Source - Oilers' Connor McDavid won't appeal 3-game suspension - ESPN

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and the NHLPA will not appeal his three-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, an NHL source told ESPN on Tuesday.

There was buzz around the league Monday night that McDavid might appeal the ban to commissioner Gary Bettman, who would have the final ruling on any reduction of punishment.

Ultimately, McDavid's camp decided not to appeal, a source told ESPN, with the understanding that the timeline for appeal might not have prevented him from missing the next three games and that Bettman has very rarely adjusted a decision made by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

McDavid, who is fourth in the NHL in scoring with 65 points in 43 games, will miss home games against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, against the Canucks on Thursday and against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. He will forfeit $195,312.51 in salary, which goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

«I guess we don't overly care about having our best players in the league in the game,» Oilers center Leon Draisaitl said Tuesday about McDavid's suspension. «I'll leave it at that.»

With less than a minute left in regulation in Saturday night's game, McDavid and Garland toppled to the ice. As McDavid tried to get back to his skates, Garland held his arm, resulting in McDavid giving him a gloved punch to free himself. As McDavid attempted to return to the play, Garland wrapped his arms around the Edmonton captain to take him to the ice a second time. As Garland continued to obstruct McDavid when both reached their feet, McDavid delivered a stiff cross-check to Garland's head.

The Department of Player Safety noted that this was not a routine play by McDavid to box out an