This in from Connor McDavid, an inner look at his rocket-fuelled internal combustion engine to win for himself, his teammates, for Edmonton in the Stanley Cup playoffs and for Canada in the coming 2026 Olympics.
In the Players Tribute, McDavid writes, “All I want to do is win. It’s all we think about in our room. It’s all we talk about in the offseason. It’s why I get up every morning. It’s why I’ve stayed in Edmonton for more than a decade.”
And: “I want to be remembered as a winner. But not just anywhere. Here. To be in this city during a Cup run, to feel that buzz … it just wouldn’t be the same somewhere else.”
And, in regards to losing in the Stanley Cup Final, “I think there’s this narrative that we’re this unlucky, troubled team. The end result hasn’t been there, but it’s not easy getting to two straight Cup Finals. We really pride ourselves on being good playoff performers, and our room knows what we’re capable of. I believe in this group. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have signed my extension…. I wish more than anything those finals went another way. It sucks. There’s no other way to put it. It breaks my heart. But the only option you have is to use it as fuel for the fire, and show up the next day to the rink determined to get better…
“I don’t want to play golf. I don’t want to sit by the pool. I don’t want to be in the Bahamas. I don’t need a break, or a fresh start. I just want to be in Edmonton, playing hockey. I want to get back there again, whatever it takes.”
My take
1. I’ve always been a huge McDavid fan. But I don’t know if I’ve ever understood him more or liked him better than reading this post. I’ve always understood how blessed we’ve been in Edmonton to have first Wayne Gretzky play here, and now McDavid.
But this piece really drives it home. Read the full post here.
2. It’s gratifying to know as a fan and as an Edmontonian that McDavid wants to win as much as any fan, then times that by one thousand.
McDavid has been a great blessing to the Oilers franchise and to this city. We’ve been fortunate enough to witness every moment of his on-ice development as a professional player. It’s been thrilling, even in defeat.
Imagine how much better it will be when his Oilers finally win the Cup?
3. There’s been a lot of speculation about why McDavid signed just a two year contract renewal in Edmonton.
One theory is that he’s put Edmonton Oilers management on notice, that he’s telling them with this short deal that if they don’t build a winning team around him in the next two years, he’s out of here.
Another theory is he refused a massive multi-million per year pay bump — which he would have got if he demanded it — because he’s well aware of the Oil’s cap issues in the next few seasons and he wants to make sure that Edmonton has as much cap space as possible to compete in those seasons.
Maybe there’s some truth to both notions, but having read what McDavid just said, I’m putting more weight now in that second idea, that he’s willing to do anything to win, even taking many millions in pay less than he could command.
4. I’ve heard some fans and commentators already say that this year should be considered a write-off for the Oilers. I could not disagree more. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in their prime. And hanging in there are older players like Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
As a team the Oilers have played as well since late November as at any time during the regular season in their last two Cup runs, though the defence could still use some major tightening up.
The time to win is now.
We can be sure that McDavid and the players are all-in.
I’ve no doubt that Kris Knoblauch and the coaches are all-in.
And you won’t hear a peep of complaint from me when GM Stan Bowman goes all-in at the trade deadline.
5. I don’t know if I’ve ever been prouder of Connor McDavid.
Great player.
Great captain.
Great Oiler.
Great Edmontonian.
Great Canadian.
At the Cult of Hockey
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