Edmonton Oilers issue bizarre response to Connor McDavid suspension
Edmonton has been in an uproar since Connor McDavid was handed a threegame suspension on Monday for crosschecking Vancouver’s Conor Garland in the head. The punishment, which mirrored that given to Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers for a similar offense, was deemed fair by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. However, many in Edmonton, including local media, have expressed outrage, calling it a grave injustice.
S portsnet’s Marc Spector defended McDavid’s actions, framing the incident as a case of him “taking justice into his own hands,” and even interviewed Corey Perry to justify the behavior. Oilers commentator Bob Stauffer also criticized the NHL for not protecting its stars, suggesting McDavid should cease promoting the league. Fans went so far as to call for McDavid to skip the Four Nations tournament in protest, prompting TSN’s Ryan Rishaug to clarify that McDavid had no intention of doing so.
This reaction was echoed on social media, with many Oilers fans overreacting, even calling for violent retribution against Garland. It’s worth noting that Garland, though guilty of holding and interfering with McDavid, never crosschecked anyone in the face. McDavid’s overreaction, along with the extreme response from fans and media, was excessive.
The most embarrassing response came from the Oilers organization itself, which issued an official statement expressing disappointment over the suspension. The statement included the line, “We support him through this process,” which felt tone-deaf. What “process” are they referring to? McDavid was suspended for three games—hardly a major ordeal.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, however, saw the situation for what it was: a missed call that resulted in a fair suspension. He criticized the grandstanding from Edmonton, stressing that the focus should be on moving forward. “It’s a three-game suspension—it is what it is,” he said.
JN/MS
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