Ex-Oiler Says McDavid Right to Push Back from Being Targeted

The Edmonton Oilers are still awaiting a decision from the NHL Department of Player Safety as Connor McDavid is set to have a phone hearing on Monday for a crosscheck on Vancouver Canucks’ forward Conor Garland. Likely to be a one or two-game suspension, there are mixed reactions to what McDavid did. Clearly frustrated by repeated holds and missed penalties, McDavid took matters into his own hands and crossed a line. But, according to a former Oilers’ defenseman who was well known for walking that line between mean and dirty, Chris Pronger loved what McDavid did, for one simple reason.

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When another former player, Mike Rupp, asked, “Does anyone else NOT have a problem w/what McDavid did here? Or even low-key LOVED it? Just curious…” Pronger, a former Oiler and arguable MVP from the 2006 run to the playoffs said:

“Actually love it. Needs to do this more often maybe not to the level of suspension like this but it will give him some extra space. Teams key on taking time and space away from him and try to frustrate him. Taking it into your own hands is good … sometimes”

Actually love it. Needs to do this more often maybe not to the level of suspension like this but it will give him some extra space. Teams key on taking time and space away from him and try to frustrate him. Taking it into your own hands is good … sometimes

— Chris Pronger (@chrispronger) January 19, 2025

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Pronger got some pushback from fans who said the play was dangerous. He admitted McDavid crossed a line but stressed the need for players like him to push back. McDavid can’t become a victim of players who target him from opposing teams. “He obviously has a target on his back. Players will try to get under his skin, and yes, refs need to do a better job, but he can push back,” Pronger said.

Did McDavid Send an Important Message?

Pronger suggested that McDavid taking the occasional penalty may be a price worth paying to ensure he has time and space and that players like Garland think twice. It’;s debatable whether it will make a difference, but if Garland knows he’s at risk of getting cross-checked in the head there, does he make that same play again? Some will argue yes. Others might say no. Perhaps Pronger would know better than most. He was known for making players think twice about doing anything to him because he was mean.

Pronger noted, “Occasionally taking a penalty is not the end of the world.”

While Pronger refrained from predicting what the supplemental discipline will look like, he hinted that both crosschecks (McDavid’s and Tylers Myers’) will likely lead to suspensions.

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