MJ on McDavid suspension: ‘I thought it was longer than it would be’ | OverDrive Hour 2 | 01-21-24

Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jonas Siegel are joined by TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson to discuss the length of Connor McDavid’s suspension, Leon Draisaitl’s comments about the suspension and why it might be a positive that McDavid did what he did, the play of William Nylander, the Leafs 5 point lead in the Atlantic Division, Joseph Woll’s play over the course of the Maple Leafs 3-game win streak despite allowing more goals than he did earlier in the season and more. The guys also play OverDrive favourite Confirm or Deny and more.

[@michaelappel9725]

"people freak out for no other reason than to bring attention to themselves" No truer words spoken by Jeff O'Neill

[@gorgeousgeorge5173]

No question, every NHL team outside of Oilers is ALWAYS happy to see the best player on the planet out. Its normal for defenders to hold 97 for 13 seconds while he's on offense trying to tie it up. great reffing.

[@korbendallas7181]

Cry?

[@thedankswordsmantm]

2 or 3 is fine for both guys. I do think Meyers deserves more because it was completely unprovoked. Bouchard wasn't gunna attack him and Meyers just cracked him in the mouth with his stick.

[@MisterMister5893]

This doesn't track. He deserves more because precisely it wasn't provoked. You can't make the same case for McDavid who was molested big time. Myer is just a dirty, dirty player who goes on the offence well in advance. He's definitely gifted with the size and skill but he chooses to be an overly aggressive defender and the fact that the refs aren't penalizing him is a joke. His crosscheck on Morgan Reilly into the post was particularly brutal. At any rate, Myers deserved more than McDavid.

[@thedankswordsmantm]

@MisterMister5893 So we agree then.

[@savax1551]

@@MisterMister5893 both would of gotten 1 but since McDavid is a recidivist he got 3, since Myers was not provoked he got 3 instead of 1...

[@korbendallas7181]

Cant justify mcdavids crosscheck bubba. . .

[@thedankswordsmantm]

@@korbendallas7181 Who, me? I'm not, he deserves a suspension. Meyer's deserved more and I would say the same thing if the roles were reversed.

[@scottdixon2420]

Timo Meier and Auston Matthews both delivered cross-checks to the head, but only after being cross-checked themselves in the middle of a scrum. Meier’s seemed to unintentionally hit the head as the player lurched forward, while Matthews was more clearly deliberate. That’s why Meier got a 1-game suspension and Matthews 2 games. McDavid on the other hand, received 3 games for a direct, intentional cross-check to the head, without being struck first. Garland did hold him, but they weren’t directly involved in the play.

[@DonatoXlll]

They used to give 1 game, people still kept doing it. They recently upped the norm to 2-games. It happened twice within seconds of each other with McDavid/Myers. 3-games is a statement that the league doesn't want this. Not sure why it's hard to understand 😅

[@Jimmy-pl2op]

Hayes’ take about mcdavid is wild not because it’s not logical, it’s because of how emphatic it is against him. Like goddamn, recognize who you are talking about

[@asci1732]

"it was only 10 seconds...left in the game" uh huh...and he sat on him for 15 seconds that took him out of the play until the 10 second mark. I will laugh very loudly when this happens to his team.

[@DiscoLeafs]

that Garland tackle fest is a good argument to extend any game automatically by the length of any penalty taken within two minutes of the end of the game

[@Michael-pg7rv]

I will say that there has been an overration from the fans on the whole "3 games vs 2 games" debate but at the same time there are going to be THOUSANDS of fans who had already bought tickets to that third game probably paying a huge premium just to see Connor McDavid play and now they are gutted because they have missed there opportunity and wasted hundreds of dollars on tickets.

[@TheDeepShallow]

What the HELL does being a superstar have to do with it? Nothing, that’s what

[@bradlockwood8764]

One of you 3 made the same comment about the length of the suspension. But when someone else says the same thing it's an issue. And what does the players status have to do with the amount of games suspended. Why doesn't the NHL a standard discipline for each type of penalty?

[@deanm375]

Cry more!!! McDavid got what he deserved. McDavid should NEVER get special treatment. Stop making excuses for him.

