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Connor McDavid Will Struggle To Excel With The Edmonton Oilers

By Patrick Quarry

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Connor McDavid is talented.  He is the most talented player in the 2015 draft and he’ll make an immediate impact for the Edmonton Oilers.  But talent alone won’t prevent him from becoming the next great “bust”.  When it comes to sports and athletes, there are times when talent isn’t enough to launch someone to the Hall of Fame.  His time in Edmonton could elevate McDavid to hero status or label him a failure.  Unfortunately for a player with this much hype, there is a very small gap between superstar and bust. There is no middle here.  Below are four primary areas where McDavid’s reputation could be altered.

Expectations

Connor McDavid has yet to play a single NHL game or take part in an NHL practice and he has already been appointed as Edmonton’s savior.  Those are some pretty big shoes to fill.  There were similar expectations around Sidney Crosby when he entered the league.   Pittsburgh was exploring relocation options, but Crosby’s ability to lift the team and city allowed the Penguins to obtain the financing they needed to construct a new arena.  Crosby was successful not only because of his talent, but also his ability to handle the media/fan expectations.  Let’s be honest here, hockey fans are a fickle group.  We either love our stars or call them out for their shortcomings.  So far, McDavid has handled the media demands with relative ease.  But what will happen once he’s trying to handle these obligations while trying to lead his team to the playoffs.  Crosby is a unique individual.  He doesn’t get rattled by the press and he’s not afraid of the tough questions.  Not all stars are like that.  If McDavid can follow Crosby’s lead then maybe the immense pressure of high expectations will not bring him down.

Coaching

A young player needs time to develop their game.  Even a player with McDavid’s skill set will need some time to adjust to playing at the NHL level.  Head Coach Todd McLellan will have a lot to do with deciding whether McDavid will become a superstar or just a successful and productive NHL player.  There is nothing wrong with being a productive player, but the high expectations that would be nothing short of a failure for McDavid.  McLellan has spent the past seven seasons as Head Coach of the San Jose Sharks.   He led the Sharks to six playoff appearances, four 40-plus win seasons, three 100-point seasons, captured the Presidents’ Trophy (2009), three Pacific Division titles and made back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Final.  If you add in this year’s Gold Medal at the World Hockey Championship, you have a pretty impressive resume.   The concern is not the coach’s background, but whether he can handle a raw elite level talent such as McDavid.  Due to his success as coach of the Sharks, his lowest draft pick was in 2012 drafting Thomas Hertl.  Coaching the next face of the NHL puts a lot of pressure behind the bench.  McLellan will need to let McDavid develop.  Too much too soon could be problematic and cause long term implications.   If McDavid and McLellan can work together lead then maybe coaching will not bring him down.

Supporting Cast

The elite level talent of one does not win a Stanley Cup.  In fact, two elite level players isn’t enough to win a Stanley Cup (I’m talking to you Pittsburgh Penguins).    Winning the Stanley Cup is a grind.  You need talent, grit, determination and a willingness to outwork your opponents.  Over the past few years, the Oilers have stockpiled a number of high Draft Picks.  Edmonton had the first overall pick in three consecutive season from 2010-2012 and top ten picks in 2013 and 2014.  That sounds like the start of a pretty good foundation. Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov have all become established solid NHL players but not quite the leaders needed.   Last year’s number 3 pick Leon Draisaitl should be ready for an extended stay at the NHL level. Darnell Nurse, 2013 first round pick, may need a little more time in the minors before making the jump to a full time NHL’er.   There are a lot of similarities between this Edmonton team and the 2008/2009 Pittsburgh Penguins.  What made the Penguins (and still does in the Regular Season) a force is that Crosby and Malkin can make an average teammate look like an elite talent.  Are Chris Kunitz and James Neal good players?  Yes.  But they’re not the same without stars by their side.  We saw a little of this when Neal was traded to Nashville.  Neal’s last year in Pittsburgh, he averaged 1.03 points per game but last year for the Preds he only averaged .55 points per game.  That’s a significant drop in productivity.  If McDavid can be supplied with a strong supporting cast and if he can raise the talent level of those around him, then maybe his team will not bring him down.

Intangibles

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You need more than talent to be a star in the NHL.  There are star players in the league that produce elite level numbers but have developed a reputation for having a less than excellent work ethic.  Alex Ovechkin is a good example.  He could be the best player in the world, but had built a reputation for having a poor work ethic.  Washington has had several early playoff exits and when they lose the blame falls on the leaders.  Just a few years ago, media and fans were saying that Ovechkin should not be the captain.  If you’re the best player on the team, league or in the world, work ethic should never be an issue.  Will Connor McDavid develop into a leader or just a talented hockey player?  Those early season games will tell a lot.  Is he backchecking?  Does he hustling to open pucks?  It’s really too early to judge McDavid in this area, but effort will be a key component to the future success of the Oilers.  Teams with leaders tend to go farther than teams with players.

No one knows that the future holds.  Connor McDavid can be the new face of the NHL.  If he’s willing to work as hard off the ice as he does on it, then the future is bright.  But if he falters or fails to live up to the lofty expectations, then the fans and media will not be kind to McDavid or the Edmonton Oilers.

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