There might not be a player more sick of losing than Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid.
After an impressive rookie season that was cut short by a broken collarbone, the Ontario native got a taste of NHL playoff hockey after leading the team with a Hart Trophy season. But the feeling was short-lived after Edmonton came crashing back to reality with a dreadful 2017-18 campaign. McDavid recently touched on the down year and what he learnt from it.
The following is an excerpt from NHL.com.
"You've just got to be sick of losing."
He then continued with:
The following is an excerpt from NHL.com.
"You kind of experience both ends of the spectrum, where we had such a good season and last year we weren't even close," McDavid said. "So definitely a lot more fun to be winning games and to experience that culture. I think everyone kind of understands where we went wrong last year, and I think at some point it just becomes a competitive thing."
Though upset, McDavid still insisted he needs to work on his own game (in classic McDavid fashion), insisting he needs to be more responsible defensively and better in the faceoff circle.
The following is an excerpt from NHL.com.
"Obviously I get paid to score and create chances, and that's what I have to do," McDavid said. "But just at the same time, I have to be able to be responsible defensively, good on face-offs, all the little things that coaches love and that win games. I think that's the main thing. You want to win hockey games, and it doesn't really matter how you do it."
After an uneventful offseason for general manager Peter Chiarelli, McDavid will once again be expected to carry the load in Edmonton. Whether the team can repeat their magic from 2017 remains a mystery.
(H/T NHL.com)
