Oilers’ Connor McDavid won’t appeal 3-game suspension despite disagreeing with ruling: Sources.

While Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers may disagree with the three-game suspension the NHL’s Department of Player Safety imposed on the Oilers captain on Monday night, league sources say they’ve decided not to appeal the ruling.

McDavid received the supplemental discipline after cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland late in Saturday’s game.

Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, McDavid had 48 hours to appeal his three-game ban. That appeal would have been heard by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who has rarely decided to reduce the length of suspensions in previous cases.

It was the belief that the process was unlikely to produce a reduced suspension, prompting McDavid and the Oilers to move forward without an appeal, according to league sources.

In an unusual move, the Oilers released a statement on the matter: “The Oilers organization is disappointed and we share in our fans’ frustration over the three-game suspension of our captain Connor McDavid. We support him through this process and the organization and our fans look forward to having him back in the lineup vs. Seattle next week.”

Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl also spoke out against the punishment on Tuesday, saying, “I certainly think three games is a little too much — for either side. I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game,”  he said, referring to both McDavid and the Canucks’ Tyler Myers’ suspensions.

When asked about the frustration of McDavid being held by Garland in the game’s final seconds, Draisaitl said, “That’s to me, clearly a penalty (what Garland did). He’s (McDavid) trying to get back into the play. Connor doesn’t want to tangle with Garland in that situation. There’s 12 seconds left. We’re looking to score. We’re not looking to tangle with anybody. But I also know the game happens quick. The refs aren’t going to make the right call every single time. But, in that instance, I think that could have been avoided.”

Oilers’ Connor McDavid suspended 3 games for cross-checking Conor Garland

The Oilers star was previously suspended two games in 2019 for an illegal check to an opponent’s head. In announcing Monday’s ruling, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety cited that previous offense plus the forceful nature of the cross-check he delivered to Garland after the Canucks player had pinned him to the ice for a considerable amount of time as the clock wound down.

“Having just been involved physically with Garland, McDavid retaliates aggressively and intentionally, escalating the altercation by raising his stick significantly and creating this contact,” said the NHL’s DoPS in explaining the decision. “A high cross-check that makes direct contact with an opponent’s head with sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline.”

Garland told reporters that he was just trying to restrain McDavid, rather than hurt him, with his team clinging to the lead in the dying seconds of a 3-2 game. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged that his captain was “frustrated” because “we’re down one goal and the best player in the league is getting held for 15 seconds.”

Draisaitl was asked if superstars were drawing enough penalties.

“Maybe not quite enough. It doesn’t make much sense,” Draisaitl said. “When you have the puck, guys are trying to defend, and Connor has the puck an awful lot — more than anyone, probably. So, there should probably be more penalties called on (opponents against) him or the top players.”

McDavid, who was not made available for comment Tuesday, will forfeit $195,312.51 in salary for the suspension. He’s eligible to return to the Oilers lineup for a Jan. 27 visit by the Seattle Kraken.