Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie has been suspended for one preseason game after being involved in a fight during a game against the Florida Panthers. The suspension was handed down by the NHL Player Safety department, citing Geekie’s violation of Rule 70.2 by leaving the bench during a legal line change in order to start an altercation.
The incident occurred in the second period of the game, which ended in a 2-1 overtime win for the Panthers. The altercation began after Florida’s Josh Davies delivered a hit to Lightning captain Victor Hedman, prompting Nikita Kucherov to retaliate and receive a roughing penalty. Geekie then engaged in a fight with Davies, resulting in 19 penalty minutes for Geekie, including penalties for cross-checking, instigating, fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct.
A Department of Player Safety official explained that Geekie’s actions were solely focused on confronting Davies, rather than participating in the game or going towards the puck. Geekie later stated that he was standing up for his teammates and anyone in a similar situation would have done the same.
Geekie, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, has yet to make his NHL regular-season debut. He was acquired by the Lightning in a trade with the Utah Hockey Club, where he posted impressive numbers in the WHL during the 2023-24 season.
The suspension means that Geekie will miss the upcoming preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes, but he will be eligible to return for future games. It serves as a reminder to players about the consequences of leaving the bench to start altercations, emphasizing the league’s commitment to player safety and fair play on the ice.