The NHL suspended Doug Cifu, minority owner and vice chairman of the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday following what the league called “unacceptable and inappropriate” social media posts made during a heated exchange with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
Cifu, who also serves as the Panthers’ alternate governor, is barred from any involvement with the team or the league pending an in-person meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
– an apparent reference to accusations of high hits by Florida players in the series and the broader geopolitical conflict.
The NHL acted swiftly, announcing its decision in a statement: “The NHL has concluded that Mr Cifu’s X posts were unacceptable and inappropriate.
The Florida Panthers did not release a statement of their own, instead pointing to an apology Cifu gave to Florida Hockey Now on Tuesday.
“My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family.
Cifu is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a financial technology services company he co-founded with Panthers owner and chairman Vincent Viola in 2008. »