Fans are outraged with the Department of Player Safety following Connor McDavid’s three-game suspension for cross-checking Connor Garland in the head. Now, P.K. Subban has weighed in on the situation, and he’s not holding back.
While fans and analysts agree that Edmonton Oilers‘ McDavid was wrong to cross-check Garland in the head, many are furious that Garland wasn’t penalized for his actions leading up to the incident.
For nearly 20 seconds, Garland relentlessly impeded McDavid, taking him out of the play as the Oilers searched for a tying goal in the final seconds of the game. With the Oilers desperately needing their captain—and arguably the best player in the world—McDavid was unable to contribute, pinned to the ice by Garland. When no penalty was called, McDavid’s frustration boiled over, resulting in the cross-check.
P.K. Subban’s words on McDavid
The hockey community, including former NHL players, current players, and experts, has overwhelmingly voiced the same sentiment: McDavid’s suspension was unjust, and officials need to do a better job protecting players. P.K. Subban took to social media to criticize the league’s handling of the situation.
“How the f—k does Connor McDavid get suspended for three games?” Subban said. “What the hell was the ref looking at? Am I the only person who saw this?”
Subban argued that the officials should have intervened well before McDavid had a chance to retaliate.
“With 20 seconds left, you’ve got to give Connor McDavid… the opportunity to play between the whistles,” Subban said. “That’s what people pay to see—they didn’t pay to watch him get pinned down.”
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