Oilers ahead Connor McDavid may not agree along with his league-imposed three-game suspension, however he is able to put up to now.
Edmonton ought to observe its captain’s lead.
On Wednesday, the three-time Hart Trophy winner for NHL’s most beneficial participant broke his silence on his suspension stemming from a cross-check on Canucks ahead Conor Garland on Jan. 18 in a 3-2 loss.
“It was somewhat harsh, however I perceive their choice,” McDavid mentioned, including that Edmonton should “transfer on” from the fallout of his hit.
His feedback come in the future after the Oilers very a lot determined to not transfer on from his suspension. On Tuesday, the staff issued a statement expressing its disappointment with the league’s ruling.
“We share in our followers’ frustration over the three-game suspension of our staff captain Connor McDavid,” the team wrote.
“We assist him via this course of and the group and our followers look ahead to having him again … subsequent week,” the assertion continued.
It could behoove the Oilers to heed their captain’s recommendation. Within the first sport of his three-game absence, the Oilers (29-15-3) misplaced to the Capitals (32-10-5), 3-2.
They subsequent play on Thursday in a rematch towards the Canucks (20-16-10), the ultimate regular-season sport between the 2 groups. They cut up the primary two.
The Oilers chosen McDavid because the No. 1 total within the 2015 NHL Draft. He was named staff captain forward of the 2016-17 season and has held the title for 9 consecutive seasons.
This season, McDavid has 65 factors and leads Edmonton in assists (45). He is a five-time Ross Award winner for the NHL’s most factors and have become simply the fifth participant in league historical past to notch 100 assists in a single season in 2023-24, by way of Stathead.
The Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Remaining for the primary time since 2006 and took the Panthers the gap after falling right into a 3-0 collection gap earlier than dropping Recreation 7 in Florida.
As a lot as McDavid’s suspension stings, it will not stop Edmonton, which is one level behind the Vegas Golden Knights (29-14-4) for first within the Pacific, from successful its sixth Stanley Cup and first since 1990. Lingering on it may.
