McDavid Receives Three-Game Suspension from the NHL DoPS

While he practiced with the team in the morning, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid was set for a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday. He was being handed supplemental discipline following a cross-checking incident involving Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland during Saturday’s heated 3-2 Oilers loss. Expected to be fine or a suspension, it ultimately turned out that McDavid got three games for losing his cool.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games for cross-checking Vancouver’s Conor Garland. https://t.co/hxR9X8Z2Ml

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 20, 2025

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The play unfolded late in the third period, with McDavid issued a match penalty for delivering a cross-check to Garland’s head.

The altercation stemmed from Garland tackling and holding McDavid, preventing him from rejoining the Oilers’ push to try and score the game-tying goal. It was a clear penalty the officials missed, but there is some debate about whether they should have blown the play dead. Regardless, Garland got under McDavid’s skin with the interference, and McDavid took matters into his own hands.

The situation escalated as Canucks beat reporter Jeff Paterson observed, “With 10 seconds left, Garland made a calculated risk to neutralize the best player on the other team. Should have been a penalty, but it wasn’t.” McDavid was upset and crossed the line. The NHL doesn’t tolerate crosscheck to a player’s head and it seemed obvious there was going to be some kind of punishment.

McDavid Gets a Three Game Suspension

In the video explanation offered by the DoPS, they say that McDavid intentionally struck Garland in the head. It was a retaliation after an altercation with Garland. They considered a previous suspension and ap previous fine as part of their ruling.

As a result of the suspension, McDavid will miss Tuesday’s matchup against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. He will also miss the rematch against the Canucks, which is a downer for fans who wanted to see a heated affair.

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McDavid’s actions weren’t the only controversy from Saturday’s game. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers also had a hearing for a similar cross-checking incident involving Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard. He was also handed a suspension, getting three games. Both incidents occurred within seconds of each other.

This decision is going to be polarizing. For some, three games seems heavy. For others, a crosscheck to the head should get a much stiffer fine.

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