Footage of the Oilers captain executing gravity-defying backward crossovers has fans questioning his humanity while reigniting fierce debates over McDavid's postseason impact and future in Edmonton.
Connor McDavid never ceases to amaze people. New videos of him skating and getting ready for the 2026-27 season are already going viral, one in particular garnering a ton of attention.
A clip of McDavid picking up steam as he skates backward into the offensive zone has people wowed. Spittin' Chiclets tagged the video, "Connor McDavid is an alien." BarDown added, "Connor McDavid simply is not human."
Reactions from fans to the clip are split. Plenty are blown away by the skating itself — commenters point to his backward crossovers, effortless gliding, and top-speed puck-handling as things that look almost unfair in person. One fan noted that he seems to generate that speed using barely half his skate edge.
For the most part, viewers simply marvel that he's been skating at this level since day one. He's been in the NHL for years and it's hard to get tired of watching him skate, play and create highlight reel moments, even if it's just an informal on-ice session.
Of Course, The Video Also Led to Trolling the Oilers
Others push back, arguing the highlight-reel speed hasn't always translated in the playoffs, when bigger, more physical defensemen have closed the gap and limited his scoring. As expected, fans looking to start "trouble" took the opportunity to troll McDavid fans. A few threads focus on his future — some believe he'd thrive with a better supporting cast, floating teams like the Wild or Panthers as better places for him to play.
Anytime McDavid does or says anything, there's a section of NHL fans who seize the opportunity to call out the superstar and the team for not yet reaching the mountain top. It's a sad habit that pulls away from the video's point, which is to show how good McDavid still is.
Sure, the Oilers haven't won a Stanley Cup with him as their captain. The team even made bold changes this offseason to try and fix that, hiring Mike Babcock as the new coach, trading Darnell Nurse, and going with a three-goalie system.
Does that take away from the magic that is McDavid? No. He's still the best player on the planet and the fact he can wow publications with what is simple skating to him is evidence he's not lost a step.
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