It’s obvious to anybody who has paid even casual attention to the Edmonton Oilers these past four seasons that Connor McDavid is a special player. This much we already know.
As has come to be expected, the 22-year-old Oilers’ captain keeps finding new ways to prove it, like his hell-bent charge to the net in a meaningless game against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome Saturday night. And with the matter-of-fact comments he made Sunday about the play that saw him slam into the goalpost left knee-first, stay down, then limp to the dressing room.
It’s a play that had Oilers fans rightfully crapping their pants as McDavid was hauled down by Mark Giordano four minutes into the second period of what would be a 3-1 win in Edmonton’s season finale. While X-rays taken in Calgary showed no broken bones, McDavid isn’t in the clear yet – the team is awaiting the results of an MRI on a knee that was heavily braced as he faced reporters at Rogers Place this morning.
You’d think in a game without playoff implications, McDavid, already in the books with a career-high 116 points, might ease up just a little. I mean, it’s not like he hasn’t done enough, taking turns with Leon Draisaitl carrying the team on his shoulders this season. Well, think again. For better or worse, depending on the result of that MRI, that’s just not how McDavid is put together.
WORTH EVERY DIME
When Mark Spector of Sportsnet asked McDavid about his daring dash to the net before Giordano tripped him up – and if that’s an aspect of his game that might be throttled back a hair in Game 82 with the Oilers closing out another disappointing season – we got an insight into the competitive fire that burns in his gut and what makes him tick.
“They pay me $100 million to play my game, and part of my game is beating guys wide and going to the net,” McDavid said straight-faced. “I’ll have to give my money back if I stop doing that. I’m not doing that, so…” McDavid’s full media availability is here.
The other part of McDavid’s availability that stuck with me was when he re-visited the frustration he voiced after a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on the night the Oilers were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Some Toronto-area wags, as they seem prone to do, speculated again that McDavid’s frustration translated to him wanting out of Edmonton.
“This year is frustrating,” he said. “A lot has already been made about what I said in Vegas, but I’d be a complete loser if I wasn’t frustrated. You know, it’s frustrating personally. It’s frustrating as a group. You want to be in the playoffs. You want to be competing late in the season, but that’s not where we’re at, so we’ve got some stuff to figure out, like I said.
“We’re going to get it right. I know Bob (Nicholson) is on a mission to right the ship here and I’m confident he will. I want to be here. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t have signed an eight-year deal. I love the guys and the city. There’s obviously going to be changes both on and off the ice. That’s just the facts of it. I’m here to be part of the solution. That’s that.”
THE WAY I SEE IT
Call me crazy, but I’m willing to take McDavid at his word on that one even if I’m not so sure about Nicholson, who will meet with the media Monday. I don’t know how many more kicks at the can that Nicholson and whoever he brings in to replace Peter Chiarelli and clean up hockey ops are going to get, but I wouldn’t press it. For now, though, McDavid is all-in.
That should provide Oilers’ fans with some small measure of solace as they spend yet another off-season wondering what went wrong and who is going to fix things. I’d hope as well that what McDavid said today might stick a sock in it for those Hogtown-area gasbags who can’t believe he actually wants to stay here and win here, but I doubt they’ll shut it.
For now, fingers crossed on that knee and the vision and due diligence Nicholson spells out for the masses on Monday.
Of course McDavid is all in. He signed a contract to play hockey for Edmonton, and if the team does eventually find success, it will be all the more sweeter for him. He’s all class. So lucky to have him.
Good for that, we all new that but it’s good to hear that from his own mouth. Now I’m just going to ignore fans from other teams when they spout that nonsense. Tired of talking about it.
The injury still has me concerned until we hear from the MRI and the prognosis for surgery and the time frame for hopefully a full recovery.
Now we wait to see who the GM is and there is no room for error. Can anyone update me on when the season ticket prices are released. Very anxious on how that will work out as well.
If one is saying the McD is all in they would also have to say Gio is all in every game as well.
flames troll
go Colorado!
And of course he is frustrated. Everyone is. If he isn’t, then he wouldn’t be the best player. He wants to win!
Oil fans needed some good news … after McD taking such a hit last night … this hapless team certainly does need to get this right or he will be gone … it’s that important …
Agreed. If they don’t get it right, at the very least, McDavid will look elsewhere come free agency a la Tavares.
