Rick Tocchet Calls-Out Edmonton Oilers & Their Fans for Overreacting to Connor McDavid's Suspension
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet spoke yesterday about Player Safety's decision to suspended Tyler Myers and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers found themselves in a heated battle during Hockey Day in Canada last Saturday, with Rick Tocchet's group coming out on top with a 3-2 win at Rogers Arena.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the third period of that game, a big scrum ensued after Connor McDavid cross-checked Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head.
During that same scrum, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers cross-checked Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the face.
Both Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers were handed match penalties for their respective cross-checks, which are automatically subject to review by the National Hockey League.
McDavid and Myers then had hearings with the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety on Monday and after deliberation, they were both given three-game suspensions.
In the aftermath of Saturday's game and subsequent suspensions, Edmonton Oilers fans and players aren't too happy that Connor McDavid will be sitting out the next three games and that there needs to be better protection for star players in the league.
Some have gone as far as saying that McDavid shouldn't have received a suspension at all, which quite frankly is ridiculous and just because you're a star player, that doesn't mean you can get away with anything. There shouldn't be a special rulebook just for star players.
Rick Tocchet doesn't like criticism of Wes McCauley & George Parros
When speaking with reporters ahead of Tuesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, Rick Tocchet discussed the suspensions to Tyler Myers and Connor McDavid, hitting back at those criticizing Saturday's referee Wes McCauley or George Parros, head of the Department of Player Safety.
Tocchet went on to say that he doesn't want to see a player like Connor McDavid get suspended because he's a terrific player for the league and you want to be playing against the best on a nightly basis.
He added, "It happened so you deal with it. Same thing with Mysie. It's a tough position for everybody. It's really hard for everybody sitting on the couch ripping everybody. I have a tough time with that. A lot of people are grandstanding and ripping the refs. Wes McCauley is one of the best refs in the league, okay? There was a hold, there were a couple of holds that didn't get called for whatever reason.
There was like 10 seconds left. There was a missed high stick. We can go back and forth. It's a three-game suspension, it is what it is and we have to move on."
The Vancouver Canucks are set to face the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow night in Alberta and it's safe to say that it could be another rough game, with the attention of hockey fans across the globe seeing how things will play out at Rogers Place.
Puck drop for tomorrow's game against the Oilers is set for 6 pm PT on Sportsnet Pacific.
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