Connor McDavid takes to the media to send a tough-to-hear message to the Department of Player Safety
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is getting the attention of NHL executives everywhere with his recent comments on the Department of Player Safety following their ruling on Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas.
There was plenty made about the controversial hit by Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews last week.
The hit, which was knee on knee, officially knocked Matthews out for the rest of the year with a Grade 3 MCL sprain, and Gudas was given a five game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
But there were still plenty of upset Maple Leafs players and coaches, as well as countless fans, who didn't think that the NHL DPS issued a strong enough suspension for Gudas, who had already been suspended a combined 21 games earlier in his career.
Now, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who sometimes trains with Matthews during the summer, is speaking out with a message that the DPS will have to listen to considering who it is coming from.
I think the (NHL's Department of Player Safety) has done their best. It's not an easy thing to do. You know, with that being said, I think that there is reason to take a look at how the whole process works. If every time there's a suspension, everybody complains about it, well, why don't we take a look at the process and figure out if there's a better way to make sure both parties are happy? Because it seems like there's a lot of frustration there. - Connor McDavid
When Connor McDavid Speaks, The NHL Will Listen
McDavid voiced what is certainly a frustration on his part toward the NHL DPS in a much more calm manner than the New York Rangers did in 2021, when they said department head George Parros should be fired.
The Rangers were hit with a massive fine and condemnation from Commissioner Gary Bettman, eventually leading to the resignation of multiple executives.
But McDavid, who is the top player in the NHL, spoke rationally and calmly about what many see as a major problem with how the League hands out suspensions, and they'll be forced to take his words into consideration.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Connor McDavid shows his true colours by getting involved in the Matthews/Gudas controversy
Connor McDavid shows his true colours by getting involved in the Matthews/Gudas controversy
Previously on House Of Hockey
| POLL | ||
MARS 15|376 ANSWERS Connor McDavid takes to the media to send a tough-to-hear message to the Department of Player Safety Does the NHL Department of Player Safety need new leadership? | ||
| Yes | 361 | 96 % |
| No | 15 | 4 % |
| List of polls | ||