Evander Kane sounds off on Morgan Rielly's cross check

By now, you've surely seen the controversial actions taken by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly on Saturday night, who took extreme exception to an empty-net snapshot taken by Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig. Rielly immediately responded with a crosscheck right to Greig's chops, setting off a melee on the ice at Canadian Tire Centre. 

Rielly was immediately summoned for an in-person hearing at the National Hockey League office in New York, though it's been moved to virtual format thanks to inclement weather. Regardless, Rielly is looking at a suspension of at least five games for his actions.

We've already heard from one of the last remaining "goons" in the NHL in Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves, who said in no uncertain terms that Greig would still be laying on the ice had he not been on the bench at the time. And now, we're hearing the viewpoint of Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane, who has been involved in more than a few on-ice confrontations himself. 

While Kane said that he didn't have any issue with Greig's slap shot into the open net, he also said that he had no problem with Rielly's response. In fact, Kane said that he believes what unfolded is "good for the game".

“The slapshot… I don’t have any issue with it, I think it’s great,” said Kane. “At the same time, I think, as a lot of people say, the Rielly response was appropriate. I’m sure he wasn’t trying to crosscheck him in the head. A lot of these crosscheck sometimes they ride up the shoulder and end up getting guys in the head.

“I think it’s entertaining, I think it’s good for the game.”

Rielly is going to pay a steep price with a multi-game suspension, but was what happened ultimately good for the game as Kane opined? 

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