The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman are reporting that Garnet Hathaway will have a hearing with the NHL on Wednesday morning. The reporting has not distinguished if it will be a phone or in-person hearing in New York City, which would give insight into how much supplemental discipline Hathaway may receive.
Officials gave Hathaway a match penalty (for intent to injure) during the second period of the Capitals’ 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Hathaway spit at Erik Gudbranson after the Ducks defenseman suckered punch him while being separated by an official.
All match penalties result in an automatic suspension pending review by the NHL.
Video
Here are the tweets.
Colin Campbell says there will be a hearing tomorrow morning for Hathaway for the spitting incident
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 19, 2019
Hathaway hearing tomorrow morning.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 19, 2019
Friedman added that general manager Brian MacLellan has been prepped that a suspension may happen.
The situation is as yet unresolved, but WASH GM Brian MacLellan says he’s been told a suspension is possible for Garnet Hathaway
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 19, 2019
What we don’t know, as of yet, is if the hearing will be in-person or over the telephone. A telephone hearing can result in a suspension between 0 to five games while an in-person hearing results in a six-games or more ban.
Hathaway says he has not communicated directly with anyone from the league and still doesn’t know what to expect w/ re: to potential discipline stemming from last night’s incident. “I’m just waiting to hear. I have no control now,” he said. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) November 19, 2019
Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said the team will make roster moves either later today or tomorrow morning.
Reirden said roster moves are likely coming tonight/tomorrow AM. https://t.co/AHuR2c0bvo
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 19, 2019
Some options to free up cap space include putting Carl Hagelin or Nic Dowd on long term injured reserve.
Some roster moves possibilities: The team could retroactively LTI Hagelin, who has missed six games so far. He would be back for the team's Nov. 30 game against Detroit.
Dowd, whose hand injury is worse than anticipated, could also go on LTI. He has missed three games.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 19, 2019
11/20 Update: The Washington Post’s Samantha Pell is reporting that Garnet Hathaway had a phone hearing meaning this morning and the NHL will announce their decision later in the day. A phone hearing suggests his discipline will be on the lower end of the spectrum.
Update: Hathaway already had his hearing via phone call this AM. A decision will not be announced until later today.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019
Headline photo: @Capitals
