In a significant development within the NHL, Connor McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and a three-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), has been handed a three-game suspension. This decision comes after McDavid was found guilty of cross-checking the head of Vancouver’s Conor Garland during a game that took place on Saturday night.

The suspension was confirmed soon after a hearing held by the league’s Department of Player Safety on Monday. This marks only the second time in McDavid’s career that he has faced disciplinary action, with his first suspension occurring in 2019 when he received a two-game penalty for an illegal check to the head.

The incident in question unfolded late in the game when McDavid and Garland became entangled on the ice. Following a brief struggle, McDavid struck Garland on the side of the head with the shaft of his stick, which led to him being ejected from the match with a match penalty for intent to injure.

Due to this suspension, McDavid will miss upcoming games against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, a rematch against the Canucks on Thursday, and a home game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. He is eligible to return to play next Monday when the Oilers face off against the Seattle Kraken.

Financially, this latest suspension will cost McDavid $195,312 in lost salary. Adding to his disciplinary history, he had previously received a $5,000 fine in 2021 for an elbowing incident.

Regarded as one of the premier talents in hockey, McDavid played a crucial role in leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final, where they ultimately lost to the Florida Panthers by just one goal. Over the course of his career, he has been recognized with awards such as the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP and the Hart Trophy as the league’s regular-season MVP in the 2016-17, 2021, and 2022-23 seasons. Notably, he has been the league’s top scorer in five of his nine seasons thus far.

In a related disciplinary action, Vancouver’s Tyler Myers also received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard in the face during the altercation that followed McDavid’s incident with Garland.