When the face of your respective league gets away with a heinous act, what does your league do? Do they sweep it under the rug like the NBA? Do the referees call a foul on the other team like when anybody farts on Patrick Mahomes? Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers learned what the NHL does when the league's face acts out of line.
McDavid was suspended three games and received a match penalty on Saturday for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head. McDavid didn't appeal the suspension, taking the punishment as a valuable lesson. The punishment was well-received by NHL fans not named the Oilers. As for Edmonton? Well...
"The Oilers organization is disappointed and we share in our fan's frustration over the three-game suspension of our captain, Connor McDavid. We support him through his process and the organization and our fans look forward to having him back in the lineup vs. Seattle next week."Edmonton Oilers (January 21)
Geez, I wonder how Oilers fans will feel if the Vegas Golden Knights place Mark Stone on LTIR with another injury. I'm sure they won't accuse the Golden Knights of cheating and not advocate for the NHL to intervene. Hmm... Certainly not...
But in all seriousness, the NHL did something right. Even if it angered Corey Perry to the point of calls for protecting the league's biggest star, the NHL set a precedent for everyone to follow. It's something the NFL and NBA should follow, even if it upsets some corporations, advertisers, and marketing people.
What we can learn about fairness
Before moving on, remember that Kelly McCrimmon uses the LTIR rules to the fullest advantage, getting the best players along the way. When Mark Stone hits the injured reserve list, people lose their minds. But most general managers don't know the NHL rulebook and what they can (and can't) do. It's the same conundrum that MLB has, with people calling for a salary cap.
Here's the thing, dear reader. You can cry about the Los Angeles Dodgers signing everyone, including Roki Sasaki, your grandmother, the hotdog man, Jack Eichel, and even Connor Bedard. However, it's on your general manager and front office to step up. It's the same thing in the NHL, where most front offices don't know how to utilize the rules. Either adapt or die, as they say. No need to cry into your avocado toast and participation trophies.
As for Connor McDavid's suspension? Well, he endangered Conor Garland's playing career with the hit. It doesn't matter if the opposing player's antagonizing you to death. You don't try to put him out of commission permanently. Find a way to keep your composure.
Connor McDavid snaps with a BRUTAL cross-check on Conor Garland at the end of the game 😳
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 19, 2025
McDavid received a match penalty and was ejected. pic.twitter.com/Y3BwVI0N8S
Sure, Oilers fans can hold candlelight vigils like they lost a close family member. Sure, Sidney Crosby and other Hart Memorial Trophy winners of old might call out the opposition. But following the rules and playing the right way go a long way in ensuring the safety of others. Either get an enforcer or have better referees with closer eyes on the potential instigator.
Roger Goodell and Adam Silver can learn a lesson from... Gary Bettman?
Yeah, it seems weird saying this sentence. But it's true. Gary Bettman and the NHL held the face of their league accountable for his actions, ensuring that nobody was above the law. A three-game suspension might not seem like much for some. However, Patrick Mahomes and LeBron James have gotten away with minor offenses of their own, i.e. flopping and provoking late hits from defenders. Imagine if Adam Silver or Roger Goodell were commissioners of the NHL.
It might not be the main reason why both the NFL and NBA are seeing shrinking ratings. However, it's a significant part. When referees (and the league) don't do anything about calling out the league's best players, conspiracies start rising. People will think everything favors Mahomes or LeBron, keeping the theories of both leagues being "rigged" alive. The result? Fans start losing interest because they almost always know what the outcome will be.
It's a problem that's hampered Roger Goodell and Adam Silver in the past two years. The NFL saw sagging ratings for the Divisional Round, with CBS's main game (Ravens and Bills) suffering a 16% drop from last season. The Chiefs and Texans were the lowest-viewed game with 32.7 million people watching. With people being fatigued by Taylor Swift and her motley crew of young casual football fans, it's easy to see why.
As for the NBA? Well, last season's NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks had a rating of 5.8 (11.31 million viewers). It was the lowest-rated series since 2021 and a sharp contrast from the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers (11.4 rating, 20.28 million viewers).
Again, superstar fatigue isn't the main cause for both leagues declining. For the NFL, it's a matter of safety along with the league moving slowly on addressing CTE issues. For the NBA, it's a heavier focus on specific teams and not enough love for superstars like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the two leagues have placed their marketing eggs on a singular athlete in each sport. Therefore, it's hard for their league faces to get called for anything during crucial moments. Luckily, Gary Bettman proved to be fair and impartial, disciplining Connor McDavid for his wrongdoings (even if it upsets Edmonton Oilers fans and pleases Vegas Golden Knights fans).