Connor McDavid has experienced firsthand how dangerous high-speed collisions can be in the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers captain suffered a broken collarbone after crashing into the end boards in 2015 and sustained a devastating knee injury after colliding with a goalpost in 2019.
Following another frightening incident against the Anaheim Ducks, McDavid has once again raised concerns about how the league handles dangerous plays around the net.
The incident occurred during Thursday’s 5–4 loss to Anaheim, when Ducks defenceman Drew Helleson cross-checked McDavid into the crease and left goalpost during a first-period rush. The Oilers captain remained on the ice briefly before getting up and confronting Helleson. Vasily Podkolzin subsequently stepped in to defend his captain, dropping the gloves with the Ducks defenceman.
Podkolzin received a two-minute instigator penalty, a five-minute fighting major, and a 10-minute game misconduct, leaving Edmonton short a forward for the remainder of the contest. Anaheim capitalized on the ensuing five-minute power play, with Cutter Gauthier scoring, although the Ducks eventually secured the 5–4 victory.
McDavid wants hits into the net to be treated the same as hits into the end boards
McDavid was understandably unhappy with the sequence of events. He appreciated Podkolzin’s response, but questioned the officiating and the way dangerous collisions around the net are treated.
“Obviously, it’s a play that’s a little sensitive to me. Those are plays that I’ve been really, really hurt on before. Going into the end wall, going into the net. Those types of plays I find to be dangerous. Obviously, I didn’t love it,” McDavid said after the game.
He also made a comparison that has become central to his concerns about player safety.
“I wish that we treated the net like we treat the end wall. If I do that to him going Mach 1 into the end wall, that’s a five-game suspension and everything. The net is just as dangerous in my opinion, with the goalie there, the post there. It’s just as dangerous.”
Mike Babcock questions play that sent McDavid into the post
Oilers Head Coach Mike Babcock also questioned the play and officiating, particularly the instigator penalty assessed to Podkolzin.
“The instigation of the whole thing was when they run our guy into the net,” Babcock said. “Is it within the rules to crosscheck the guy into the net? I thought it wasn’t.”
Babcock also defended Podkolzin’s response, saying it was what the team expected from its players in that situation.
Connor McDavid’s 2015 injury against the Philadelphia Flyers
Thursday’s incident brought back memories of McDavid’s rookie season, when a collision involving Philadelphia Flyers defencemen Brandon Manning and Michael Del Zotto sent him crashing into the end boards.
The injury occurred in November 2015 as McDavid drove toward the Flyers’ net. He suffered a broken left clavicle, underwent surgery and missed 37 games during his rookie campaign.
Mark Giordano’s challenge left McDavid facing a lengthy recovery in 2019
McDavid suffered an even more serious injury during the final game of the 2018–19 regular season against the Calgary Flames.
While driving toward the net, the Oilers captain was taken down by Flames defenceman Mark Giordano and crashed into the goalpost at high speed. The collision resulted in multiple injuries to his left knee, including a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), damage to both menisci, a torn popliteus muscle and a tibial plateau fracture.
Despite the severity of the injury, McDavid was initially reluctant to criticize Giordano. He acknowledged that the Flames defenceman was attempting to make a play on the puck and remained gracious about the incident.
He also made it clear that he had no intention of changing his playing style. Driving toward the net was a fundamental part of his game, and he was not prepared to abandon it because of the risks involved.
McDavid raised similar concerns about Chris Tanev’s play in 2021
The issue resurfaced during a preseason game against the Flames in October 2021, when McDavid found himself in another dangerous situation while driving toward the net.
Flames defenceman Chris Tanev attempted to stop the Oilers captain, but his stick became caught between McDavid’s legs. The resulting trip sent McDavid sliding into Calgary goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Edmonton eventually scored on the play, with the goal standing after a successful review process failed to overturn it.
McDavid was unhappy with the lack of a penalty, arguing that the play created unnecessary danger for both himself and the goaltender.
“Obviously they have the right to defend their net and defend me trying to get in there, but when the stick kind of comes into the feet there like Tanev’s did, it’s a dangerous play for me and the goalie,” McDavid said.
“I think you’d like to see that called a little more.”
Why McDavid wants the NHL to reconsider how it protects players around the net
McDavid’s Thursday comments brought the discussion back to a bigger question about player safety and the NHL rulebook.
The league already has rules addressing dangerous contact, including boarding, charging, cross-checking and tripping. Depending on the circumstances, those infractions can result in major penalties, game misconducts and supplemental discipline from the Department of Player Safety.
However, there is no separate automatic suspension framework simply because a player is driven into the goalpost. The specific circumstances of the play, including the nature of the contact, the speed involved and the resulting injury, remain relevant when officials and the league assess an incident.
The concern in this case is with the nature of certain plays and the potential consequences when a player is sent into the goal frame at full speed. The metal posts and the presence of a goaltender make those collisions particularly dangerous, even when the original intention is to prevent a scoring opportunity. While there have been certain rule changes around goaltending over the years, there is no one specific rule in place to address this kind of concern.
Whether the NHL eventually addresses the issue through stricter enforcement or changes to its player-safety guidelines remains to be seen. At least according to McDavid, the danger of being driven into a goalpost at full speed deserves the same serious consideration as being sent into the end boards.
Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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