Player Safety appears to have made its decision on Rempe's hit on Lyubushkin

The Toronto Maple Leafs' newest defenseman, Ilya Lyubushkin, was making his re-debut with the team on Saturday night against the New York Rangers. Unfortunately for Lyubushkin, it turned out to be an early night as he left injured late in the second period after receiving a crushing blow to the head from Rangers' 6'7 monster enforcer Matt Rempe.

This is the type of hit that the NHL is supposedly trying to get out of the game. Lyubushkin was in a vulnerable position against the boards when contact was made. Rempe took four or five strides before delivering the vicious hit making contact with Lyubushkin's head. Surprisingly, no penalty was called on the play.

With Lyubushkin suffering an injury, many, including Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, felt as though supplemental discipline was warranted. Still, after nearly 24 hours, no such announcement has come down from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.


Maple Leafs tough guy Ryan Reaves inflicted some retribution on behalf of Lyubushkin by fighting Rempe in the third period. Rempe held his own, getting a few heavy shots in on Reaves, but it was the veteran who ultimately got the best of the rookie.

In the end, the two points and the Reaves' moral victory are all Leafs Nation can take from the game. It is worth noting that it took some time for the league to announce that Morgan Rielly would have an in-person hearing for his cross-check to the head of Ridly Greig, so perhaps Player Safety can still surprise us. However, I'm not holding my breath.