Oilers’ Connor McDavid to have hearing for cross-checking Canucks’ Conor Garland

The best player in the world could be on his way to taking some time off, thanks to his actions.

On Sunday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid is going to have a hearing for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland.

The Department of Player Safety says the date and time of the hearing have yet to be determined.

In the dying seconds of Saturday night’s game between the longtime rivals, while the Oilers were looking for the game-tying goal, McDavid and Garland were tied up after a scoring chance. The two wrestled in the high slot as play continued, leading to McDavid straight up cross-checking Carland up high, leading to a melee that resembled the battles the former Smythe Division rivals had in the ’80s.

McDavid was given a match penalty for the act, while Garland was handed a two-minute minor for roughing. In all, 52 penalty minutes were handed out due to the incident.

There is also a hearing for another incident that occurred during the donnybrook, as Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers is facing supplemental discipline for cross-checking Oilers defender Evan Bouchard.

Per Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek, the hearings will be over the phone, meaning any suspensions would be less than five games.

The Canucks hung on to win the game, 3-2.

McDavid has been suspended once before, receiving a two-game ban in Feb. 2019 after hitting then-New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy in the head. He was also fined $5,000 in March 2021 as well.

The Newmarket native is already in hot water for what happened last week. McDavid gave Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson an apparent concussion after McDavid caught him with a high on Wednesday.

The Oilers (29-14-3) are scheduled to host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, with a rematch against Vancouver this coming Thursday.