[@rustydusty1111]

McDavid should get 2 for sure. Refs should have never let Garland pin him to the ground. I would of cross checked Garland if he was trying to hold me to the ice and the refs just stood by and watched.

[@bucketophil]

McDavid literally just laid on top of him for a good 5-6 seconds before the scrap started. Neither is innocent.

[@mikechar17]

I heard that McDavid has 197th most penalties drawn not 47th.

[@happytrails151]

Hes 231st in penalties drawn per 60 minutes

[@mikechar17]

@@happytrails151 47th isnt close

[@Derty69]

Disappointed by the lack of balls shown by the hosts regarding the suspension: not one Oilers fan is complaining about the suspension or is arguing against it, that's a false narrative. What every single one is doing is expressing their frustration at the situation which lead to the incidents in the first place. That in itself is not excusing the suspension. McDavid deserves to sit, you can't punch someone in the face with your stick. The issue is, and MJ kinda touched on it without hurting the ref's feelings (because the NHL apparently has mainstream media's nuts in a vice re: refs) if the play is whistled because of a deserved call, this doesn't happen. All the other fan bases need to remove their heads from their asses over this. It's not about McDavid. It could have been Derek Ryan for god's sake, it's the fact that Wes McNoCalley stood there and lost control of the game because he didn't do his job.

[@bonedaddy95]

as an oiler fan somewhat agree but the rest talk for yourself, should have been 1-2 games max and Meyers should have gotten 4-5, and yes it never should have resort to that because it should have been called a penalty, Reffing and the NHL is to blame not McDavid

[@ObscureReference9]

this isn't true at all.

[@rickster_88]

No, no, no, no. McDavid did not have to cross-check him in the head. That's all. Sure, Garland deserved a penalty way before, but you can't cross-check a guy in the head. It is black and white. The refs miss calls all the time, you can not cross-check a guy in the head. Get over the if and buts. We all know the refs were terrible.

[@Zentrix-24]

My ques is why are the refs immune when a player holds another player for 13 seconds ??? wow

[@gregoryhampson5630]

Need to stop this behavior in the NHL. Look to the NFL for the behavioral model to clean up the sport. Big fines and lengthy suspensions are a good start. Own it McDavid and set an example for the youth.

[@asci1732]

2 games for McDavid is fine in Edmonton. Edmonton are fans in the know. Setting the precedent but not following it and saying Myers and McDavid infractions are the same? Give your head a shake. It's ok for Meiers to get one game this season? 2 for Matthews?? Relax? It's only 50% more of a suspension than what Matthews received.

[@StoicNature444]

Jonas must have dirt on TSN in order to be able to stay on air 😅

[@happytrails151]

So the context of the refereeing failing to protect McDavid doesnt matter, but the fact that the Oilers play the Canucks in two games does?

[@marcuseaston4640]

get the year right... 3 weeks into 25...lmfao

[@atlasfeynman1039]

@@Yellow5Lover 2025 xD

[@marcuseaston4640]

@redzed9523 I am on about it is the third week of 2025 and the date on the cast is 2024...

[@collynbertin3260]

Hot take, but three games was the right call. If we are comparing his hit to matthews mcdavid's pkay was at thebemd of the game and the league has made it clear of ots the dying seconds of a game they will add the extra game. Everyone agreed that reilly got an extra game because it was at the end and not an actual hockey battle. Its the same with mcdavid, he dod it at thebend of the game, had it been done in moddle or beginning it probably would have been two games because it would have been seen as a hockey battle.

[@bucketophil]

Leon is not that smart to choose his words. He literally means the best players should get special treatment.

[@MrThoVogt]

smarter than you any day

[@michaelappel9725]

Eagles went to the Super Bowl in Sirahinni 's second year. First year they made the playoffs and lost in the first round to Tampa

[@lukejaffray2518]

Guys…. It’s not the suspension… it’s the fact that Connor garland laid on Mcdavid for 22 seconds and no call was made… it’s the fact that in the garland interview after he admitted it was a illegal play but he did it cause there was no recourse from the refs being so late in the game… it’s about the many missed calls per game that the refs let slide… the cross checks would have never happened if the refs did their jobs!!! No one gives a rats ass about the suspension cause at this rate someone is gonna get really hurt cause the refs don’t do their job

[@sciWraith]

My issue here is 2 things: 1) The refs need to make calls on such blatant fouls. They shouldn't be missing them 2) The responsibility can't be completely on the refs. They are human, and they are going to miss things (even seemingly obvious ones). Garland's behavior needs to be disciplined outside the game. I think a fine for unsportsmanlike conduct is completely reasonable and might help curb this kind of monkey behavior.

