Canucks coach Tocchet: I don't want McDavid suspended

Rick Tocchet expressed a sentiment Tuesday that NHL head coaches almost never convey when an opposing player receives supplemental discipline, admitting he was disappointed that Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid received a three-game suspension for cross-checking.

McDavid earned his ban for cross-checking Conor Garland, while Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was suspended the same length of time for the same infraction on Evan Bouchard. Both incidents took place in the final seconds of the Canucks' 3-2 victory Saturday.

"I think it's just unfortunate, and it's a tough job," Tocchet said. "It's a tough job for the referees, it's tough for (head of NHL Department of Player Safety) George Parros. I just don't like the grandstanding. ... It is what it is. I don't want Connor McDavid to get suspended. We're playing him. Honestly, you want to play the best."

Tocchet added: "He's terrific for our league. He's (an) unbelievable kid, from what I've been told. The way he works at his game, unreal for the game. It happened, you deal with it. Same thing with (Myers). So for me, it's a tough position for everybody."

The Canucks head coach praised referee Wes McCauley as "one of the best refs in the league" and added that it would be pointless to "go back and forth" about all the plays that could've been penalized.

"It's a three-game suspension ... we've got to move on from this. That's what I think," Tocchet said.

Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said earlier Tuesday that he felt both suspensions were "a little too much and "I guess we don't overly care about having our best players in the league in the game."

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