NHL shocks everyone with decision on Connor McDavid's elbow to Jesperi Kotkaniemi!

Fans were hoping the National Hockey League would do something about Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid’s elbow to the face of Montreal Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi and well, it did. 

Sort of… 

The Department of Player Safety has just announced that McDavid has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for elbowing Kotkaniemi. 

No suspension has been handed to McDavid, who served a two-game suspension back in 2019 for an illegal check to the head of  New York Islanders  defenseman Nick Leddy. We're not saying fans were expecting a suspension : after all, this is Connor McDavid, but part of them was hoping the league would see the dirty move for what it is. 

Fans are outraged, stating that the league's decision is a joke, but after all, this is the NHL. 

Towards the end of the first period, as the Montreal Canadiens led 3-0, McDavid caught forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi right in the face with what appeared to be an elbow to the head.

He was sent to the penalty box with a minor for roughing, and it was easy to see that his move came out of frustration. Fans and pundits were outraged with his questionable move. 

After the game, the Journal de Montreal asked McDavid about his level of frustration by hinting at the elbow to Kotkaniemi and his disallowed goal. This is what he answered: 

“I didn’t think anything of it; it was just a normal night.” McDavid said. 

And he won't think much of the $5,000 fine either...