“Dirtiest player for sure,” is what an NHL fan said after watching Connor McDavid cross-checking Canucks’ right winger Conor Garland on the head. Indeed, there were more such reactions from many in the community, as the Oilers’ captain turned from one of the most respected players on the ice rink to one of the most hated ones in no time. However, McDavid’s fans stood with their star player no matter what!
But was the move from the #97 intentional? Absolutely not! These NHL players surely play on the ice, but they are far from cold, as there’s always heated action whenever the pucks start moving from one zone to the other. McDavid also received a three-match suspension following his cross-check, and as the Oilers will have a rematch against the Canucks on January 23, the coach of the Vancouver team exposed a certain fact about the Oilers’ fans prior to the game during the mid-season.
“Yeah, he held a guy… so is that wanted posters?” Rick Tocchet sent out a question for the community, especially the Oilers’ fans, during an interview with TSN on X. He continued with a stern message, stating, “I mean, I understand if he smashed him in the face or got into a fight or did something…it’s a hold. So I don’t really care what they think.” The situation between McDavid and Garland has been ongoing for a few days now. However, the controversy has not subsided, and it has further intensified following the Oilers’ captain’s three-match suspension.
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Indeed, many fans of the team never wanted to see their star player get banned for three games during the mid-season, as it could really affect the standings. For now, the Oilers are surely safe with 61 points in the Pacific divisions. However, the teams that are below them won’t be waiting for the Oilers’ star player to make a return, as if the team loses all three games without him, which they have already lost one, could trouble them in the mid-season. Canucks are also aware of this fact, as they will be facing their opponent at Rogers Place.
"Yeah, he held a guy… so is that wanted posters?"
Rick Tocchet doesn't understand why the Oilers' faithful is hoping for retribution against Conor Garland after his scuffle with Connor McDavid. pic.twitter.com/wnc68chkXK
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 22, 2025
It won’t be easy to face the Oilers at their home ground with the situation heating up. But how did Conor Garland react when he got to know that not only the fans of the home team but the players themselves might target him throughout the match? “I don’t care,” said the Canucks right winger. Previously, Garland did admit that he held McDavid when he was trying to get off of him. Why? Because the time was already running out for the Oilers to equal the score, he did whatever came into his mind at that moment to stop the equalizer. Indeed, the Oilers’ fans initially reacted negatively to this confession and continued to criticize him. However, following the suspension of their captain, the community’s sentiment has now shifted against them.
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Bashing for the Connor McDavid fans
The statements of both the Canucks’ coach and the right winger reached the community in no time. And indeed, many are dissatisfied with the Oilers’ fans, as one user stated, “Edmonton feels like they got robbed and that there is some injustice against their captain. They want justice because they couldn’t impose their own justice. They feel like the league owes them a favor just because they have Connor Mcdavid. Newsflash the league hand fed you all those first overall picks only to have your city and team waste each one of them.” Similarly, another fan stated, “Oilers are the softest ‘contenders’ in the NHL. Happy the league isn’t falling for their whining and moaning anymore. Grow up.”
The rift between the Oilers fans and the NHL community started right after the incident at Rogers Arena when Connor McDavid gave a cross-check to Conor Garland on the head. Even though it wasn’t intentional, it did spark a lot of discussion, with many putting blame on the Oilers’ captain for his risky action. Indeed, if the opponent had been hit with more force while wearing full gear, the situation could have been extremely dangerous. This was also the reason why the #97 was suspended for three games, following an official statement from the NHL.
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However, the Oilers’ fans reacted not well to this decision, and it immediately caused many to criticize them, as one fan stated, “Oilers put out a statement like Mcdavid came down with some degenerative disease.” Another fan stated, “Oilers fans are so weak.. McDavid literally elbowed a guy in the head the week before and got nothing, and now they want Garland’s head because he ‘held’ McDavid? LOL” One fan made a cheeky response, stating, “I’m stunned there’s not widespread flooding in Edmonton with the amount of tears that have been shed over this.”
The Canucks will be facing the Oilers at Rogers Place on January 23, and it will be a rematch that many in the community will be looking forward to. Indeed, the home team won’t be having their star player McDavid on the ice rink, and it will be the second game that they will play without him after a terrible 2-3 loss against the Washington Capitals. Only time will tell if the Oilers can make a comeback to their winning ways with this match.
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