Greig Banned for Season Opener After Canes Incident
Ottawa Senators fans will have to wait a little longer to see forward Ridly Greig back on the ice next season. The NHL has handed the 23-year-old a two-game suspension for actions that took place during Ottawa's playoff matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, meaning Greig will sit out the first two games of the 2026-27 regular season.
The ruling, confirmed by NHL.com and reported by both TSN and the Ottawa Citizen, positions the suspension to carry over into next season rather than being served immediately — a standard NHL procedure when postseason play is ongoing or concluding.
What Happened
Details from the league's announcement point to an on-ice incident involving Greig during the Senators-Hurricanes series. While the NHL has not publicly elaborated beyond the formal suspension notice, the league's Department of Player Safety reviewed the play and determined it warranted supplemental discipline.
Greig, a fan favourite in Ottawa known for his tenacious forechecking and physical style of play, has built a reputation as one of the Senators' most energetic forwards. That physical edge, however, clearly crossed a line in the eyes of league officials during the Carolina series.
Impact on the Sens
For the Senators, losing Greig for two games to open next season is a minor but notable hit. He has grown into an important piece of Ottawa's forward group, bringing a blend of sandpaper and skill that head coach Travis Green's lineup has relied on.
The silver lining for Ottawa fans: two games is a relatively light sentence, suggesting the league viewed the incident as a borderline call rather than a flagrant or repeat offense. Greig has no prior suspensions on his NHL record, which likely factored into the length of the ban.
Looking Ahead to 2026-27
The suspension gives the Senators organization and Greig himself the entire off-season to prepare for his return. Ottawa will need to plan their roster depth accordingly for those opening two games, leaning on other forwards to fill the gap.
Sens fans will be eager to see Greig back in a Senators sweater when he's eligible to return, expected to be game three of the 2026-27 regular season. After what has been an intense and emotional playoff run for Ottawa, the hope is that this brief setback doesn't overshadow what has otherwise been a strong stretch of hockey from the young forward.
Expect Greig to come out motivated when his suspension ends — players coming back from league discipline typically play with an extra edge, and that's exactly the kind of energy Ottawa will want injected into their lineup early in the new season.
Source: NHL.com, TSN, Ottawa Citizen via Google News