The Lamers first round exit ought to be plenty of entertainment
is that how you cope with the negativity of having the best player on the planet and still absolutely choking? at least they made the playoffs…
I really hope on Monday that BN puts away his “schtick” of BS answers, nervous smile, and dancing around questions. It would be nice if, for a change, he was simply honest and transparent with the fans and stopped treating us like we are dumb. Everyone could see what was happening and what needs to happen way before those in suits saw anything. Oiler fans are not stupid. We get it – often long before others. The members of the media are also not stupid. It would be nice if their questions were answered directly and honestly, without the tap dance routine. Is that asking too much?
He won’t. They never are. Only other organizations have the luxury of being honest with fans. Ours are too stubborn and stuck up to admit failure
I can’t wait for Nicholson’s announcement …
“We have searched high & we have searched low for a new G.M. in a more indepth manner than the forensic audit I initially performed on the Oilers when I arrived here. And low & behold, the very best candidate was right under my very nose … it’s my distinct pleasure to introduce you to the new G.M. of the Oilers, Mr. Keith Gretzky”
Wait for it …
Once a “snake-oil salesman, always …………. that’s Bobi Burger for you.
Why go looking for better guys to play with. He already has the only other 50 goal player in the league on his team…and OV is on the decline. We have two if the premium pieces in the NHL today. Now let’s add a few to complete the puzzle. Starting with a GM who has a vision and is allowed to see it through without the proven failure guys poking their noses in.
Team needs to upgrade 2nd line wingers, 3rd and 4th lines, and the D. Goaltending too.
All of the above but the biggest upgrade has to happen in upper management.
Persson is coming over on a one way contract for 1M. Jones will get a crack at making the lineup. Maybe we may have to trade a D man to fill a hole up front, so we need money to sign Nurse to an extension. Not sure on goaltending, maybe Shane Starrett is ready for backup. Because of the contract Koskinen will be our starter.
The Nuge pretty much said the same thing about his frustration level and that he is getting tired of this gong show after 8 yes 8 years and he wants it fixed.He was clear that he is tired of playing with different people every second shift .I hope he and Dri and McDavid all make it VERY VERY clear to Bob and whom ever else is in that exit interview that they HAVE HAD IT ..
It’s all on management now.
Then with our current management we’re screwed. Sorry to be negative but it’s the truth.
Nicholson shouldn’t be getting any more kicks at the can at all. He and the rest of the tired old luggage that the Oilers are saddled with lugging around upstairs should be serving up their resignations. Anything less and we can just settle in for more of the same.
And of course the Invisible man/owner.
He’s the main problem. Katz can’t bring himself to fire his buddies.
Who’ll be his “friend” if he does?
Well maybe Connor wont have to go and play in that Euro-cheese cup ,the consolation for not making the playoffs.
Great, after this I’d rather he not play in that tournament. Watched to many Oilers play there over the years and I used to view it as a consolation prize, but now I’ll just wait until the next season.
Get in line…presently 4 NHL teams needing a coach ,Oilers are one of them.
Thank GOODNESS looks like Connor McDavid is going to be OK. From what I saw, he took the impact flush on the leg with no twisting or torqueing (speaking as a guy who tore up his knee three times when I was a kid, also I happen to know a couple of orthopedic surgeons). So maybe he got a bone bruise…or even a hairline fracture…but that beats the heck out of ligament damage.
Now maybe somebody can explain to me why McDavid and Draisaitl were playing 24 minutes a night in the last month of the season? I have been complaining about this for weeks. “That’s their only chance of winning” people kept saying to me. So what? They missed the playoffs by 11 points. They finished second last in the Western Conference. “They’re still mathematically alive” they kept saying. Yes they were…if they won 10 straight games…and about 5 (not one or 2) teams in front of them all lost 9 of ten games. I said it before, I’ll say it again, playing McDavid and Draisaitl as much as they did left them tired, sick (in the case of McDavid), pissed off and worn out. It’s one of the reasons I hope they don’t bring Hitchcock back to coach next year. He doesn’t see the big picture as much as he should.
Last I checked, McDavid was #1 in the NHL for ice time per games for forwards, Draisaitl was #2. Six of the top 8 forwards for ice time per game were on NON-PLAYOFF teams. It’s a symptom of a thin, poorly constructed team.
Leon wanted 50 and Connor wanted the scoring championship.
And furthermore…please DO NOT let McDavid play in the IIHF championships this year. I don’t care if he’s fully recovered physically, he needs to re-charge in other ways. The IIHF championship format this year is weird. Sixteen teams total, 8 in each pool. In the first round, Canada plays Slovakia, France and (I am not making this up) Great Britain. What does McDavid gain from playing those games? Germany is also in the World Championships, but I believe they should be discouraging Draisaitl from participating for the same reason. The last thing he needs is playing 22 or 23 minutes a game on a thin Germany team.
