After announcing that he’d be receiving a phone hearing last night, the Department of Player Safety has made its ruling on Panthers forward A.J. Greer. The league announced (video link) that the veteran has received a three-game suspension for his hit on Flames winger Connor Zary.
The incident occurred during Thursday’s game where Greer hit Zary from behind into the boards. On the play, he was assessed a two-minute minor for hooking, a five-minute major for interference, and a game misconduct. In its ruling, the Department of Player Safety noted that Greer was in control at all times. That ultimately puts the onus on him to deliver a legal check, something he didn’t do given the distance from the boards when he hit Zary from behind.
This is the second suspension of Greer’s career. He received a one-game ban back in 2023 for a cross-check on Montreal’s Mike Hoffman. Given that it has been more than two years since that suspension, he is not classified as a repeat offender for the purposes of determining forfeited salary. Accordingly, Greer loses three days’ pay (3/192 days) compared to three games’ pay (3/82) had he been a repeat offender. With his $850K AAV, that means he will forfeit $13,281.24 in salary; that money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Greer will miss Florida’s upcoming games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and will be eligible to return to the lineup a week today when the Panthers travel to New York to take on the Rangers.
Parros must’ve read our posts here and gave us the collective finger. I had never heard such outrage from the Flames’ broadcasters last night, and justifiably so. Just un-frikkin’ believable. 🤬
Not a fan of the Leafs or Flames, but both these calls by the DoPS are blown.
If you want to call yourself the DoPS make the calls that ensures Player Safety and let the league or an arbitrator change the call if the person charged decides to challenge the penalty. And allow the team the infraction happened against to challenge the call as well.
These 3-5 game penalties (5-8 day penalties with how suspensions are handled) are pointless. Greer will supposedly lose $13,281.24, does that mean much to a guy set to already make 850k this season, and 4.88M so far in his career?
I assumed 4-5 games, wow. Wait, why am I surprised?
He couldve gotten 5 and you wouldve been here saying why wasnt it 10
Nah. If Parros had the stones to issue an appropriate level of discipline I’d have been fine with it. But once again, a Panthers player makes a very dirty play that could’ve resulted in a horrible injury and he gets a slap on the wrist. It’s comical at this point.
Nah, you’d be he crying for more until the guy was outright banned from the league. People have done worse and didnt get a hearing, you’ll get over it.
Lmao nearly the whole hockey world shares this opinion. Let me guess, you’re a Panthers fan? One of the dozen or so.
Appeal to the masses fallacy. Go back to reddit. Imagine thinking theres a league wide conspiracy to protect Panthers lol
3 games is fair.
Several decisions in a row have gone exactly to my expectations. That has never happened before.
I would increase the repeat offender status period from 2 to 3 years.
Violence sells tickets. Gotta have these guys in the line-up! 😣
I have seen worse with no suspension or less. I guess 3 games is long enough? But overall, the current league disciplinary system is not working. I would prefer to see a panel make the final determination on discipline via a vote rather than by one person.
@RichP – Parros is supposed to be working with other people to come to these decisions. So, it basically is a panel, with him being the one to speak to the public after their determination.
Zary is very fortunate that nasty hit wasn’t career ending.