Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch sends a clear message to his team over Connor McDavid's suspension

Reaction continues to pour in in following Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid's three-game suspension for cross-checking Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head on Saturday night.

McDavid's teammates and Oilers fans have expressed their displeasure with the lead-up to the incident and the punishment handed down to their captain. However, as the dust settles Edmonton must shift its focus to winning hockey games without the services of the best player in the world.

Kris Knoblauch will have some decisions to make in terms of how he'll handle such a massive hole in his lineup.

The Oilers bench boss was asked about what the next three games without the captain will mean for the rest of the team. Here's what he had to say:

"It's an opportunity for everybody," Knoblauch said. "Jeff definitely will get some opportunities to play more minutes than he has, and some, move up and line up a little bit. But we need everyone stepping up a little bit more, just with the absence of Connor. Obviously, that's a huge void, but we're gonna have to do it by committee".

The Oilers will certainly need other players throughout the lineup to step up in McDavid's absence. As Knoblauch mentioned, forward Jeff Skinner, who's averaging just 12:31 of ice time this season should see more minutes in the upcoming games.

Connor McDavid is not appealing his suspension

TSN hockey insider Chris Johnston reported this morning that Connor McDavid will not be appealing the decision by the NHL's Department of Player Safety to suspend him for three games.

The 28-year-old is reportedly disappointed with the punishment but will serve his time without filing any complaints to the league.

McDavid will be eligible to return to game action on Monday, January 27, when the Oilers host the Seattle Kraken. Upon return, he'll be looking to extend his 100-point season streak to five straight. He's surpassed the mark in seven of his nine NHL seasons to date. The Oilers captain will have 33 games to produce the 35 points needed to hit the 100-point plateau, which seems like a shoo-in for one of the best players we've ever seen.

Edmonton begins life without Connor McDavid tonight against the first-place team in the league, the Washington Capitals. The puck drops at 9 p.m. EST at Rogers Place.