Oilers' McDavid Calls for Review of NHL Discipline Process

After Auston Matthews' season-ending injury, Edmonton captain says "every time there is a suspension, there is a lot of frustration from the player side."

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:48pm

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Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid spoke out about the NHL's player discipline process, calling for a review after Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension for a hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' season. McDavid acknowledged the difficulty of the job but said the current system leads to frequent player frustration, and suggested examining ways to make the process work better for all parties involved.

Why it matters

The NHL's player safety and discipline procedures have long been a source of controversy, with players, teams, and fans often criticizing rulings as inconsistent or unfair. McDavid's comments reflect the broader frustration within the league about how these decisions are made and communicated, and could add momentum to calls for reforms to the system.

The details

Gudas was suspended for five games after his knee-on-knee hit that resulted in a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion for Matthews, ending the Leafs star's season. McDavid said the league's Department of Player Safety has "done their best" but that "there is reason to take a look at how the whole process works." He stopped short of suggesting specific changes, but said "every time there is a suspension, there is a lot of frustration from the player side."

  • On March 15, 2026, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas received a five-game suspension for a hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' season.
  • On March 16, 2026, the Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed that Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion, ending his season.

The players

Connor McDavid

The captain of the Edmonton Oilers, who spoke out about the NHL's player discipline process and called for a review of how it works.

Auston Matthews

The captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who suffered a season-ending injury from a hit by Radko Gudas.

Radko Gudas

The Anaheim Ducks defenseman who received a five-game suspension for the hit that injured Auston Matthews.

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What they’re saying

“I think the (NHL's Department of Player Safety) has done their best. It's not an easy thing to do. You know, with that being said, I think that there is reason to take a look at how the whole process works. If every time there's a suspension, everybody complains about it, well, why don't we take a look at the process and figure out if there's a better way to make sure both parties are happy? Because it seems like there's a lot of frustration there.”

— Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Captain

What’s next

The NHL and NHL Players' Association could examine potential reforms to the player discipline process, including ways to improve transparency and consistency in rulings.

The takeaway

Connor McDavid's comments reflect the broader frustration among NHL players with the league's disciplinary procedures, which have long been criticized as opaque and inconsistent. His call for a review of the process could add momentum to efforts to overhaul how the NHL handles player safety and suspensions, an issue that has been a source of ongoing debate and controversy in the league.