McDavid: Suspension 'a little bit harsh' but understandable

Connor McDavid mildly pushed back on the three-game suspension he got Monday for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland on Saturday.

"I don't necessarily agree with it," the Edmonton Oilers superstar told the media, including Sportsnet, on Wednesday. "I'm not saying there shouldn't have been any penalty or any suspension, or anything like that. Might be a little bit harsh, but I understand their decision and we move on."

McDavid explained he didn't notice the officials choosing not to call a penalty on Garland for pinning him. The Oilers captain was, after all, a little preoccupied.

"I did not, I had my head between my legs, so I didn't see what the refs' reaction was," he said.

"I understand that the refs have a hard job but, that being said, my job's hard too," McDavid added. "Everyone's got a hard job. That's why we're in this business."

The three-time MVP isn't planning on booking a last-minute winter getaway while sitting out.

"I love to play. What am going to do? I'd rather be on the ice than sitting at home," McDavid said. "It's not like I can get a week away in Cabo. I'm here, I want to support the team ... I want to be here to get myself ready to roll when it is time (to return).

"We'll have six games before the break, and we want to go into the break on a high note," he continued. "I always feel that's important ... That's my main focus here."

Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl stood up for McDavid on Tuesday. He called the suspension "a little too much," saying "I guess we don't overly care about having our best players in the league in the game."

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet echoed those sentiments, calling the ban "unfortunate" and saying he doesn't want McDavid to get suspended because "you want to play the best."

Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers will also sit three games for cross-checking Oilers rearguard Evan Bouchard in the final seconds of Vancouver's 3-2 victory.