Comments

After what Auston Matthews aptly called a “gong show” last night in the third period of the Toronto Maple Leafs-Winnipeg Jets game, several players are receiving supplementary discipline. Jason Spezza has been offered an in-person (via Zoom) hearing for kneeing Neal Pionk, opening him up to a suspension of more than five games. Spezza has accepted and will meet with the DoPS tomorrow. Pionk will also have a hearing (not an in-person one) for his knee on Rasmus Sandin, which started the festivities. Wayne Simmonds, who was involved in several altercations, has been fined $2,250 for his cross-check on Jansen Harkins.

Things kicked off with Pionk’s hit on Sandin, which went unpenalized by the on-ice officials. The Maple Leafs, incensed by the hit that took out their young defender–Sandin left the game immediately and did not return–had several responses, including Spezza’s targeted hit on Pionk while he was in a vulnerable position.

With the in-person hearing offered, Spezza could be facing a suspension of more than five games. That would open him up for an appeal process as well which would be presided over by a neutral arbitrator. Pionk meanwhile can only receive a maximum of five games, though that is unlikely given the precedent for dangerous kneeing incidents.

Simmonds escapes suspension, as his incidents were penalized by the on-ice officials and did not rise to the level of further supplementary discipline. His fine in this case is the maximum allowable under the CBA.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Toronto Maple Leafs| Winnipeg Jets Jason Spezza| Neal Pionk

Garnet Hathaway, Marc Staal Enter COVID Protocol
Main
Goalie Notes: Lehner, Bishop, Rask
View Comments (12)

Comments

  1. dave frost nhlpa

    4 years ago

    That Spezza hit was beautiful. Crouched down to make sure he got him.

    Reply
  2. dave frost nhlpa

    4 years ago

    And nothing for Stanley being 3rd man in.

    Reply
  3. randy g

    4 years ago

    You’re an idiot

    Reply
    • dave frost nhlpa

      4 years ago

      And I’m stacked. Go home.

      Reply
    • bigdaddyt

      4 years ago

      Dave What the hell does that even mean

      Reply
  4. bigdaddyt

    4 years ago

    Refs should be suspended

    1
    Reply
    • KAR 120C

      4 years ago

      How about just replaced; and whomever is ‘directing’ / ‘managing’ them.

      1
      Reply
    • J.H.

      4 years ago

      I don’t get blaming the refs. These guys are making split-second decisions at incredible speeds and get it right more often than not. Anyone who’s ever watched other pro sports knows the NHL probably has the best game officials.

      The real blame obviously lies with the DoPS and their inability to do their job well. I don’t buy the narrative that players react because of lack of officiating. The referees are human, they miss stuff. I believe that if players had more faith in the process and that infractions would truly be handled appropriately and consistently they wouldn’t feel the need to take matters into their own hands as often as they do.

      Reply
  5. jdgoat

    4 years ago

    Pionk maybe 1 game and Spezza should get at least 4

    Reply
    • MoneyBallJustWorks

      4 years ago

      sens blinders on?

      Reply
    • jdgoat

      4 years ago

      Uhm what? That’s what it’s probably going to end up being

      Reply
  6. MoneyBallJustWorks

    4 years ago

    Both should get 3. Anyone saying Spezza should get way more than Pionk clearly has blinders on. Both are dirty plays. Both have no place in the game but one resulted in injury while Pionk got up and finished the game.

    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    NHL, NHLPA Ratify Four-Year CBA Extension

    Gavin McKenna To Commit To Penn State

    Tyler Johnson Announces Retirement

    Flyers Re-Sign Cam York To Five-Year Contract

    Sabres, Mammoth Elect Salary Arbitration With Bowen Byram, Jack McBain

    Players Still Eligible For Offer Sheets

    Eleven Players Elect Salary Arbitration

    Lyndon Byers Passes Away At 61

    Blue Jackets Re-Sign Dmitri Voronkov

    Mammoth Begin Extension Talks With Logan Cooley

    Recent

    Golden Knights Sign Lukas Cormier

    Penguins Sign Benjamin Kindel To Entry-Level Contract

    Avalanche Hire Dave Hakstol As Assistant Coach

    Canucks Re-Sign Jett Woo, Nikita Tolopilo

    NHL, NHLPA Ratify Four-Year CBA Extension

    Washington Capitals Sign Sheldon Rempal

    Jesse Puljujärvi Signs With NL’s Genève-Servette HC

    Canadiens Interested In Adding To Forward Group

    Mammoth Sign Forward Jack McBain to Five-Year Contract

    Gavin McKenna To Commit To Penn State

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Pick Tracker 2025
    • Key Offseason Dates
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version