Old friendships set aside as Oilers meet Coyotes
McDavid and Strome not the only former junior teammates in lineups
The link between Connor McDavid, the first pick overall in the NHL entry draft, and Dylan Strome, drafted by the Arizona Coyotes just two picks later, is a strong one.
Ditto for Edmonton Oilers defenceman Griffin Reinhart and Arizona forward Henrik Samuelsson, who experienced a Memorial Cup championship season together when they played with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
But a clear line was drawn between old friendships and new commitments on Tuesday when the Oilers and Coyotes met at Rexall Place for a pre-season contest.
“Henrik is in the same position I am,” said Reinhart. “I wouldn’t want him to hold back on making a good play on me, which could cost him making the team, and I know he’d be thinking the same with me.”
McDavid and Strome played for the Toronto Marlboros and were teammates with the Erie Otters — a two-year union interrupted only by a gold medal run with Canada’s world junior team.
“I can’t take him seriously at all. We’re always joking around together,” McDavid said. He, of course, knew it would be all business in the game.
Strome and Max Domi, another member of that 2015 world junior team, are both looking to make the Coyotes roster when the season opens as is Samuelsson, who played just three NHL games last season.
McDavid is another category, of course. He will not only be on Edmonton’s opening day roster, alongside Taylor Hall, which is where he was on Tuesday, he will play a significant role in the club’s future.
“He’s a pretty special player,” said Domi.
A world class player in Strome’s opinion.
“We do text as much as possible,” said Strome, drafted behind McDavid and Jack Eichel, who went to the Buffalo Sabres in the June draft. Domi was drafted eighth overall in 2013.
“We were really close for two years in Erie and had two good teams. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win a championship but we’re just trying to help out each other as much as possible. I know he’s there for me and I’m there for him.”
Bonds formed on the way to the NHL can be strong. Take Reinhart, who has family ties as well. His older brother, Max, was a 2010 draft pick of the Calgary Flames and his younger brother, Sam, was selected second by the Buffalo Sabres in 2014. Their father, Paul, spent 11 seasons in the NHL.
He is still in contact with Samuelsson, who started on a line with Jordan Martinook and Joe Vitale.
“Once you’re on the ice, you do forget about all that and focus on the game,” said Reinhart, who was playing with veteran Mark Fayne. “I’ve hit my brothers a few times — and my mom wasn’t happy with that, I know.
“In fact, in my brother (Sam’s) draft video, one of the players pushing him down is me. We’re not going to get into scrums and start pushing and shoving, but we do play the body when we’re playing each other — maybe just not go for the huge open-ice hit.”
Physicality is what Reinhart will need to bring to the Oilers lineup. Acquired in draft-day trade with the New York Islanders, he is pushing to secure one of the spots on the last defensive pairing.
He said he isn’t going to go end to end or make flashy plays on the blue-line. He’s just trying to do the small things, play a poised game.
Putting the blinders on is essential, too. If there’s a play to be made, it’s made — no matter what the ties.
“For sure,” said Strome. “It’s a game, so you do whatever it takes to get a win. Being friends off the ice is different than being friends on the ice. There are no friends on the ice, when you’re playing against someone.”
Being friends off the ice is different than being friends on the ice. There are no friends on the ice, when you’re playing against someone.