I’m betting the injury puts to rest he would participate, although I’ve been wrong before.
I don’t doubt that McDavid wants to win here. I also scoff at the folks who keep predicting he’s going to leave. That conversation will only occur if the Oil can’t make any headway for another few years.
That being said, the Oilers have an extremely tight window to get it right here. It starts with a GM who knows what he’s doing. He’s also going to have to have the mental makeup that allows him to ignore all the barnacles that have attached themselves to the front office and will not be removed until the owner decides that a successful franchise is worth more than hanging out with his buddies in the city’s most expensive clubhouse.
A tall order I know. Hopefully they put McDavid on the selection committee. He knows how he likes to play and the new GM will have to build a team around him anyway…
I am scared $hitless about his knee. He said he thought his leg was in two pieces then the x-rays show no breaks. What does that leave? Tendon and ligament damage.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Please let me be wrong.
The fact that he was walking today wh n he put no weight on it last night leaves me optimistic. Fingers crossed.
The article said it was “heavily braced” . You don’t need your ACL or MCL if it is heavily braced.
Fingers and toes crossed.
ACL, MCL or meniscus cartilage. Tear of either is bad, but hopefully not ripped apart. Meniscus cartilage surgery has come a long way since Bobby Orr. I hope they say the surgery should be easy and expecting a full recovery.
when I tore my MCL I was able to walk on it although limping. I’m not inferring that’s what the McInjury is. I guess we’ll wait & see what the MRI says.
@Spydyr, I’m going with a badly bruised shin as that is what hit the post. When you hit your shin it hurts like crazy.
He’s a gem.
On the injury, he’s going to play his game, and on the Gio side, I wouldn’t expect him to play soft because the game was meaningless. Their next game will be in the playoffs, so they’re getting ready. I don’t put this in the same category as Manning deliberately trying to injure McDavid.
On next season, unless the Oilers get Sam Pollock in his prime to come to Edmonton, they’re going to struggle to upgrade with all of the bad contracts.
If they can move a few bad contracts to teams looking to make the cap floor it would help immensely.
So the building blocks are in place in the minors and junior hockey ranks…and now we have some contracts that need to be moved to free up cap space and roster spots for these young guys to get on the team. The way I see it is we may need to package draft picks outside the first round, as well as some players to move money and free up said spots.
Free agency is maybe a way to get a guy, but the problem is anyone worth signing will be overpaid and a long term. I wouldn’t do it, I would grow organically and know that we have 1 or 2 more rough years but then we will be an annual contender. I dont think the fan base, owner or management team has the patience…guess we will see
Free agency seldom works.When was the last time the Oilers picked up one that worked out?
Draft and develop is the way to go.
Sorry had to break the comment up. It would not let me post whole.
There is no better time then now to win a cup in Edmonton. A competent GM and management group would be able to make this happen.
Why is this even a question to start with? Was it ever in doubt outside of some click bait reporters in toronto?
Was Bob Nicholson just fired?
Tell me you’re not a troll…
If not he should have been.
Talk is talk, my attitude is believe it when you see it. As Conner said I wouldn’t have signed the contract if I didn’t want to be here, so let’s chill out and hope we get a GM that has a clue and rebuilds this team the right way.
My left knee hurts today, maybe I’m having McDavid mcsympathy pains.
flames troll
That would be the only similarity you would have to 97. He has class and you….well your comment says it all.
Buffalo and Florida wasted no time firing people. What are you waiting for, Oilers?
Who are we taking in the draft?. Wishes and reality.
Jack Hughes. Dylan Cozens.
Cozens would be a steal.
Kirby Dach
Rob Schremp …
Of McDavid wanted out, he would sign for less years. Kind of like the 5 years Mathews did :;
~zing~…lol… mind you that was funny Leafs fans wouldnt think so
And then Babcock and Mathews could go to another team together when Mathews requests his trade!
I never thought Connor would want out at this point but I still don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility down the road. This summer is crucial and will decide the fate of mcdavid and the oilers. If they flounder this again mcd will change his tune in a couple years I would think. Hope that leg is ok. At least he has 6 months off to repair it I guess.
Toronto will shut up when this organization is making the playoffs and gets its collective sh*t together.
“I still don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility down the road.”
At the most, two more seasons, if there isn’t huge improvement. He’ll want out.
I don’t blame him.