A recent hit that resulted in a season-ending injury for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has again raised questions about how the NHL handles player discipline. The play has become a topic of debate across the league following the suspension. Several players were asked to share their views on the situation.
Amid that discussion, Connor McDavid was among those who spoke about the issue and the league’s player safety process.
Connor McDavid Questions NHL Player Safety After Matthews Hit
The incident occurred on Thursday during a game between the Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Arena. Late in the second period, Ducks captain Radko Gudas made knee-on-knee contact with Matthews as he tried to move away from the hit while receiving a pass.
The incident was later reviewed by the NHL Department of Player Safety, which suspended Gudas for five games. Under the current rules, that length represented the maximum discipline possible through a phone hearing.
The decision has drawn strong reaction from fans and media members, particularly in Toronto. Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with 27 goals this season, and losing their captain at this stage of the schedule has affected the team’s playoff push.
Now, with the discussion growing around the league, Edmonton Oilers captain McDavid shared his thoughts while speaking to the media on Sunday. The Oilers captain acknowledged that the group responsible for handling discipline faces a difficult task.
“I think player safety has done their best,” McDavid said. “It’s not an easy thing to do. With that being said, I think there is reason to take a look at how the whole process works.”
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McDavid also noted that many suspensions create frustration among different groups in the hockey world. Because of that, he suggested the league may benefit from reviewing how decisions are made.
“..If every time there is 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 that both parties are happy because it seems like there’s a lot of frustration.”
McDavid shared those comments shortly before another strong performance with Edmonton. He recorded 3 assists in the Oilers’ 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. He first set up a power-play goal by Leon Draisaitl early in the game and later assisted Matt Savoie in the second period.
Zach Hyman added an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal the win for Edmonton. The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Oilers while McDavid continued to add points late in the season.
