Connor McDavid won’t be suspended.
In last night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, McDavid threw a big, open-ice hit on Jesperi Kotkaniemi which featured a follow-through where McDavid’s elbow came up near Kotkaniemi’s head. McDavid was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing on the play.
connor mcdavid woke up and chose violence today pic.twitter.com/sVrwBen64j
— zach laing (@zjlaing) March 30, 2021
This play generated quite a bit of attention on the internet and social media last night. Many fans, especially those of the Habs, suggested that McDavid was targeting Kotkaniemi’s head and that it was worthy of a multi-game suspension. Jonathan Willis brought up a similar hit from earlier this season by Jared McCann which resulted in a fine rather than a suspension, which indicated that McDavid would likely be facing a fine, if anything.
RE: McDavid's hit on Kotkaniemi tonight, it's probably helpful to have this for context. McCann was fined $10,000 for this hit, which occurred in January. https://t.co/MhuWVvArcB
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) March 31, 2021
Anyway, the Department of Player Safety announced on Wednesday morning that McDavid would be issued a $5,000 fine for the hit and that he wouldn’t be suspended. In my opinion, this is the right call. McDavid doesn’t have a history of making dirty hits and throwing the book at him for this situation doesn’t seem necessary.
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Elbowing Montreal’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 31, 2021
