McDavid Has Playful Mishap at All-Star Draft
Some humour came out of the 2024 NHL All-Star weekend in Toronto, including from a simple slip-up in speech from Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.
The two All-Star "Cats" (Florida Panthers) were drafted by Team McDavid, with star forward Sam Reinhart, the second-best scorer in the league, selected first.
Right afterwards came 35-year-old Russian netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, one of the NHLs top goaltenders and a two-time Vezina Trophy winner in 2013 and 2017.
But to fans' amusement, the Oilers legend called them both Sam, his tone completely deadpan.
"Yeah, we gotta go another goalie. I think we're gonna grab Sam's teammate from Florida, Sam Bobrovsky," McDavid said.
"We are no longer allowed to call him Sergei, he is henceforth bound to the name 'Sam Bobrovsky'", a fan said on X.
This is "Sam" Bobrovsky's third NHL All-Star appearance, his first two being in 2013 and 2017. Bobrovsky - a Blue Jacket at the time - was selected for the 2015 All-Star weekend in Columbus but did not participate due to an injury.
Regardless of the speech slip-up, there is no denying the two Cats were good picks for Team McDavid.
In addition to "Sam" Bobrovsky being a top-ten goalie for a goals-against average, star centreman Sam Reinhart has 37 goals this season, second only to Auston Matthews, and 62 points.
Other comedy came out of the opening night of the NHL All-Star weekend. This included the Maple Leafs' celebrity captain, Justin Bieber, saying "Mitchy, get over here!" after Nylander and Marner were the first two picks for Team Matthews.
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