‘They have to protect their investment’: Nikita Zadorov talks Soucy’s suspension for game 4

Amidst the intensity surrounding Game 4 of the second-round series between the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers, defenceman Nikita Zadorov spoke candidly following today’s morning skate. Zadorov seemed to suggest that external factors, such as public opinion and social media pressure, may have influenced the league’s decision to suspend his teammate, Carson Soucy.

Soucy found himself on the receiving end of a one-game suspension after delivering a cross-check to Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid’s face in the aftermath of Vancouver’s 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Sunday. This incident occurred in the closing moments of the game, with McDavid falling forward due to a cross-check from behind by Zadorov, who was subsequently fined $5,000 on Monday for his actions.

Reflecting on the league’s decisions in the aftermath of the Game 3 altercation, Zadorov expressed his opinion:

“That’s the world we live in…social media & the public’s views can create hard decisions for specific people. They might make questionable decisions…that’s how I look at it. At the end of the day, they have to protect their investment.”

While Soucy maintained that he had no intention to harm McDavid and that the play resulted in a minor penalty with no injury to McDavid, the incident stirred controversy. When asked about it, McDavid simply labelled it as part of the heated series between the two Canadian rivals.

Amidst the scrutiny over Soucy’s suspension, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet highlighted another potential incident that went unnoticed. Tocchet drew attention to a cross-check delivered by Zach Hyman to the face of Nikita Zadorov, suggesting that the NHL might be investigating multiple incidents.