Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings might face a hearing with the Department of Player Safety following a hit on Marshall Rifai from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If it seems like the 2024-25 NHL preseason has seen more violence than usual, that’s likely true. Several incidents have occurred during these ‘meaningless games’ as we prepare for the regular season, including one from last night’s matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
As the third period was winding down, Dylan Larkin delivered a notable hit to the head of Marshall Rifai. He received a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head on that play.
another angle of the hit pic.twitter.com/LmsD5ta6q0
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 4, 2024
Marshall Rifai was uninjured during the play and continued playing without missing any time in the game. Dylan Larkin, who recently mentioned that he thinks he has yet to reach his “next level,” has developed a reputation for making some questionable hits over the years.
Here’s a video of Dylan Larkin being suspended for one game for a “forceful retaliatory strike”
“Players are not excused from punishment because they are acting in response to the actions of another player”
The force and retaliation are cited as the reasons for suspension pic.twitter.com/yzsSDA9tso
— Noah “Banksy” (@Banx_Leaf) September 29, 2024
This incident is just the latest in a series of occurrences that are unexpected during NHL preseason action. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently suggested that the preseason should be shorter, noting that this topic will be addressed by the league’s board of governors.
“We’ve heard that. We’ve heard that. It’s on the list of things to consider,” he said. Additionally, the NHL is contemplating extending the regular season to 84 games from the current 82, which is likely to happen if more teams are added through expansion.
