Connor McDavid on Oilers’ win streak, NHL rule changes, more

Greg Wyshynski, ESPNJan 31, 2024, 09:00 AM ET

CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.

Thanks to his exceptional speed, it feels like Connor McDavid has a head start on anyone he’s skating against in the NHL. But before he even played a minute as a pro, McDavid said he wanted a head start against the competition off the ice through his training.

That included his diet. McDavid started working with former NHL player Gary Roberts and his training team three years before his rookie season in 2015-16, getting a better sense of what was right for his body from a nutrition and hydration standpoint.

“You know how passionate they are about nutrition and everything like that,” McDavid told ESPN. “So I already had a good dose of that before coming to the NHL. I knew it was super important.”

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All of that training and nutrition has paid off, as McDavid is one of the world’s best players, and his Oilers are on a 16-game winning streak.

We caught up with the Edmonton Oilers star this week ahead of NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto, an event he has certainly put his stamp on this season. McDavid worked with the NHL to help bring Friday night’s skills competition back to its “hockey roots.” He’s also captaining one of the four teams in Saturday’s NHL All-Star Game.

Here’s the reigning NHL MVP on the red-hot Oilers proving doubters wrong, whether they should have fired Jay Woodcroft, potential rules changes for video reviews and overtime, and his favorite non-hockey athlete to watch.

Note: The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

The NHL All-Star Weekend is here and you’re a big part of it. How much did you enjoy helping to revamp the skills competition, especially knowing that the event is in Toronto near where you grew up?

McDavid: Well, I think after last year everyone maybe knew there needed to be a change. I thought it just got a little bit out of hand on some of the gimmicky things. We were missing the essence of what an All-Star Game is, and…


Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39423006/connor-mcdavid-nhl-all-star-oilers-win-streak-rule-changes

Author : Greg Wyshynski

Publish date : 2024-01-31 14:04:21

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