Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings could be facing a hearing with the Department of Player Safety after delivering a hit to Marshall Rifai of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 2024-25 NHL preseason seems to have featured more aggression than usual, and this hit is part of a trend seen in these ‘meaningless’ games as teams prepare for the regular season. Another incident occurred last night during the matchup between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings.
Late in the third period, Larkin delivered a clear headshot to Rifai, resulting in a two-minute penalty for an illegal check to the head. Fortunately, Rifai was not injured and did not miss any game time.
Larkin, who has recently expressed that he feels he hasn’t yet reached his full potential, has developed a reputation for questionable hits over the years. This incident adds to the growing list of unexpected preseason clashes. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has suggested that the preseason may need to be shortened, noting it’s a topic the league’s board of governors will consider.
“We’ve heard that. It’s something to think about,” Bettman said.
The NHL is also exploring the possibility of expanding the regular season from 82 to 84 games, which could become a reality if more teams are added through league expansion.
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