"Motherf***ers could go police themselves": Paul Bissonnette rips into NHL over Connor McDavid's 3-game suspension for cross-checking Connor Garland

By Zachary Roberts

Modified Jan 21, 2025 16:05 GMT

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Connor McDavid was suspended three games after he cross-checked Conor Garland. During a tense loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, Garland and McDavid got tangled up and it's going to cost McDavid a few games. Paul Bissonnette couldn't believe that's what the league decided to do.

"Boy oh boy, did the league f**k this one up," Bissonnette said on Tuesday (37:40), via 'Spittin' Chiclets.' "I don't care if you want to direct all your hate and negativity towards me. One of the biggest misses I've seen in the league over the last calendar year."

He added that the NHL likes to "fabricate intensity in today's game" and it suspended the "best player in the game" for providing some on a "silver f*****g platter."

Bissonnette was heated about the issue.

"And so we should have f*****g done that, and he should have paid the piper," Bissonnette said. "One f*****g game, three games. These motherf*****s could go police themselves, Case f*****g closed. Three games. F**k off."

In the incident, Garland appeared to hold McDavid down on the ice for about 15 seconds, which frustrated the Oilers star. He is the subject of a lot of on-ice abuse, but this was further than he would've liked. He retaliated by cross-checking Garland in the face with his stick, and it resulted to a three-game suspension — the longest of his career.

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NHL details decision to suspend Connor McDavid

The NHL penalized Connor McDavid heavily for cross-checking Conor Garland. Based on their interpretation of the situation, they imposed a three-game ban.

Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games by the NHL (Imagn)

"Having just been involved physically with Garland, McDavid retaliates aggressively and intentionally, escalating the altercation by raising his stick significantly and making this contact: a high cross-check that makes direct contact with an opponent's head with sufficient force to warrant supplemental discipline," the NHL's Department of Player Safety said on Monday, via ESPN.

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch lamented that it happened, adding that McDavid has to play through a lot and was frustrated with how Garland treated him at that moment. Knoblauch said McDavid has to put up with a lot more than other players.