I initially planned on writing about the Oilers taking Justin Schultz to arbitration in order to open a buyout window, but the Billy Moores Cup was played yesterday and I now think it is impossible to ignore Connor McDavid any further than I already have.
The club continued to keep its doors open and free of charge for anybody who wanted to come watch a scrimmage game in July and Edmonton filled the arena with more than 7,000 bodies raising over 25,000 dollars for the Woodall fund.
Let’s get down to it, shall we? Connor McDavid is not of this world.
Was it a 4v4 shinny game against non-NHL players? Yes it was.
Does that mean scoring 5 goals should be ignored completely? No, that’s ridiculous.
Leon Draisaitl was the WHL & Memorial Cup MVP, a 3rd Overall pick in 2014, and has NHL experience. He didn’t score 5 goals. He didn’t even score at all. He picked up 2 assists and looked like the best player on the Blue team by a mile, but he didn’t dominate the way McDavid did.
Darnell Nurse dominated the game from the blueline more than any other rearguard on the ice. He skates like the wind and jumped up into the action several times showing off his often unexpected offensive ability. He didn’t score any goals either. Like Draisaitl he picked up two assists and looked damn good doing it.
The format of the game is conducive to a player like McDavid whose first burst of speed can separate him from even fast players, but scoring 5 goals is special even in a 4v4 game played in two 20 minute halves.
Just as he did in the OHL playoffs, McDavid made something happen on every single shift. Even his unspectacular shifts resulted in B chances on net.
Of course that’s going to be more difficult to replicate in the NHL when there’s less space and everybody is at least a decent skater. A lot of the negative reaction to McDavid at this development camp has been Wet-Blanketery at its finest. The kid has a special set of skills and he simply has no peers among his age group. Period.
The puck follows him around the ice like a love-sick teenager. He stripped Leon Draisaitl on multiple occasions and puck protection is probably the big German’s best asset as a player. We’ve seen true NHL players have difficulty taking the puck from him. McDavid made it look easy.
We saw the wraparound move that he victimized OHL goaltenders with on the first goal. His speed and puck control makes him deadly behind the net. We saw the puck-handling at top speed on breakaways. We saw his quickness create instant separation between him and defenders. We saw him make things happen on the PP with his vision and creativity.
We saw a lot for free on a Monday in July. 5 goals. Good lordy.
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