The Oilers release an official statement defending Connor McDavid

UPDATE 3: The Oilers have now released an official statement regarding the news of Connor McDavid's 3 game suspension, explaining that they are 'disappointed' in the NHL's decision and that they share in their fans' frustration over the ruling.

Check it out:

The Oilers organization is disappointed and we share in our fans' frustration over the three-game suspension of our captain Connor McDavid. 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.

It's absolutely wild to me that the team felt the need to release this. Talk about a do-nothing, PR piece. If they really cared about the ruling they would have made an appeal with the league, but they neglected to do so. To me, this reads entirely as a performative piece to appease the team's fanbase.

Read below for the full context of this development, published as events occurred.

UPDATE 2: TSN insider Ryan Rishaug is refuting rumor reports that Oilers captain Connor McDavid is planning a 'silent protest' against the NHL by scaling back his participation in league events. Those reports came courtesy of Oilers reporter Bob Stauffer and podcaster Joshuah Marshall, but Rishaug is reporting that McDavid "isn't in that headspace at all."

From Rishaug:

Read below for our earlier reports on this developing story.

UPDATE: Oilers podcaster Joshua Marshall of the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast is reporting that Connor McDavid and "his camp" are considering pulling back from participation in NHL events in an apparent protest against his 3 game suspension from NHL Player Safety.

From Marshall:

Look... I get that Oilers fans aren't happy with this suspension. But, c'mon, Connor... 

This ain't it, brother.

You can disagree with the suspension, but at the end of the day you take your medicine and you act like a professional. You don't have to like being suspended, but you do have to accept it.

To be frank though, I don't know if I believe this report. McDavid has been nothing but a professional for his entire NHL career and has shown time and time again that he's willing to work with the NHL to grow the sport. This report reads like a bit of nonsense to me, to be honest. Stay tuned for further reports on this, however.

Read below for our earlier reports on this developing story.

In case you missed it yesterday, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid earned himself a three game suspension from NHL Player Safety for his cross check on Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland.

Incidentally, Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers also earned himself an identical suspension for his cross check on Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard.

As you might imagine, reactions to both of these suspensions are quite mixed.

I mean... just check out some of these comments from the NHL's official announcement on McDavid's suspension:

Again... suffice it to say that fans are pretty divided on these suspensions, particularly McDavid's. 

To no one's surprise though, McDavid's teammates aren't happy with the 3 game ban for their captain.

Veteran forward Corey Perry even spoke out publicly against the NHL, asking why the league doesn't do more to protect its players like the NFL and NBA does."

From Perry courtesy of Oilers insider Mark Spector:

“Why aren’t we protecting the superstars? Every other league does it - Mahomes, Lebron… They protect their superstars."

- Corey Perry

With all due respect, does the NHL really need to "protect" McDavid from 5'8", 160lb Conor Garland?

Not sure about that one...

Meanwhile Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals shared his opinion on matters this morning ahead of the Caps' game against the Oilers tonight at Rogers Place.

Check it out:

That sums it up pretty perfectly, doesn't it?

Thoughts?

Fair deal or did McDavid get boned? Does the NHL do enough to protect its starts?

Read below for our earlier report on the suspension, published as events occurred yesterday.

UPDATE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers has been suspended 3 games from NHL Player Safety for his cross check to the face of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard.

Incidentally, Oilers captain Connor McDavid received the same suspension for his cross check on Canucks forward Conor Garland.

Read below for our earlier report on McDavid.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been suspended.

On Monday, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced that McDavid would be suspended for three games following a cross-check he delivered to the head and face of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland.

McDavid was given a match penalty following the cross-check he delivered to Garland on Saturday night although that didn't mean a great deal given the fact that the cross-check was delivered with only seconds remaining on the game clock. It seemed likely that given the nature of the cross-check, a blow to the head, and the timing of the incident, the end of a heated rivalry game, that Player Safety would get involved here so this suspension comes as no surprise.

This will be McDavid's second suspension in the NHL with his first suspension also coming as a result of a blow to the head. In 2019 McDavid received a two game suspension for a blow to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy after he dropped Leddy to the ice when he rocked Leddy in the head with his elbow.