Did the NHL get Connor McDavid’s suspension right?

The hockey world is still talking about the actions and repercussions of the actions of Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid.

The Oilers captain was handed a three-game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland. The incident, which spawned from the two players colliding in the dying seconds of regulation in the Canucks’ 3-2 win on Saturday night, has spurned debate on whether or not the DoPS’ made the right ruling for McDavid’s actions.

Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was also given a three-game suspension for cross-checking opposing defender Evan Bouchard.

It was just the second time in McDavid’s career that he’s been suspended, along with having a $5,000 fine paid back in 2021.

The wrestling match and Garland’s blatant attempt to hold down McDavid have also led to more discussions about the accountability of the officiating.

On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discuss whether McDavid’s suspension was right for the crime.

Frank Seravalli: I didn’t have any issues with the suspensions being matching lengths. To your point, a cross-check to the face is a cross-check to the face. However, for both players, this was one game too many…There needs to be more accountability for the officials on the ice. There’s a wrestling match in the middle of the slot for 20 seconds prior to the cross-check to the face. No one is absolving Connor McDavid of that, not by any stretch. You cross-check anyone in the jibs, and you’re getting suspended.

However, he shouldn’t have needed to take justice into his own hands because he was being mauled by Conor Garland…Yet, they let them play and we hear nothing. No explanation. Nothing since. No chatter about it. To get to the Department of Player Safety part of it – this suspension to me, this cross-check to the face, is no different than so many others which received just two games…The thought process of that is, “Well, because McDavid has a previous suspension history.” Never mind that it was five-plus years ago. Never mind that it didn’t involve a stick. Therefore we run into a spot where McDavid ratchets a two-game suspension to a three.

There’s not much of the process that I agree with. The most disappointing part, to add another layer to it, is that’s another waste of time and resources to even bother appealing, because the suspension would be served by then…

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…