Connor McDavid to Have MRI on Lower-Body Injury, Out for Oilers vs. Kraken
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will undergo an MRI after suffering a lower-body injury during Thursday's overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters Friday.
Leon Draisaitl, who missed Thursday's game with an undisclosed injury, is also set to undergo imaging Friday, per TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Both McDavid and Draisaitl are expected to sit out Saturday's home game against the visiting Seattle Kraken.
Knoblauch described McDavid as "day-to-day, maybe a week," and said he expected Draisaitl be sidelined for a similar timeline.
"He won't be back immediately. He'll be up to a week," Knoblauch said about Draisaitl.
When asked if the Oilers were being especially cautious with injuries given the proximity of the playoffs, Knoblauch answered: "Even if it was Game 5 or 6, we wouldn't want to put somebody in the position where they're gonna make themselves worse and have a nagging injury.
"Obviously the schedule has something to do it, but ultimately it comes down to the medical staff saying when a player should return and how much time he should have off."
Knoblauch meanwhile said goaltender Stuart Skinner is "fine" after being pulled from Thursday's game by concussion spotters.
It was not immediately clear when McDavid suffered his injury. He took his final 18-second shift late in the second period and then sat out the third frame and overtime of Thursday's loss to the Jets.
Draisaitl played the entirety of Tuesday's win over the Utah Hockey Club, although he was involved in a collision with Utah's Olli Maatta during the second period of the victory.
Thursday was the first game Draisaitl, who leads the NHL with 49 goals, has missed this season. McDavid, who has 90 points in 63 games, sat out three October games with an ankle injury and three more due to a January suspension.
This is the first time since McDavid's 2015 NHL debut that both he and Draisaitl have been injured at the same time, per NHL.com's Derek Van Diest.
The Oilers have 13 games remaining in the regular season. The team currently holds the No. 2 spot in the Pacific Division, but the Los Angeles Kings sit two points behind with two games in hand.
Luckily for Edmonton, the Oilers have the second-easiest remaining strength of schedule (as evaluated by Tankathon) in large part thanks to three remaining meetings with the league-bottom San Jose Sharks. Jeff Skinner, who scored twice in Thursday's loss, will continue seeing more ice time as the Oilers fight to hold onto their place in the standings this week.
NHL's Gary Bettman on Connor McDavid Suspension: Hit to Head 'Has to Be Dealt With'
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman indicated Connor McDavid's three-game suspension is part of the league's efforts to crack down on hits to the head.
"I think in terms of supplemental discipline, cross-check to the face or the head has to be dealt with," Bettman told reporters Thursday (h/t The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith.)
The suspension involved an incident that took place on Jan. 19, when Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland appeared to hold McDavid down during the final 30 seconds of a one-goal game. The Edmonton Oilers captain retaliated by hitting Garland in the face.
McDavid is set to serve the third game of his suspension when the Oilers take on the Buffalo Sabres Saturday at home.
This marks the second time McDavid has been suspended by the league. He was previously assessed a two-game suspension, also for an illegal check to the head, which took place during a February 2019 game against the New York Islanders.
Between the two suspensions, McDavid has forfeited a total of more than $329,000 in missed salary.
As was the case with his 2019 suspension, both the Oilers and McDavid expressed displeasure with the NHL's recent decision to suspend the star.
The Oilers said in a statement that the franchise was "disappointed" in the NHL's decision, while McDavid said the incident could have been avoided had referees blown the play dead to penalize Garland when he held McDavid down to the ice.
"The longer it goes, the more you're thinking there's going to be something," McDavid said about the penalty not being called on Garland, per Jamie Umbach of EdmontonOilers.com.
McDavid continued, per Umbach:
I think every player across the league just wants to see the game called [consistently.] A penalty in the first is a penalty in the third. A penalty in October is a penalty in April. So I think guys just want that standard and that consistency.
I would say a big part of it is just the consistency, which is tough to ask for. That goes from game to game, ref to ref, so as I said, the refs have a hard job. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the refs and the work that they do. It's a thankless job. It really is. But with that being said, just call the game [consistent] to start the season."
Bettman provided his own view on the incident when asked how the NHL analyzed its own officiating.
Per Russo and Smith, Bettman said the officials decided not to whistle down Garland's play in part because the puck was in the offensive zone for the trailing Oilers:
Every call is a judgment call, and it's situational. And I believe the referees in that situation — what was it, 10 seconds left to go? — decided they didn't want to blow the whistle at that point in time, when two guys were tangled because there were a lot of things that could have happened, which a whistle would have worked at Edmonton's detriment.
I'm not endorsing it or not. I'm just simply saying you've got to look at the context of the whole thing. I understand the frustration, and it's something we're going to continue to monitor.
McDavid will be eligible to return Monday to face the visiting Seattle Kraken.
Getting McDavid back will be a boost for an team looking to oust the Vegas Golden Knights from the top of the Pacific Division. The Oilers captain has been typically dominant when available, racking 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists) through 43 games to start the season.
Oilers' Connor McDavid: NHL 3-Game Suspension 'Harsh' After Conor Garland Cross-Check
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid believes the NHL might have been a bit excessive in issuing him a three-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland during Saturday's 3-2 loss.
In fact, he said the league was a "little bit harsh" with the penalty, although he also accepted responsibility.
"Obviously, there's lots of holding and holding down—he holds my head down for a little bit—but I can't have that reaction," McDavid said, per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic. "I know that. Everyone knows that. Not the reaction that I'm proud of or that anyone wants to see out of me, and I understand that."
Garland and McDavid became entangled during the closing stretch of Saturday's contest, and the Oilers captain found his head pinned to the ice and held. He responded with the cross-check that drew the suspension.
