How long should Vancouver Canucks expect Tyler Myers to be suspended?
The Vancouver Canucks secured the 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, but they may have lost a defenceman in the process.
In the dying seconds of the game, things got a little out of control on the ice. Oilers captain Connor McDavid let out his frustration by cross-checking Conor Garland in the head, resulting in a passionate scrum.
While all the attention was on McDavid, Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers got himself in hot water behind the play after cross-checking Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard in the face. The Oilers’ rearguard didn’t appear to be initiating any physical contact before Myers decided to go on the attack.
Tyler Myers also received a match penalty for cross-checking Evan Bouchard. pic.twitter.com/9fk6jJHCx9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2025
This caused the 34-year-old to be assessed a match penalty and has landed him a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, alongside McDavid.
The date and time for that hearing have yet to be decided, but it would appear a suspension could be on the way. So, how long should the Canucks expect to be without Myers?
Vancouver’s Tyler Myers will have a hearing for cross-checking Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard. Date and time TBD.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 19, 2025
Since the suspension is over the phone (per Jeff Marek), the NHL will be limited to a maximum suspension of five games for Myers, though that does not seem like the likely outcome. The veteran blueliner does not have an extensive history of being disciplined in the NHL. Myers has just one prior three-game suspension that happened back in 2013 and was most recently fined for an elbow last season.
He should not be viewed as a repeat offender by the DoPS which should help keep any potential suspension brief. That being said, his actions were pretty cut and dry during this play.
There was a scrum happening on the ice when it happened and while it did appear Bouchard and Myers were exchanging words, it was the Canucks defender who initiated contact. Further, there can’t be any argument that Myers didn’t mean to hit Bouchard in the head as he was standing right in front of him and was looking at him when he made the cross-check.
Similar to the McDavid play, it was clear that the refs thought that there was some intent to injure on Myers’ part, thus justifying a match penalty. That will be something that the DoPS will notice.
Considering all of this, it seems fair to expect a suspension in the two to three-game range for Myers, which should be similar to what McDavid will receive as well. With Myers’ history, two games seems like the more likely outcome.
This would put him in line to miss Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres as well as Thursday night’s rematch with the Edmonton Oilers. He would return on time to play in Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals.
We won’t have to wait long to hear about the final verdict.