Could this be the season that Connor McDavid leads the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup?
Former Oilers legend and NHL icon Mark Messier thinks so. And, surprisingly, Messier cites what transpired at NHL All-Star Weekend as a major factor for the Oilers’ success, rather than McDavid’s 103 points or how he helped them recover from a poor start.
“To me, he took a big step forward in the All-Star Game, really showing the leadership and the capability that he had and proving that he was the best hockey player in the world,” Messier remarked during an appearance on the Jackie Redmond Show. “We can all debate it, but now we know this year who’s the most skilled hockey player in the world.”
McDavid won the overall skills competition during the NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto. But Messier was impressed by how he competed and was eager to prove himself as the best player in the world.
“It was more so the effort that he put into it and the leadership that he showed that it was OK to expose yourself and give 100 percent in that environment,” Messier went on to say. “To me, that might’ve been the best skill he displayed this year, his leadership at that All-Star Game.”
In other words, it’s one thing to be among the world’s best players at a tournament. It’s another thing to be motivated to prove you’re the best. That desire is what distinguishes McDavid this season, his fourth consecutive (and seventh in the last eight) with 100+ points.
“He had the most pressure to win it, and he delivered. “I believe that says a lot about him as a player, a person, and a leader,” Messier stated.
Connor McDavid’s growth as leader stands out to NHL legend Mark Messier
Not surprisingly, Messier returned to leadership. There’s a reason the NHL’s leadership award is named after Messier. His six Stanley Cup championships (five with the Oilers and one with the New York Rangers) attest to that.
So is his two-word nickname, The Captain.
And Messier, the ultimate team captain, is impressed that the great McDavid is becoming a more effective leader. This makes the Oilers a formidable opponent in the postseason.
“To me it all boils down to taking that initiative, taking the leadership role to go out there and give the fans what they wanted and to give 100 percent effort,” McDavid stated during the All-Star Game. “It’s not an easy task. It’s the player’s growth on the ice and skill set, as well as the confidence to go out there and be themselves.”
Since McDavid’s debut in 2015-16, the Oilers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times in eight seasons. They made it past the first round once, getting swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Western Conference Final.
The Oilers presently rank second in the Pacific Division. Edmonton strengthened their playoff roster by acquiring Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, and Troy Stecher before the trade deadline last week, as well as Corey Perry two months earlier.
