Connor McDavid unplugged
A look back at the Taylor Hall trade, the last season at Rexall, and more
Connor McDavid won’t bid adieu to his teenage years for another five months, but he certainly doesn’t talk or act like a kid. Or, for that matter, play like one. “I’m not some 18-year-old kid anymore,” declared McDavid, who must feel like a grizzled NHL veteran with the amount of life-rattling experiences he has gone through over such a short span.
Always known as a kid who flashed maturity far beyond his age, the past 19 months have brought a mixture of concentrated highs and lows that would have left the heads of most ordinary teens spinning.
But as we all know, there is nothing “ordinary” about McDavid.
As such, the adversity that has smacked him in the face over that span has helped make him stronger both physically and mentally.
McDavid’s recent roller-coaster ride picked up steam in May 2015 when his aspirations for a Memorial Cup title were shredded when his Erie Otters were eliminated by the eventual champions, the Oshawa Generals. It was a disappointing end to a wonderful junior hockey career.
After being drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers one month later, McDavid’s pro career lasted just 13 games before he suffered a fractured clavicle in a Nov. 3 game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The injury sidelined him for three months, an enormous blow for a franchise that was thirsting for a rare playoff berth.
Then, just six weeks ago, McDavid’s world was rocked yet again when his close friend Taylor Hall was dealt by the Oilers to the New Jersey Devils for defenceman Adam Larsson. McDavid and Hall were housemates last season, so the pain of Hall’s departure cut deep.
But there will be no wallowing in self-pity. That isn’t Connor McDavid’s way. Instead he has learned from it and improved from it, choosing to forge ahead and battle headon whatever obstacles come next.
“It feels junior was such a long time ago but it’s only been one year, really,” McDavid said.
“It’s been a whirlwind. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“I feel I’ve changed physically. I’m slightly taller and a little bit wider and all that, which is good. That’s going to help. And my game has changed a little bit. It has to if you want to have success at this level. The game from junior to the pro is so much different it naturally has to change.
“Definitely a lot has developed over (a short) time.”
Keeping that in mind, McDavid sat down for a one-on-one with Postmedia at the annual Biosteel Camp in Toronto Monday where the Oilers star addressed a number of subjects including the injury, hockey life in Edmonton, the prospect of potentially one day wearing the ‘C’ for the Oilers; and the crushing emotions he felt when discovering that his pal Hall had been shipped out of town.
Without further ado, we present Connor McDavid: Unplugged.
ON SEEING TAYLOR HALL TRADED
After living together with Hall during his rookie season in Edmonton, McDavid was caught offguard when the gifted Hall was dealt out of town in late June. But Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli was determined to bolster a sagging defensive corps, even if it meant shipping Hall out for a blueliner in Larsson who has accrued just 69 career points.
“I’m obviously very close to Taylor,” McDavid said. “It’s very sad to watch him go. But he’s going to do spectacular things in Jersey.”
ON MILAN LUCIC: HUSTLE PLUS MUSCLE
While Hall’s exit easily was the most significant off-season departure from the Oilers, the most ballyhooed arrival to the team — with apologies to Larsson — was rugged winger Milan Lucic. Along with bringing a much-needed physical presence, the former Boston Bruin and Los Angeles King also provides the type of accountability that will cause opponents to think twice when attempting to take liberties with McDavid on the ice.
“Adding Lucic is a tremendous help,” McDavid said. “It gives us something we needed in a big way with the combination of size and skill. You add in a guy that is probably one of the toughest guys in the league, if not the toughest guy in the league. And bringing in a defenceman like Larsson is going to do so much for our D-corps there.
“There is a lot of reason to be hopeful.”
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING CAPTAIN ONE DAY
With no Oiler having worn the prestigious ‘C’ on his orange-andblue Oilers jersey since defenceman Andrew Ference, there has been no shortage of speculation that McDavid, still just 19, might get the nod.
“It would mean so much,” McDavid said. “It would certainly be something to be very proud of.
“It’s a difficult topic for me to touch on. I don’t really know what to expect. It would be such a tremendous honour. But at the end of the day, no matter if the letter you are wearing is a ‘C’ or an ‘A’, it makes no difference. Everyone in the room is a leader in their own way. Everyone brings a different personality into the room. Everyone has a role they play on the team. So whether you are wearing the ‘C’ or no letter at all, it doesn’t make a difference.”
ON ROGERS PLACE: THE START OF A NEW OILERS ERA
The Oilers this season will embark on a new chapter in team history when they move into the state-of-the-art Rogers Place, leaving behind all the memories of Rexall Place, including those magnificent Gretzky years. For McDavid, it means an injection of adrenaline for a proud franchise looking to regain its one-time prestige.
“That new building is going to be spectacular,” McDavid said. “Everyone feels like it’s a fresh new start.
“It’s tough to leave Rexall. It’s sad and all that. But we have a shiny new building to go into and everyone’s excited about that. It’s going to be an exciting year.”
ON HIS HEALTH: THE SHOULDER IS ‘PERFECT’
McDavid says he is in the best shape of his life. And that’s bad news for the rest of the league.
“My shoulder feels perfect,” he said. “The doctors did an absolute amazing job on it. I have no pain in it. Had a good summer bulking up and I feel very good about that.
“I’m just really excited to see the season get going.”
And with good reason.