It’s a Connor McDavid offseason update!
5 years ago
I was SO happy to see a Connor McDavid interview written by Luke Fox at Sportsnet when I woke up this morning. It’s so refreshing to get an update from him on his thoughts on the summer moves and current season. Connor’s the leader of our team and the leader of our city. I think it’s just what I needed to get me revitalized after a fairly boring offseason
McDavid is currently skating at the Power Edge Pro camp with other players like Connor Brown, Dylan Larkin, Boone Jenner, Alex DeBrincat, as well as Canucks prospect Quinn Hughes and younger brother (who is projected to go first overall in 2019), Jack Hughes. This is where he spoke to the press in Toronto, and I’m so relieved that it happened. If you missed it, I’ve written off-season updates on Kris Russell, Jesse Puljujarvi, and Cam Talbot.
Before we get to a couple interview notes, CHECK OUT THESE CONNOR DRILL HIGHLIGHTS!
Connor on the Oilers offseason moves
…nothing too promising came up [for Chia]. That’s good. You want to keep the group together. We were a good team two years ago, the team we were last year wasn’t up to our standards, and it’s important we get back to our level.
This was a well executed comment by Connor. We all know the elephant in the room is Milan Lucic. Our captain has confidence in the same team that took us to the playoffs two years ago, and he wants the core group to stick together. Oh captain, my captain! But what do you think of the two new signings Peter Chiarelli made?
Very excited to bring both those guys on. Rieder with his speed and offensive flair, he’s going to get chances in our lineup. He’s a guy that can complement the number of centremen that we have. Then you look at a guy like Brodziak, who’s been in the league so long, who does everything right. I’ve heard he’s an excellent guy in the room, and that’s definitely something we could use.
This is great. Connor seems stoked to about Rieder and Brodziak, and if Connor’s stoked, I”m stoked. It was also said that the captain reached out to the new guys via text message. Although Chia didn’t have a ton of cap space to make any huge moves, there is still one more big thing on the checklist for him to take care of. That is the new contract of Darnell Nurse.
He’s definitely a guy that’s a key piece to our puzzle. He’s going to need to be there. I’m not sure the extent of what they’re talking about, but he definitely needs to be there.
Couldn’t agree with you more Connor!
Connor on the team bouncing back this year
There’s just got to be a point in time where you get sick of losing, and you just don’t anymore. Guys came together. Guys were sick of how the year was going and came back to playing hockey the way it should be, the way you need to. It’s a good learning experience, but one you never want to go through again. We talked about it so much now that it doesn’t really need to be talked about again.
Connor, you’re making me emotional!
Connor on his future linemates
It’s funny that we talk about it, and it’s been three years now. I was able to find a little chemistry with Nuge and Ty Rattie at the end of the year, so you hope to come into that. Or maybe someone new. You hope to come into training camp and stay with someone and try to build your game with someone.
There are a lot of unanswered questions and storylines to look for as the season approaches. Connor McDavid’s linemates are one of them, and the one storyline I’m most looking forward to seeing answered. It’s good to hear Connor likes playing with Rattie and Nuge. That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what’s going to happen though. I think we can safely say that Nuge and McDavid will be paired to start the season. I don’t think Rattie has the third spot on that line locked up. He’s going to have to earn it.
In the meantime, MORE CONNOR DRILL HIGHLIGHTS!
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