NHL Insider feels that the league is doing Jason Spezza dirty with his appeal

More than 24 hours have passed since Jason Spezza's appeal hearing for the 6-game suspension that he was handed after kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk and still we have no answer as to whether his suspension will be reduced or upheld.

Part of the issue here is that Spezza's decision to appeal the suspension was made before he had served even one game of the suspension. Now, after having served 4 games of the 6-game suspension, Spezza is in jeopardy of having served the entire suspension before an independent arbitrator will have had a chance to hear the case if commissioner Gary Bettman upholds the original suspension.

During the most recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman called for a change to the appeal process that would allow for a much quicker turnaround time on the full process.

"Something has to be done about appeal timelines. No matter what you think about Jason Spezza's suspension, his previously clean record should earn him a fair appeal," Friedman said.

"Unless Commissioner Bettman surprisingly drops him a game, it's almost impossible to get to an independent arbitrator before the six games are up. That's not right, especially for someone with no history."

If Bettman elects to honour the original suspension, it could conceivably be several days before a new meeting can be arranged with an independent arbitrator. By that point, Spezza will have like served at least 5 games of the suspension.

The Leafs' next two games take place on Saturday and Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken.

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