Connor McDavid took the stand Wednesday, admitted his wrongdoing when he cross-checked Connor Garland on the side of the head in the dying seconds in Vancouver last Saturday, knowing a suspension was likely coming.
But, did he like the lead-up to the foul on Garland when it looked like Stampede Wrestling? No, he didn’t as the clock ticked down and the Edmonton Oiler captain couldn’t get into the play for a possible tying goal with goalie Stu Skinner pulled for an extra skater
Did he think there were extenuating circumstances? Yes.
Did he think the suspension would be that penal? No.
Sure, he’s got five days off with the three-game suspension, including Thursday here in the rematch with the Canucks, and he’s plays a ton of hockey and he’ll do just the same at the 4 Nations Face-Off in three weeks, piling on the pressure. As somebody suggested whether McDavid wants this week off or not, he’s got it. Strategy-wise, is this a chance to catch his breath when others will who aren’t going to the tournament?
“I love to play. I would rather be on the ice than resting. It’s not like I’m getting a week away in Cabo,” said McDavid, who loves hockey so much he stayed on the ice for an hour and 20 minutes Wednesday, long after his teammates had left practice for the dressing room.
No he’s not. Life is not a beach for 97 right now.
It’s not easy being the face of the league and offering up your side of things on clearly what should have been a penalty on Garland, long before McDavid snapped and Canucks’ Tyler Myers also cross-checked Evan Bouchard in the face, with both getting their three-game rap. In McDavid’s case, he doesn’t want to come across like a whiner, even though the NHL’s treatment of their stars forever has been, “Suck it up butter cup, you’re skilled through the crap you have to put up with.”
So McDavid didn’t whine on Wednesday, but he stood up for himself.
“The league made their decision. I don’t necessarily agree with it. I’m not saying there shouldn’t have been any penalty or any suspension. I thought it was a little bit harsh. Yeah, you have to move on,” said McDavid, who has led the NHL in penalties drawn over his 10 NHL years but this season is 47th in that category.
The league, in its video ruling, brought up a past-deed foul on Nick Leddy, like he was a repeat offender, but that was six years ago. Is there no statute of limitations?
“I’m just trying to tie the game. I’m not looking to engage with him. Obviously there was lots of holding, holding my head down, stuff like that,” he said.
“I can’t have that reaction. Everyone knows that. Not the reaction I’m proud of or anyone wants to see out of me. That being said, there’s lots of infractions going on there. Maybe the whole thing is avoided with a blown whistle,” he said.
Did he see if either referee, Wes McCauley or Chris Lee, had his hand up for a penalty on Garland? Nope.
“I had my head between my legs. I didn’t see what the ref’s reaction was. Obviously I know where we are, the time of the game, and the longer it goes, you’re thinking there’s going to be something,” he said.
“But I understand the refs have a tough job. That said, my job’s hard, too. Everyone’s is. That’s why we’re in this business.”
One of things reinforced in the wake of the non-call to Garland and the suspension to McDavid is the refs not wanting a penalty late in a game, so they are determining the outcome. It would have given the Oilers, with the best power play in the league over the last four or five years, a six-on-four for 20 seconds left on the clock.
In the NFL if there’s a Hail Mary pass and the defender gets his hands in the receiver’s face before the ball ever gets there, there’s a flag. It’s interference. In soccer, if there’s a foul inside the box in the last three minutes, there’s a penalty shot. But in hockey, infractions called in the first period often don’t get called in the dying seconds.
Are we just stuck with that? Is that our game?
“Certainly seems like that,” said McDavid.
“I think all players across the league, not just me, the other players in this room just want to see the game called. A penalty in the first is a penalty in the third. A penalty in October is a penalty in April, you know,” he said. “Guys just want that consistency.”
“That’s tough to ask for. It goes from game to game, from ref to ref. Again, the refs have a tough job and I have nothing but the ultimate respect for the job they do. It’s a thankless job. That being said, just call the game,” he said.
Just call the rule book.
“That’s what fans want, that’s what the media wants. I think that’s what the league should want,” said McDavid, warming to the question.
“The rulebook’s there for a reason. Just because one guy draws more than the other guy, or one team draws more than another, that’s the way it is. If it’s four penalties to one in a game, that’s the way it is,” he said.
McDavid has noticed he’s not getting as many calls this season as in past.
“Feels like the team isn’t getting as many. I’m sure the numbers would say that, but from the eye-test or the feel-test, it seems our team struggles to get power plays,” he said. “We get two a night, maybe less. Feels like we’re attacking a lot. We’ve certainly got the puck a lot. I think we average the second-most shots in a game. You would think we would draw more penalties but we’ll just keep plugging away.”
Here’s the numbers: The Oilers are No. 1 in puck possession and time spent in the offensive zone but have drawn the 27th most penalty calls this season.
Can McDavid make those numbers compute?
“It’s like putting a square peg into a round hole. It’s not going to add up and I’m not going to try. Not sure why,” said McDavid, well aware the skill players in hockey just have to put up with the stuff that goes on. McDavid isn’t saying it’s a garage league as Mario Lemieux said in the early ’90s or Jeremy Roenick who famously ranted “wake up” to the league over non-calls.
McDavid sees how other leagues operate.
“The quarterback usually draws the most penalties because he’s got the ball the most,” he said. “In our game, if you’ve got the puck a lot, you would think you would draw more, but do you want me to say it again? I’ve got a lot of respect for the refs,” he said.
Last one for McDavid. He’s had some hard physical plays the last few weeks. The belt on Los Angeles winger Alex Laferriere along the boards, with the Kings winger currently on IR dealing with an upper-body injury, or the slight elbow that caught Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson in the face, the Wild forward currently dealing with a likely concussion. And the altercation with Garland.
Is this McDavid trying to find some space for himself?
“The L.A. hit was being physical in a game where I thought we needed it. I thought it was a bit of dull game, wanting to get my guys going. It’s unfortunate whatever he’s dealing with. The Johansson one, it’s tough to skate to with your arms tucked in. I feel awful about that one,” he said.
“The league alluded to history. I’m not sure I have a history of being a dirty player.
“I don’t go out to hurt guys in games. I go out to score, to help guys score, to help the team win. It’s not who I’m going to elbow next. That’s not who I am.”