Connor McDavid spoke before Game 1 and made an intriguing admission… The Edmonton Oilers consider the regular season monotonous.
Connor McDavid addressed the Edmonton Oilers media following the team’s training on Sunday. He spoke about the team’s position following a difficult regular season that had, at one point, put them in a position where they believed they might miss the playoffs. They recovered, but one of the reasons for their problems was the team’s lack of enthusiasm for the entire 82-game season.
McDavid labeled the regular season as “monotonous,” but he believes that attitudes have changed, and that there is no room for boredom or phoning it in.
“We’re in the playoffs, and we have the opportunity to play a game tomorrow, which is exciting, and I know this group is excited for it,” he said. “The regular season has grown a little boring for this group, I believe you can see that in their day-to-day activities. This is what we’re thrilled about. “
McDavid was alluding to the Oilers’ propensity to begin seasons slowly. This year, in particular, it took them a while to get started. So much so, the Oilers exchanged goalie Stuart Skinner. When that did not necessarily inspire the squad to play a better brand of game, particularly a defensive shutdown game, they welcomed back previous assistant coach Paul Coffey.
Now that the team has found its groove, they are ready to compete in the playoffs, where they understand the stakes are much higher.
Edmonton recognized the significance of pacing themselves after playing so much hockey in recent seasons. No squad has played as many postseason games in the previous three years, and you can’t go full speed all the time.
McDavid stated, “You know, health is crucial throughout the playoffs, and whoever can stay the healthiest has the best chance of winning. ” So, you want to be healthy from day one, and we’re getting closer and closer to that. That being said, we know that whoever is in charge, if you get the job done, we expect you to play our game. “
This group knows what to expect and comprehends the surroundings. While some team members will be new to the scenario, the majority of the leadership team understands the game and the stresses, as well as the momentum shifts that the playoffs entail. “It’s truly a different game, it truly is, and you have to grasp all of that, and this team does. We’ve gone on several runs and played in many excellent games, and today will be no different.
For all of these reasons, McDavid and certain other players were most likely playing at less than full speed for the majority of the season. If they can locate that next gear, especially if the Oilers field a complete squad, that’s a big bonus.
