EDMONTON – The best players are the best players for a reason.
And make no mistake about it, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is one of the best ever to play the game.
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Sadly, many hockey pundits might not put him as high on their all-time lists because the hardest trophy to win in hockey continues to elude him.
If the Stanley Cup Final thought us anything, it’s that skill alone can’t crack the code. Heart, grit, and tenacity can make the world of a difference in the playoffs.
In his post-game scrum for Game 6 of the Cup Final, McDavid seemed more agitated than usual. Several insiders have expressed that the general mood of the Oilers following another loss in the Final is one of anger.
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EDMONTON – Greatness.
The NHL isn’t ready for an angry McDavid.
The last time that McDavid was angry during the offseason, he exploded back onto the scene by throwing 118 hits in 76 games. During that 2023-24 season, the Oilers had a turbulent year, culminating in their first trip to the Cup Final as a group.
This past season, he only registered 41 hits, which is his lowest total since the 2019-20 season. Harnessing his anger is one advantage that McDavid can have over his opponents. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a renewed determination to be physical next season.
The Main Lesson McDavid Will Take Away From This Defeat
If there is any takeaway from this year’s loss to the Florida Panthers it’s this: you need to be relentless.
This truly describes McDavid’s personality. He’s not as vocal as other players, but that doesn’t make him any less determined.
The one area where we could see a big adjustment in McDavid’s game is on the defensive side of the puck. He’s already a player who can play good defense. I believe that he will be motivated to take his game up a notch in that capacity.
Everyone knows that McDavid’s speed sets him apart from everyone else in the league. What if he used that speed to be the most relentless forechecker ever seen in the NHL?
That’s a scary thought for any team that plays against them.
But that’s the kind of thing that he can add to his game to not only become a more complete player, but also set an example that the rest of his team will follow. If the player, the captain of the team and the guy who can score 60 goals and 100 assists, if that guy is relentless on the forecheck, forcing turnovers left, right, and center, every other player on the team will feel the pressure to play the same way.
While McDavid isn’t happy to be in this position, this lesson he has learned will be the most crucial one to finally hoisting the one trophy he wants more than any other.
He is truly one of the greatest to ever play, and doing this will only solidify that.
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