There isnt precedent for 4 suspensions in a calendar year, but there are some points that could be brought in for the appeal.
Willys career has lasted five years, not one. He never had suspensions before. So as much as its 4 in a year, its also 4 in five years. For the same five year period also Kadri has been suspended 4 times for headshots, but he did not get the jump from 3 to 20. Not even from 3 to 10. There was no jump, his crime was judged as a single action every time. You could justify they skipped atleast one step with Willy. Also Marchand has 3 suspensions, and its only a time he gets his fourth, will it be 20 next time? Nope. So is this suspension somewhat a precedent that if you repeat in a short timeline you will be punished 10 times more than if you repeat once a year? There are holes in my logic, but its a question atleast.
Generally the concussion witch hunt is biased. They demonize hits that happen on the play, rewind the slow motion tapes inch by inch to find evidence for which part of the body hits what first. That tells you enough there is a lot of accident written into that sort of play, if you cant outjust say it was intentional and need to base your statement on a super slowmotion of which the player obviously have no chance to adjust ongame. Meanwhile they dont mind players intentionally punching others to the head multiple times outside the play, for celebrating a goal. If they really are so concerned about the concussions, why they just cherry pick on what and who they want to punish instead of actively acting to prevent all intentional hits to the head?
And the crime in itself. Yes, repeat offender status is valid and needs to be taken seriously. But as much as you might like the 3 strikes and life system, its not fair. You should not get convicted for murder if your crime isnt murder, even if you do it three times. There needs to be a number of games limited for certain ”crimes”, its not right to get 20 games from something that without repeater status would only be 1-2 games. Its just not.
And if there is arbitrator jumping in, good luck for the NHL showing that they are consistent in anyway. 3-4-3-20? Kadri still did 3 last time (fourth). Tapes on tens and hundreds of similar hits that go unpunished.
And before i get the first ”you should be concussed” reply. I dont like concussions anymore than the next guy and agree they need to work to find ways to prevent them to minimum. But that way is not banning Tom Wilson for life. Problem will still be there, and there will be another Tom Wilson after that. The path isnt just punishing the bad guys, while the rulebook, education and consistency are lacking. This is washing their hands and trying to avoid responsibility, not working on preventing head traumas.
Edit. However i dont expect the suspension to be reduced, atleast by much. Its not much of a debate, NHL is a private league and has its private rules. They have the right to ”make” precedents too. But what is frustfrating is that we already know they will not be following their own rulings with consistency.