Young Lightning forward faces huge suspension after standing up for his teammates

The Battle of Florida was heating up early this year, with their last pre-season matchup bringing the fire, especially from Josh Davies, who laid a beautiful hit on Victor Hedman, which wasn't taken lightly by forward Nikita Kucherov.

Seconds later, young forward Conor Geekie looked to win over the locker room even more, as he took to the ice to batter Davies in the corner, likely winning some massive brownie points from his Tampa Bay teammates in the process.

However, he now faces the possibility of a lengthy suspension for his actions, and it wasn't the fight that will potentially cause this suspension, but rather the way he illegally got on the ice to intentionally start an altercation with an opposing player.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety confirmed the hearing will take place for the young forward, but Insider Frank Seravalli had a major distinction to make that could and should help Geekie's cause, and while he likely won't avoid a suspension, it could reduce it significantly.

Seravalli notes that it was a legal line change made by Geekie, and because he began an altercation rather than joining an existing one, he will likely avoid the automatic 10-game suspension that comes with that act. The last thing noted by Seravalli is an important point, that this never should have happened given that the original hit by Davies on Lightning captain Victor Hedman was a clean one.

Regardless, this is pre-season hockey and a young player trying to stand up for his team and standout in the eyes of the coaching staff, and while it may eventually help Geekie in Tampa Bay, he's very likely having to go through a suspension before he can make that happen.