Why NHL Player Safety Suspended Senators' Ridly Greig Two Games For Sucker Punch

The NHL's Department of Player Safety suspended Ottawa Senators left winger Ridly Greig for two regular-season games on Monday.

The 23-year-old was suspended for his actions during Game 4 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Senators ultimately lost that game 4-2 and were eliminated.

During a scrum in the second period of that game, Senators left winger Warren Foegele had Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker in a headlock position.

While that was going on, Greig landed an upper-cut punch to Walker's head while Walker was unable to protect himself.

Senators Winger Ridly Greig Addresses His Saturday Sucker Punch

Greig will likely be suspended at some point for his Game 4 sucker punch on Carolina's Sean Walker.

In the game, Greig's actions went unnoticed, and he didn't receive a penalty for punching Walker.

"That just goes to my point that we've been having for eight years on what needs to be done – review the penalties," Brind'Amour told reporters when asked about the punch. "It is impossible to referee our sport live. It really is."

Greig featured in every playoff game for the Senators this year, recording one assist and a plus-1 rating. In the regular season, he scored 13 goals and a career-high 35 points with a plus-12 rating in 77 games.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM.