Oilers Release Public Statement on Connor McDavid's Suspension
The Edmonton Oilers expressed frustration over the NHL’s decision to suspend Connor McDavid for three games following his cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, releasing a public statement before Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals.
The incident occurred in the final seconds of the Canucks’ 3–2 victory on Saturday, as McDavid retaliated against Garland after being held down.
McDavid, who missed the loss against the Capitals and will also be sidelined for the matchups against the Canucks and the Sabres, is set to return on Monday to face the Kraken.
“The Oilers organization is disappointed and we share in our fans’ frustration over the three-game suspension of our captain Connor McDavid," the statement read. "We support him through this process and the organization and our fans look forward to having him back in the lineup vs. Seattle next week.”
Fellow Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl defended his teammate while criticizing the NHL’s decision.
“I certainly think three games is a little too much, for either side, but I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game, so I’ll leave it at that,” Draisaitl said on Tuesday.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch highlighted McDavid’s challenges as one of the league’s most targeted players while discussing the suspension.
"Connor plays through a lot. Ironically, he doesn't draw many penalties," Knoblauch said. "He's under the microscope every time he's on the ice because he's so dangerous. He puts up with more than the average player."
Meanwhile, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was disappointed at McDavid’s suspension, preferring to have faced him than not on Thursday's rematch.
“I don’t want Connor McDavid to get suspended," Tocchet said. "Honestly, you want to play the best. He’s terrific for our league. He’s (an) unbelievable kid. It happened, you deal with it.”
McDavid’s suspension marks the second of his career, with his first occurring in 2019 for a hit on Nick Leddy. The Oilers lost their first game without their captain, 3-2, to the Capitals on Tuesday.
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Oilers Release Public Statement on Connor McDavid's Suspension
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