Detroit Red Wings player may face a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for a hit on Marshall Rifai of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If the 2024-25 NHL preseason appears to have been more violent than normal, that is most likely because it has. There have been a few incidences in these ‘games that don’t matter’ as we prepare for the regular season, one of which occurred last night in a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.
With the third period winding down in the Toronto Maple Leafs-Detroit Red Wings game, Dylan Larkin delivered a blatant hit on Marshall Rifai’s head.
Larkin was awarded a two-minute penalty for an illegal check to the head during the play.
Marshall Rifai was not injured during the action and did not miss any time in the game. Dylan Larkin, who recently stated that he believes he has a ‘new level’ that he has yet to reach, has developed a reputation for questionable hits over the years.
This is just the latest in a series of unexpected situations in NHL preseason action. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently intimated that the NHL preseason might be shorter, saying the league’s board of governors will review it.
We’ve heard that. We’ve heard that. It is on my list of things to think about.
The NHL is also exploring expanding the regular season to 84 games from the current 82. That is expected to happen if more NHL franchises are added through expansion.
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