NHL see sense in reducing Jason Spezza’s suspension to 4 games

After an appeal from Jason Spezza, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman makes the right call in reducing the Toronto Maple Leafs’ centre’s suspension from six to four games.

The NHL took the opportunity to do something right on Friday, as commissioner Gary Bettman reduced Jason Spezza‘s suspension to four games. The NHL Department of Player Safety had originally suspended the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ centre for six games, after kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk in the head during a contest on Dec. 5.

As a result of the reduced suspension, Spezza will now be eligible to play in Saturdays’ game against the Vancouver Canucks. If the full suspension had been maintained by Bettman, the player could — and likely would — have made an appeal to a neutral arbitrator.

Spezza’s appeal was heard on Tuesday afternoon. As per the Toronto Sun‘s Terry Koshan, the NHLPA argued the hit on Pionk did not violate the NHL’s definition of kneeing.

Further, the NHLPA felt the six-game suspension was excessive, when considering Spezza’s conduct in nearly 1,300 combined regular season and playoff games. As noted by Koshan, the 2001 second overall draft pick has never previously been fined, suspended or even warned by the department of player safety.

In the end, Bettman took Spezza’s previous spotless record into account, but disagreed with the NHLPA’s position on the hit. From page 8 of the NHL’s full official ruling, the commissioner said:

"“My conclusion accords with the findings of DPS (Department of Player Safety) that Mr. Spezza committed a serious and reckless infraction of Rule 50 that resulted in an injury to Mr. Pionk (albeit an injury that turned out to be less serious than it might have been). My decision to reduce the length of the suspension is based primarily on an undisputed fact — Mr. Spezza’s admirable record of clean play over a 19-season, 1,300-game career — which is an important factor.”"

Sometimes you have to question certain decision the NHL makes. At least on this particular occasion, Bettman applied some much-needed common sense in essentially agreeing the initial suspension by the department of player safety was too harsh.

The 38-year-old veteran is renowned for his leadership, important on a team with a lot of young talent which at times needs guidance. This is his third campaign in Toronto and he so far has 11 points (seven goals and four assists) in 26 games this season.

The timing of Spezza’s return is vital, given the other major news surrounding the Leafs on Friday. As reported by Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, captain John Tavares and winger Alex Kerfoot have both been placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols.

As a result of this, the Leafs cancelled practice for precautionary reasons. In addition, all players and travelling staff will undergo further testing.

Do you agree with the decision to reduce Jason Spezza’s suspension to four games, or do you think even this is too harsh? Further, how concerned are you after Tavares and Kerfoot had to enter COVID-19 protocols? Let us know in the comments section below.