Connor McDavid dominates the ice with speed that seems almost impossible to human eyes. He transformed the Edmonton Oilers from struggling underdogs into perennial contenders single-handedly. Furthermore, his highlight reels constantly break the internet, leaving fans and rivals speechless. Consequently, hockey experts already rank him among the greatest to ever play the game. Explore these details about the superstar who changed hockey.
Connor McDavid
Junior hockey rules usually require players to be a certain age. However, officials granted Connor McDavid exceptional status early. Therefore, he entered the Ontario Hockey League at just 15 years old.
His dedicated father did not use the garage for family cars. Instead, he filled it with synthetic ice tiles. Thus, young Connor could practice his shooting skills for hours every day.
Leading an NHL team usually requires years of professional experience. Yet, the Oilers made him captain at age 19. Consequently, he became the youngest leader in the history of the league.
Most players choose numbers based on their favorite idols. In contrast, he chose 97 simply because of his birth year. This number has since become iconic among hockey fans worldwide.
A severe knee injury threatened to end his career in 2019. Doctors strongly recommended invasive surgery to fix the damage. Amazingly, he chose a radical rehab program and returned in time for the season opener.
Most children sleep with soft teddy bears for comfort. Uniquely, he insisted on sleeping with a miniature hockey stick. His parents tried to remove it, but he would wake up crying immediately.
His skating speed separates him from every other player on the ice. Radar guns clocked him moving at 40 kilometers per hour. Therefore, opponents often resort to hooking him just to slow him down.
His home in Edmonton caused a huge stir on social media. The dark, modern mansion features a full indoor sports court. Here, he plays intense games of floor hockey with his teammates.
Voters awarded him the Hart Trophy unanimously in the 2021 season. This award recognizes the most valuable player in the league. Notably, he was the first player since Wayne Gretzky to get every vote.
He attended a specialized school designed for elite young athletes. This allowed him to balance academics with heavy training schedules. Consequently, he played against older competition throughout his entire childhood.
The draft lottery in 2015 changed the fate of a franchise. The Edmonton Oilers won the lucky chance to pick him. Immediately, ticket prices soared as the city prepared for his arrival.
A broken collarbone interrupted his highly anticipated rookie season. He missed months of action after crashing into the boards. Nevertheless, he maintained a point-per-game average once he finally returned to the lineup.
His father coached many of his youth teams in Canada. However, he treated Connor harder than any other player. Thus, the young star learned that talent means nothing without effort.
The team committed to him with a historic financial deal. He signed a contract extension worth 100 million dollars. This agreement kept him in an Oilers jersey for eight full years.
Finally, he joined an exclusive club by scoring 150 points recently. Only five other players have ever reached that milestone. This feat cemented his legacy as one of the offensive greats.
