While Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers may disagree with the three-game suspension the NHL Department of Player Safety handed down to the Oilers captain Monday night, league sources say they have decided not to appeal the decision.
McDavid received the additional penalty after cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland late in Saturday’s game.
Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, McDavid had 48 hours to appeal his three-game suspension. That appeal would have been heard by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has rarely decided to reduce the length of suspensions in previous cases.
It was the belief that the process would likely not produce a reduced suspension that prompted McDavid and the Oilers to move forward without appeal, according to league sources.
“I definitely think three games is a bit too much – for both teams. I guess we don’t really care about having our best players in the league in the game,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said Tuesday, referring to the suspensions of McDavid and the Canucks’ Tyler Myers.
Asked about the frustration of seeing McDavid held by Garland in the final seconds of the game, Draisaitl replied: “For me, it’s clearly a penalty (what Garland did). He (McDavid) is trying to get back in the game. Connor doesn’t want to be in that situation with Garland. There are 12 seconds left. We are looking to score. We are not looking to mingle with anyone. But I also know that the game moves quickly. The referees will not make the right decision every time. But in this case, I think it could have been avoided.
GO DEEPER
Oilers’ Connor McDavid suspended 3 games for cross-checking Conor Garland
The Oilers star had already been suspended two games in 2019 for an illegal check at the head of an opponent. In announcing Monday’s decision, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety cited that earlier infraction as well as the forceful nature of the cross-check it performed on Garland after the Canucks player tackled him. the ice for a considerable amount of time as the timer neared its end.
“After becoming physically involved with Garland, McDavid retaliated aggressively and intentionally, escalating the altercation by significantly raising his stick and creating this contact,” NHL DoPS said in explaining the decision. “A high countercheck that makes direct contact with an opponent’s head with enough force to merit additional discipline.”
Garland told reporters he was just trying to hold off McDavid, rather than hurt him, as his team hung on for the lead in the final seconds of a 3-2 game. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch admitted his captain was “frustrated” because “we’re down by one goal and the best player in the league is held for 15 seconds.”
McDavid draws the fewest penalties per minute in his 10-year NHL career, according to naturalstattrick.com.
Draisaitl was asked if the superstars give enough penalties.
“Maybe not enough. It doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Draisaitl said. “When you have the puck, guys try to defend, and Connor has the puck a lot – probably more than anyone. So there should probably be more penalties imposed (on opponents against) him or the better players.
McDavid, who was not made available for comment Tuesday, will lose $195,312.51 in salary as a result of the suspension. He is eligible to return to the Oilers lineup for a visit by the Seattle Kraken on January 27.
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(Photo: Bob Frid /Imagn Images)
