Don Cherry expresses dissent against Connor McDavid's 3-game suspension for cross-checking Conor Garland

Former NHL player and coach Don Cherry has weighed in on the Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid's three-game suspension, expressing disagreement with the league's decision.

McDavid was held up by Vancouver's Conor Garland in the final minutes of the Canucks' 3-2 win against the Oilers last week. In retaliation, McDavid delivered a cross-check to the side of Garland's head, resulted in his suspension.

"It was ridiculous," Cherry said on Gravepine podcast. "He (Garland) really did have him (McDavid) tied up." Cherry felt that Garland's holding and grabbing of McDavid provoked the retaliation.

Cherry believes that McDavid shouldn't have received the same suspension as Vancouver's Tyler Myers, who had also cross-checked an opponent in the head in the same game.

"You had to give him three games if the other guy (Myers) gets three games," Cherry said.

He also criticized the NHL's instigator penalty, which punishes a player who starts a fight, claiming it prevents players from standing up for star teammates.

“Everybody used to take care, take care of (Guy Lafleur), take care of (Steve) Shutt…” Cherry said.

“Say you pick on Shutt. There’s a guy coming. Took care of their own. And then somebody made this rule that now you have two, five and a ten. The instigator rule.”

When Cherry coached in the 1970s, he discouraged his star players from fighting themselves. He told his best defender in Boston, Brad Park, not to fight and that other players would handle it. After that, Park stopped fighting altogether.

"I said don't worry, there'll be somebody there to take care of it," Cherry said. "And after that, he never had another fight."

In Cherry’s view, Connor McDavid deserved protection from Garland's holding and grabbing and shouldn't have been suspended for retaliating.

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Connor McDavid talks about his 3-game suspension

Connor McDavid said that his three-game suspension for cross-checking Conor Garland was “a little bit harsh” but took ownership for his actions.

“Obviously there’s lots of holding and holding down — he holds my head down for a little bit — but I can’t have that reaction,” McDavid said (per The Athletic).

“I know that. Everyone knows that. Not the reaction that I’m proud of or that anyone wants to see out of me, and I understand that.”

McDavid expressed frustration with the officiating, emphasizing that players across the league want penalties to be called consistently, be it in the first or third period. McDavid will return on Monday against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place.