Something's off about Connor McDavid
Photo credit: NHL
The Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for an epic showdown against the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow tonight, and hockey fans are eager to watch two juggernauts go toe-to-toe. That said, an interesting conversation has been sparked regarding Connor McDavid, with analysts guessing whether something might be wrong with him.
Connor McDavid dealing with potential injury
According to Oilers insider Alan "Lowetide" Mitchell, McDavid is not playing up to snuff this year, hinting that an injury or general wear and tear could be the culprit.
I wanted to comment quickly on Connor McDavid and his season. He's a brilliant player and is on pace for 110 points, but he's not quite the player we've seen all these years. My guess is injury and the long season, but placing things in context, his five-on-five points-60 since January 1 is stark for the best player in the world.
- Allan Mitchell, Lowetide
- Allan Mitchell, Lowetide
According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, Mitchell pointed out that McDavid ranks 9th in Oilers forwards in 5v5 points per 60 since January 1, 2025. That's a sample size of 14 games where McDavid is still scoring at an elite rate, but not as high as Oilers and hockey fans have come to expect from the Captain.
Currently on pace to score 110 points, that would be McDavid's lowest total since the 2020-21 season, where he only played 56 games. So far this season, McDavid has missed only 6 games.
I can't put my finger on it, but something seems just a bit off about Connor McDavid at the moment. Yes, he still has breathtaking speed and the fastest hands in the NHL, but this season, he doesn't quite seem himself. I could see it against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan 30. From overtime to his foiled attempt in the shootout, he didn't seem to be his usual dominating self. I'm wondering if there's a flu bug running through the Oilers' dressing room at the moment and maybe he's just playing through it. Or maybe the three-game suspension he received for standing up for himself against Conor Garland and the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 18 has affected him.
- The Hockey Writers
- The Hockey Writers
In addition to concerns about a possible injury, a nasty flu is also spreading through the Oilers' locker room.
Regardless, the there's no denying that McDavid is still the best player in the world, but he's no playing with the same type of energy as previous seasons.
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