[@retired8123]

After the latest Wes McCauley game... rumour has it the Buffalo Bill want him to referee their upcoming game with the Chiefs since he has no idea what a penalty is or intends to call one even if he thinks he sees one. This will stop the nonsense that happened in last weeks Chief game. Different sport I know but can he do worse than what we saw last week?

[@Canadianbugman]

Punish the BEST player in the world, Don't Protect him seems to be the NHL directive. They had the same with Crosby when he was younger.

[@Canadianbugman]

Nothing any Leaf is doing warrants a MVP nod accept maybe Willy

[@Canadianbugman]

Makar if a D

[@tylerreed6575]

How good you might be is no excuse when you use your stick as a weapon if you hit someone with your car you go to jail it doesn't matter how cool your car is

[@MisterMister5893]

What does MJ know about hockey? He was a mediocre player when he was active. I also have a personal beef with him because I ran into him in a grocery store where he shopped after Leafs game. The dude gave me the cold shoulder like I was going to harass him for a selfie or something when all I did was look towards his general direction and thought he looked familiar. This is not a very humble human being.

[@Tomastone]

Wait until McCrybaby does it again, he will get a double digit suspension.

[@Raphael_Slowik]

Funny though O-dog freaking out about Leons comment who totally calm stated, what they all said before. Overdrive is more and more getting the special outlet out of the Leafs ass….

[@atlasfeynman1039]

Overdrive is a Toronto radio show... you think Vancouver radio should focus on the Pens?

[@Canadianbugman]

Suspend him fine he broke the rules, Enforce the shit on the ice also?

[@user-iw5mp5th6d]

All home games for the Oilers. Wouldn't have been 3 games if the Oilers were on the road in the American market cities.

[@korbendallas7181]

lol mcdavid jump on him AND punched him way before the crosscheck. 3 games was light for the mcbaby.

[@korbendallas7181]

1:55 terrible excuses. Canadians are the best at crying.

[@Old-Blue]

Wasn’t 10 seconds left it was 19 and the whistle went a 4.6 left, so 15 seconds of being tackled. You guys are pathetic, report the facts not bs.

[@scottsnothome5649]

Mcdavid is a friggen cheapshot artist always has been. 3 suspensions. Tons of fines. He skated on the chicken wing elbow to the head of that guy only a few days before. Look for him being confronted on that one next time. They let him slide on it because its "Conner". That player was concussed and placed on IR. I'm sure his McDonald's money will flow as they prop up a guy with personality of a knat.

[@Canadianbugman]

Garage League as always

[@Canadianbugman]

are you on Crack? They were BETTER without matthews they wont without him. He is NOT that important to the Leafs I would say Willy or at a lesser extent mitch are more.

[@breakaway2x]

Draisaitl also needs to be suspended. The Oilers teams is cheating with no injuries like EVER. They need many players to be out.

[@nerinamak3298]

Right? I don't know how Draisaitl got away with the Barkov hit with nothing at all

[@Jimmy-pl2op]

Huh?

[@kopitarrules]

Nowhere NEAR long enough. He deserved at LEAST five to send the message that stuff like this is unacceptable from any player ESPECIALLY the so called "best in the world".

[@user-iw5mp5th6d]

LIke suspended right through the owners 4 Nations tournament?

[@rickyrichards1294]

bozo take

[@waldmarwolchuk9483]

Hayes ONLY in Assists in the NHL not in the World ..... He should of gotten 5 NOT 3 he deserves it 100%

[@lannysstache]

Its only too long because of his last name as is costing $$$$$$$$$$ otherwise nobody would be talking about it

[@johncOU812]

O dog needs to eat more he’s getting miserable, grab sum burgers Jeff and relax bro!