Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has been suspended 3 games by the NHL for cross checking Vancouver’s Connor Garland on Saturday. According to initial reports out of Edmonton, McDavid does not plan to appeal the suspension.
“Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games, without pay, for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland during NHL Game No. 735 in Vancouver on Saturday, Jan. 18”, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
“The incident occurred at 19:55 of the third period. McDavid was assessed a match penalty. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, McDavid will forfeit $195,312.51. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.”
McDavid will now be out of action until January 27th when the Oilers play host to the visiting Seattle Kraken. While the 28 year has been forthcoming in his willingness to take responsibility for his on ice actions, the ruling has nevertheless left some of his teammates less than thrilled.
“I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said Tuesday. Defenceman Mattias Ekholm had less to say about the matter but referred to the 3 game suspension as “mind-blowing.”
The Newmarket, ON native drew the ire of Wild fans earlier this month after he hit Minnesota forward Marcus Johansson with what some believed to be a questionable check. The hit would result in a concussion for Johansson, and no supplementary punishment for McDavid.
Still, Oilers fans have been vocal about how the Garland situation could have been avoided altogether had the refs simply called the prolonged hold he had around McDavid at any point in their entanglement. As it stands, the Oilers forward is on pace to draw 25 penalties this season, which would be half of what he drew in 2021-22.
Have opponents finally figured out a way to defend the all-world player? Or has the NHL turned a blind eye to the on ice abuse that one of their star players has been taking on a nightly basis? Where you fall on that spectrum likely dictates your thoughts on the 3 game ban McDavid received.
Edmonton will next be in action Tuesday night against the visiting Washington Capitals in a 9pm ET showdown.
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