Oilers team insider turns on Connor McDavid and rallies behind Canucks’ Conor Garland
Uh oh… Might get ugly next time they stand together in the dressing room…
Earlier this week, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head. The NHL explained that the cross-check to Garland’s head had “sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline” and McDavid will not launched an appeal of the Department of Player Safety’s decision. While he will serve those three games and return to the Oilers’ lineup next week, McDavid, the Oilers and their fanbase aren’t happy with the league’s decision.
However, shockingly, one Oilers insider has chosen to rally behind Garland and explained how he believes McDavid deserves the ban on the play that has created so much controversy.
Oilers reporter Daniel Nugent-Bowman shared his thoughts on X, stating, “Conor Garland deserved to be penalized for holding/pinning Connor McDavid, but the Oilers captain simply can’t do that. McDavid avoided supplemental discipline for his hit on Wild’s Marcus Johansson on Wednesday, but he probably won’t avoid a suspension here.”
Nugent-Bowman appears to say that Garland was only trying to hold down McDavid when he was trying to score in the final seconds of the game, though it did point to the Canucks forward’s fault that he should have been penalized for holding. The reporter kept a close eye on the situation as it unfolded until the announcement of McDavid’s ban. He reacted to Garland’s post-match interview in which he stated:
“I’m just holding him. I mean, he’s the best player to ever do it. The time’s running out. I just thought that was maybe the best way for us to win a game was to do that.”
To which Nugent-Bowman responded “I appreciate the honesty.”
The Oilers’ fanbase has since been getting pretty upset with the insider, who appears to have admiration for the Canucks right winger’s actions during the tense moment of the game. Sure, fans enjoy a good fight, but no one wants to see anyone get hurt. Which could have happened when McDavid used his stick to cross-check Garland near his face.
One thing is clear: McDavid probably should have kept his cool and will need to do as well next time he bumps into Nugent-Bowman in the Oilers’ dressing room.
On Wednesday afternoon, McDavid faced reporters and answered questions about the suspension.
“It was a little harsh but I understand their decision and [we] gotta move on.”
McDavid remains on the sideline as he will be able to fully move on and return to the Oilers lineup until next Monday when they host the Seattle Kraken.
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