Draisaitl defends McDavid: '3 games is a little too much'

Leon Draisaitl lamented the NHL's disciplinary decisions when asked Tuesday about Connor McDavid's cross-checking suspension and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers' matching ban.

"I certainly think three games is a little too much, for either side, but I guess we don't overly care about having our best players in the league in the game, so I'll leave it at that," Draisaitl told the media, including TSN, on Tuesday.

Draisaitl brought up the fact that Canucks forward Conor Garland wasn't penalized for pinning McDavid moments before the Oilers superstar responded with a cross-check Saturday.

"That's, to me, clearly a penalty," Draisaitl said. "Connor doesn't want to tangle with Garland in that situation. There's 12 seconds left. We're looking to score, we're not looking to tangle with anybody. I also know the game happens quick and the refs aren't going to make the right call every single time, I understand that. But in that instance, I think that could've been avoided."

McDavid and Myers were suspended Monday for their actions in the final seconds of the Canucks' 3-2 win over the Oilers. Myers was suspended for cross-checking Edmonton blue-liner Evan Bouchard shortly after McDavid's altercation with Garland.

Myers and McDavid received match penalties for their transgressions.

McDavid reportedly won't appeal his ruling. It's the second suspension of the three-time Hart Trophy winner's career. He got a two-game ban in February 2019 for a hit to the head of then-New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy.