The two people who know Connor McDavid the best offer different perspectives on what it takes to play with him.
The two people who know Connor McDavid the best offer different perspectives on what it takes to play with him.
EDMONTON -- "He's the best player in the world, there's no doubt about it."
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Talented players need to play with talented players.
Connor McDavid is one of many talented players on the Edmonton Oilers team. Over the past week, the Oilers captain has applied his talents to Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-off in Montreal and Boston.
McDavid has seen his linemates juggled across the three games they have played to date. Many see him as the best player in the league right now, so it makes sense that he could play with virtually anyone.
Or at least, that's what his head coach, Kris Knoblauch, believes.
"I think anybody can play with Connor," Knoblauch revealed. "Just because of how good he is. He can find anybody on the ice."
One of his most common linemates is Leon Draisaitl, who offers a different perspective on playing with McDavid.
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"The good players can be hard to play with, too," Draisaitl remarks. "You need guys who understand the way that he wants to play the game."
And how McDavid plays the game doesn't mesh with others who can't play that way.
"Sometimes it fits," Draisaitl said. "Sometimes it doesn't fit, sometimes it takes a little bit of time."
"Seemed like last game they found a little something with that line."
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And what was that line? Brayden Point, Mark Stone, and McDavid.
Knoblauch revealed what kinds of players fit in well with McDavid and what they do on the ice.
"I think it's important to find somebody who can get him the puck," Knoblauch said. "Whether it's off the breakout or going up the rush. I think it's important to have some net-front presence."
"I've seen him play with many players and he's found chemistry with almost all of them."
It's one thing to play with the best player in the world, but it's another to be successful in that deployment. Not every player can make it work.
While Knoblauch might believe that everyone can play with McDavid, they must be talented to play with him. It can be a specific talent, but it's a talent nonetheless.
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