The Canucks coach was asked for his opinion on the suspension that was handed out and believes it was a tough situation for all involved.
“I think it’s just unfortunate and it’s a tough job. It’s tough for the referees and it’s tough for George Parros. I just don’t like the grandstanding,” Tocchet told reporters after practice Tuesday. “It is what it is. I don’t want Connor McDavid to get suspended. We’re playing him. Honestly, you always want to play the best. He’s terrific for the league.”
McDavid was handed a three-game suspension by the league for a cross-check to the head of Canucks forward Conor Garland and will be out until the Jan. 27 game against the Seattle Kraken.
Myers was also handed a three-game ban for a similar cross-check to the head of Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard.
Tocchet said at this point, there is no reason to debate whether the right decisions were made and isn’t placing blame on anyone.
“It happened so you deal with it. Same thing with Mysie,” Tocchet said. “It’s a tough position for everybody. It’s really hard for everybody sitting on the couch ripping everybody. I have a tough time with that. A lot of people are grandstanding and ripping the refs. Wes McCauley is one of the best refs in the league, okay? There was a hold, there were a couple of holds that didn’t get called for whatever reason.
“There was like 10 seconds left. There was a missed high stick. We can go back and forth. It’s a three-game suspension, it is what it is and we have to move on.”
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch declined to comment on the suspension. However, McDavid’s teammates expressed their frustrations with the ruling.
“I guess we don’t overly care about having our best players in the league in the game,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said Tuesday.
Defenceman Mattias Ekholm chimed in as well, saying the decision of three games is “mind-blowing.”
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