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Rising Hockey Star Conor Geekie Benched for a Game Following Preseason Brawl

On October 3, 2024, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced a one-match preseason suspension for Conor Geekie, a promising forward from the Tampa Bay Lightning. This disciplinary action stems from Geekie’s involvement in an on-ice altercation during a preseason skirmish against the Florida Panthers.

Unraveling the Incident

Reports suggest that Geekie, who was the 11th selection in the NHL’s 2022 draft, breached Rule 70.2. This rule violation occurred when he left the bench amidst a legal line change “with the intention of instigating a confrontation.” This controversial move by Geekie led to his disqualification from the preseason match against the Carolina Hurricanes slated for the following day.

The contentious episode unfolded during the Panthers’ 2-1 overtime triumph’s second period. The tension escalated when Josh Davies, a promising talent from Florida, dealt an open-ice hit to Lightning’s captain, Victor Hedman. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay’s star player, responded with a two-minute roughing penalty against Davies. Geekie, seizing the opportunity at the next line change, engaged Davies in a fight.

Geekie’s Penalty Breakdown

The 20-year-old Geekie ended up accumulating 19 penalty minutes from the incident, including two for cross-checking, two for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct. The Department of Player Safety clarified that Geekie’s sole aim was to challenge Davies, making no move towards the game or puck’s direction. The officials further stated that the young player left the bench with the sole intention of provoking the confrontation, ensuingly forcing Davies into the fight.

Despite the suspension and criticism, Geekie defended his actions, stating he was merely standing up for his teammates. He expressed that anyone in his team receiving a hit like that would warrant a response, and he felt it was his role to step in.

Geekie’s Journey to Tampa Bay

Geekie joined Tampa Bay Lightning as part of a trade deal from the Utah Hockey Club on June 29, which saw defenseman Mikhail Sergachev moving to Salt Lake City. Geekie had an impressive record of 99 points in the 2023-24 season, comprising 43 goals and 56 assists in 55 games with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos and Wenatchee Wild.