July 7, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Conor Geekie after being chosen by the Arizona Coyotes with the eleventh total decide within the first spherical of the 2022 NHL Draft on the Bell Middle , shaking arms with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Necessary Credit score: Eric Bolte-Imagn Pictures Tampa Bay Lightning ahead Connor Geeke can have a listening to with the league on Thursday to debate his combat in a preseason sport in opposition to the Florida Panthers.
The 2022 first-round decide (eleventh total) violated Rule 70.2 on Wednesday when he left the bench throughout a authorized line change “for the aim of inflicting an argument,” in accordance with the NHL’s Division of Participant Security.
The incident occurred within the second interval of the Panthers’ 2-1 time beyond regulation win when Florida State rookie Josh Davies hit Lightning captain Victor Husker with an ice shot. Victor Hedman. Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov retaliated in opposition to Davis and obtained a two-minute roughing penalty.
After the following lane change, Geekie caught up with Davies and dragged him into the combat. The 20-year-old Geekie obtained 19 penalty minutes on this sport: two cross-checks, two instigations, 5 fights and 10 minutes of misconduct.
Geekie, who has but to make his NHL regular-season debut, instructed the Tampa Bay Occasions that he’s sticking up for his teammates.
“It is a type of issues the place, whether or not it is Hedy or anyone else, it would not matter,” Giggy mentioned. “I feel anybody who will get hit like this, somebody has to step up. I believed I may very well be that individual. It labored out, however anybody can do it. I am certain lots of people really feel the identical method as me.”
The Lightning acquired Geekie from Utah Hockey in a June 29 commerce that despatched defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Salt Lake Metropolis.
Within the 2023-24 season, Geekie scored 99 factors (43 targets, 56 assists) in 55 video games between the WHL’s Swift Present Broncos and Wenatchee Wild.
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