The NHL’s Department of Player Safety suggested that the league should examine its disciplinary procedures after Anaheim’s Radko Gudas was handed a five-game suspension. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid weighed in on the conversation on Sunday.

The suspension was issued for a knee-on-knee collision that ended Toronto captain Auston Matthews’ season with a Grade 3 MCL tear on Friday. McDavid acknowledged the difficulty of the player safety role while pointing to widespread dissatisfaction with recent rulings.

“If every time there is a suspension everybody complains about it well, why don’t we take a look at the process and figure out if there’s a better way to make sure that both parties are happy because it seems like there’s a lot of frustration,” McDavid said to reporters.

The Oilers star stopped short of criticizing the department, noting that he believes officials are working in good faith.

“Player safety is a tough job and I think they’re doing their best,” McDavid said.

The incident that sparked the controversy occurred during the second period of Toronto’s 6-4 victory. Matthews attempted to sidestep a hit in the slot from Gudas, who led with an extended knee. The NHL determined it to be a forceful and dangerous knee-on-knee collision. Gudas received a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct.

Leafs HC, Auston Matthews’ agent unhappy with Radko Gudas’ suspension length

Auston Matthews’ injury reignited questions about supplemental discipline consistency.

The Blue Leafs star’s agent, Judd Moldaver, issued a strong statement on Friday. He questioned the severity of the penalty and the hearing process.

“In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am disappointed and shocked the league would allow such a ruling,” Moldaver said. “A phone hearing and five games is just laughable and preposterous. While the hearing process is pre-fixed in our CBA, that there was no further discipline is a reckless and ridiculous position for player safety.

“This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players. Players and fans deserve better. The player safety department should be suspended.”

Toronto coach Craig Berube shared similar concerns about the proportionality of the suspension. He pointed to the disparity between the time Matthews will miss and Gudas’ penalty.

“Looking at it, we lose our guy, our captain for the year,” Berube said on Saturday, via ESPN. “It doesn’t seem like enough for me. You lose your star player for the year. The guy doing it is a repeat offender. It just doesn’t seem like enough.”

Gudas received a phone hearing rather than an in-person one, limiting the maximum suspension to five games under NHL policy. The veteran defenseman has been suspended four times previously in his 14-year career, totaling 21 games.