He wasn't the only one punished from that game, as Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers was given a three-game suspension for cross-checking Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the aftermath of McDavid's penalty.
McDavid missed Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals and will sit out Thursday's rematch against the Canucks and Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
He will be eligible to return for Monday's game against the Seattle Kraken.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported McDavid and the NHLPA decided not to appeal the penalty partially out of concern the timing of such an appeal would mean he could miss the three games regardless of the ruling.
The future Hall of Famer was also suspended two games in 2019 for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy. Nugent-Bowman noted he was not suspended for a hit to the head of Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Johansson on Jan. 15.
Johansson has not played since the incident.
"It's tough to skate with your arms tucked in," McDavid said. "I'm not trying to get him at all. That's extremely unfortunate. I feel awful about that. The league alluded to history in the suspension. I'm not sure I have a history of being a dirty player.
"Obviously, I'm not trying to hurt guys. Every game I go out there, I'm thinking, 'How am I going to score? How am I going to make plays? How am I going to help the team win?' It's not, 'Who am I going to elbow next?' That's not who I am. I don't think anyone here thinks that. It's an unfortunate week."
Edmonton has lost two straight, although it is still 29-15-3 and sitting in second place in the Pacific Division behind only the Vegas Golden Knights.
Report: Oilers' Connor McDavid Won't Appeal NHL's 3-Game Suspension amid Speculation
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and the NHLPA won't appeal his three-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
According to Wyshynski, McDavid's camp decided not to appeal "with the understanding that the timeline for appeal might not have prevented him from missing the next three games." His camp also made the decision with the understanding that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman rarely changes suspensions made by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
During the Oilers' Jan. 18 game against the Canucks, Garland held McDavid down in the final seconds, leading to frustration and ultimately a cross-check. McDavid earned a match penalty as a result of the play.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the suspension on Monday. He was also fined $195,312.51, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers earned a three-game suspension for cross-checking Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard moments after McDavid's cross-check.
After the suspension was announced on Monday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid has to deal with hard defense like that which was played against him on Saturday and said he "puts up with more than the average player."
"There was a lot of frustration. [McDavid] plays through a lot," Knoblauch told reporters. "Ironically, he doesn't draw very many penalties. Our team doesn't draw that many penalties for that matter, which is kind of ironic because we usually have the puck and the other team's defending more."
"He's under the microscope every time he's on the ice because he's dangerous," he continued. "[Opponents] don't give him room, give him another shot, hold him a little bit, tug on his jersey, get in his way. All those little things that maybe could be called penalties, but maybe not. If you called every single one, you're changing the game. It's a fine line. But I definitely believe that he puts up [with] more than the average player."
McDavid is fifth in the league in both assists (45) and points (65) and has 20 goals this season. He will miss the Oilers' games against the Washington Capitals, Canucks and Buffalo Sabres this week.
Oilers' Connor McDavid Suspended 3 Games by NHL After Cross-Checking Canucks' Garland
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday that Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has been suspended three games for his cross-check on Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland during Saturday's matchup between the teams
Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was given a matching three-game suspension for his cross-check on Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the aftermath of McDavid's hit. Both players were penalized at the time.
McDavid was clearly frustrated after Garland held him for an extended duration in the waning moments of Saturday's game, a 3-2 win for the Canucks.
"There was a lot of frustration. [McDavid] plays through a lot," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday after the suspension was announced. "Ironically, he doesn't draw very many penalties. Our team doesn't draw that many penalties for that matter, which is kind of ironic because we usually have the puck and the other team's defending more."
"He's under the microscope every time he's on the ice because he's dangerous," he continued. "[Opponents] don't give him room, give him another shot, hold him a little bit, tug on his jersey, get in his way. All those little things that maybe could be called penalties, but maybe not. If you called every single one, you're changing the game. It's a fine line. But I definitely believe that he puts up [with] more than the average player."
Garland probably should have been called for holding on the play in question. Regardless, the Oilers will now be without the three-time Hart Trophy winner for the next three contests.
That's a big loss. McDavid is fourth in the NHL with 65 points and fourth with 45 assists, remaining a menace in the attack. The Oilers, in turn, are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights atop the Western Conference's Pacific Division with 61 points as they look to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight season.
They fell one game short of a title last season, losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers.
Connor McDavid, Tyler Myers Face Possible NHL Suspensions After Viral Video of Scrum
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers will have disciplinary hearings with the NHL—and are facing possible suspensions—for a pair of cross-checking penalties in the final seconds of Saturday's 3-2 win for the Canucks.
McDavid got tied up with Vancouver's Conor Garland and cross-checked him in the head, while Myers cross-checked Edmonton's Evan Bouchard. Both were penalized in the game.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch offered a defense of McDavid after the game, feeling as though the play should have been called dead far earlier due to McDavid being held by Garland.
"Connor gets frustrated, and he gets his stick up," he told reporters. "He's frustrated because we're down one goal and the best player in the league is getting held for 15 seconds. There's frustration that that's allowed to happen."
A number of former NHL players sided with McDavid as well:
"It's hockey. It happens. It's intense," fellow Oilers' star Leon Draisaitl told reporters. "We couldn't get one, and then a little bit of fisticuffs. Nothing major."
Losing McDavid for any stretch of time would be an enormous loss for Edmonton. The three-time Hart Trophy winner has posted 20 goals and 45 assists through 43 games this season, ranking fourth in the NHL with 65 points.
And he's generally available. Since 2016-17, McDavid has never missed more than seven games in a season. He's only been suspended once, a two-game ban in 2019 after checking New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy in the head. And before Saturday's 15 penalty minutes, he had only been penalized 14 minutes this season.
Meyers has had pair of three-game suspensions during his NHL career and 54 penalty minutes this season. He has two goals and 11 assists for the Canucks this season.