The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks will be without key faces for a few games after matching suspensions.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games for illegally cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Connor Garland.

As a 5-on-5 force, the Oilers remain a top-three club in both shot attempt differential (measuring total puck possession) and expected goals rate per Moneypuck.com. Then there is the largest concern of all, which has bitten the Oilers when push comes to shove every year they've been within arm's reach of a Cup: Goaltending.

Moments ago, NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that Oilers forward Derek Ryan cleared waivers, and will be sent officially to the AHL. The Edmonton Oilers placed Derek Ryan on waivers yesterday, as the team needed to clear cap and roster space for the addition of John Klingberg.

The NHL has suspended Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid for three games for his cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland. McDavid was given a match penalty late in the Canucks' 3-2 win over Edmonton on Saturday in Vancouver when he slammed his stick into Garland's head.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will have a disciplinary hearing for his cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland.

The biggest possible signing among Oilers prospects is Russian power winger Maxim Berezkin. I ranked him No. 3 on the winter edition of Edmonton’s top-20 prospect list based on size, skill and performance. He has scored 11-21-32 in 46 KHL games this season, and his free-agent window opens this spring.

The Edmonton Oilers have assigned defenseman Josh Brown to the Bakersfield Condors, it was announced Sunday. Brown, who is in his first season with the Oilers, has split time this season between the NHL and the AHL. In eight games with the Oilers, Brown has collected an assist while putting up three assists in 20 games with the Condors.

Edmonton is happy to be able to add a player of Klingberg's ability to their defense corps. The Oilers (29-14-3) are looking at making another long run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season after getting to Game 7 of the Cup Final against the Florida Panthers last season.

McDavid’s cross-check to Garland’s face is exactly the kind of play the NHL is trying to get out of the game. Violence exists in the league, but targeting the head is punishable by suspension and McDavid will have a hearing about the incident on Monday.