Mar 18, 2026
3 min read
Connor McDavid has called on the NHL to investigate how he reduced the suspension after a controversial five-game ban for Radko Gudas' assault on Auston Matthews.
Connor McDavid wants the NHL to look at how it provides extra training.
The Edmonton Oilers captain spoke Sunday about the league's suspension process and how the Department of Player Safety (DoPS) approaches its decisions.His comments followed the controversy surrounding the Department of Social Protection's decision last week to suspend Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas for five games for a season-ending injury to Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews.
That sentence was criticized because it failed to give Gudas history; he had been suspended four times before, and for the injury Matthews suffered from the knee-to-knee kick of Gudas.
"If everybody's going to complain about it every time there's a suspension, why don't we look at the process," McDavid said, according to TSN ."[And] think there's a better way to make sure both sides are happy, because it seems so frustrating.
Much was made clear even before the DoPS issued its ruling by granting Gudas an interception that made the five-game ban the maximum allowed;anything more would require a personal meeting.The game in question was considered by critics to be important enough to warrant the latter.
The incident itself occurred in Thursday's game between the Leafs and the Ducks when, late in the second period, Gudas intentionally hit Matthews and sent the Toronto captain to the ice screaming in pain.Matthews was helped back to the dressing room and did not return.Gudas was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.
The Leafs announced Friday that Matthews suffered a grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion following the impact, ending his season with Toronto, which is expected to miss the playoffs.
Matthews' agent Judd Maldavar released a statement Friday night condemning the NHL's findings.
"Given the obvious severity of the game, I am deeply disappointed and appalled that the league allowed this decision to be made. The wiretapping and the five games are simply ridiculous and unreasonable," Moldaver wrote.The Department should be temporarily suspended."
McDavid has now joined the chorus and believes further scrutiny of the NHL's disciplinary system is warranted.Toronto coach Craig Berube, who originally called Gudas a "dirty game," thought DoPS missed the mark.
"Looking at it, we're losing our guy, our captain for the year," Berber said."I don't know, it doesn't seem like enough to me. The guy who does it [Gudas] is a repeat offender, [and] it doesn't seem like enough."
Matthews teammate and frequent teammate Matthew Kniss also concluded that Gouda's punishment did not fit the crime.
“I think the league could have done a little bit more with our best player, our captain [not going to be] with us for the rest of the year,” Neese said. “It's a big loss [and] I would have liked to see a little more.”
Toronto and Anaheim will meet again on March 30.
