Panthers’ A.J. Greer suspended for hit in Calgary game. How long is he out?

Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer has been suspended three games for his blindside boarding of Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary in Friday’s game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday night. The play in question occurred with 8:46 left in the third period of Florida’s eventual 4-1 loss at the Scotiabank Saddledome. With Calgary in the offensive zone, Ryan Strome attempted a cross-ice pass to Zary, who was hooked by Greer just outside the right circle. As Zary and Greer chased the puck, Greer pushed Zary from behind sending the Flames player head first into the boards. Greer received a minor penalty for the hook, a major penalty for interference on the boarding and a game misconduct on the play. He had a phone hearing with the department of player on Sunday regarding the play. The maximum suspension a player can receive from a phone hearing is five games. “It is important to note that Greer is in control of this play at all times,” the NHL’s video summation of the penalty and suspension says. “First, he hooks Zary enough to cause him to lose his balance slightly. Then, as Zary regains his balance and at a dangerous distance from the boards, Greer delivers a shove to the upper back of Zary that knocks him to the ice and causes an impact with the wall sufficient for supplemental discipline. If Greer wishes to initiate contact on this play, he must do so in a legal fashion, rather than shoving Zary in a way that causes such an impact.” As a result of the suspension, Greer is slated to miss Florida’s home games against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and Minnesota Wild on Thursday plus a road against the New York Islanders on Saturday. The next game he is eligible to play in is a road game against the New York Rangers on Sunday. Greer, in the final year of a two-year deal with the Panthers, has a career-high 13 goals (sixth-most on the Panthers this season) and 24 points through 68 games played. This is just Greer’s second NHL suspension. He received a one-game suspension in March 2023 while playing for the Boston Bruins for high-sticking Montreal Canadiens forward Mike Hoffman.