McDavid skates with Hall for first time
TORONTO Connor McDavid is finally playing with his Edmonton Oilers teammates — well, two of them.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft joined Oilers teammates Taylor Hall and Darnell Nurse on Monday at a practice for a pre-season minitournament in midtown Toronto. It was the first time future linemates Hall and McDavid skated together, and the young centre’s skills were immediately apparent to the Edmonton left-winger.
“He’s got a lot of foot speed,’’ said Hall. “He seems to glide faster than most guys skate in full speed. It’s fun to be out here with him. Fun to hang around him and hopefully make him feel more comfortable for what he’s got in store.’’
McDavid was taken first overall by the Oilers on June 26 after dominating the Ontario Hockey League. He scored 44 goals and added 76 assists during the regular season for the Erie Otters despite missing time with a broken hand. McDavid was even better in the playoffs, averaging more than two points a game with 21 goals and 28 assists in 20 games.
Like Hall, McDavid was impressed by his new teammate’s speed.
“It’s very exciting to play with him,’’ McDavid said. “Obviously, he’s a great player and I got a better sense of how fast he is. You watch him on TV but it’s a whole different story live.’’
Although Hall was the top selection at the 2010 NHL Draft, he says there’s no comparing his experience with that of the highly touted McDavid.
“He’s been through so much already with all the hype that he’s had to endure,’’ said Hall. “I wasn’t anywhere close to that. I was the first overall pick but at the same time it wasn’t anything like what Connor’s experiencing.”