Florida Panthers winger A.J. Greer is set to have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety after a boarding incident involving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary.
This hearing, conducted over the phone, means any potential suspension for Greer will be capped at five games. Had it been an in-person hearing, the suspension could have been longer.
The play in question occurred in the third period, resulting in Greer receiving a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct. Zary had to leave the game due to an upper-body injury and is currently considered day-to-day.
The Flames capitalized on the power play that followed, scoring twice to secure a 4-1 victory. Flames head coach Ryan Huska didn't mince words after the game, calling the hit "terrible" and "awful." While Zary is reportedly moving around, Huska was unable to provide a detailed update on his condition.
Before the incident, Greer had been making his mark on the ice, tallying his 13th goal and 24th point of the season over 68 games. His night ended with 17 penalty minutes and 13:23 of ice time.
This isn't Greer's first run-in with the Department of Player Safety. In 2023, while with the Boston Bruins, he was suspended for one game due to a cross-checking incident. As the hearing approaches, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the league addresses this latest incident.