Rumor: Morgan Rielly facing a major suspension.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly's actions cost him the final 5 seconds of last night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but according to a report from one veteran National Hockey League insider it may cost him much, much more than that.

NHL insider John Shannon is now reporting that the league is currently debating between an in-person hearing and an over the phone hearing for Rielly, indicating that a large suspension is forthcoming. In person hearings are only offered when the NHL believes a suspension will be for 6 games or more, which would indicate that Rielly is going to be looking at several games off.

On Saturday night, in the closing seconds of a game between the Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, Rielly would deliver a nasty looking cross-check to the head of Senators forward Ridly Greig, doing so after Greig seemingly intentionally antagonized the Leafs by firing a hard slap shot into their empty net from inside of the crease.

The fact that the game was out of reach, there was only 5 seconds left on the game clock, and the fact that the play had been blown dead following a goal will all be factors that will weigh heavily against Rielly in this matter. A decision is expected shortly from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.